Casablanca, October 22, 2021 – UGGC Africa, a leading consulting firm specializing in business law, assisted Systra, one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups specializing in public transport and mobility solutions, in the acquisition of the Italian group Sws Engineering.
Sws Engineering is a leading group providing civil engineering, land planning and land surveying services. Through its Italian holding, the Sws Engineering Group has operating subsidiaries in Italy, Canada, United States, Turkey, United Kingdom, Norway, Romania and Algeria.
The UGGC team was composed of:
- Ali Bougrine (Partner at the Paris office and Managing Partner of UGGC Africa), Muriel Bernardin and Carole Fouldrin (associates) on corporate matters,
- Michel Ponsard (Partner), Elodie Camous-Léonard (senior associate) and Ophélie Sommé (associate) on competition law matters.
The UGGC Africa office was advising Systra on the Algerian law aspects, alongside UGGC Avocats, the leading law firm in the transaction and a number of law firms from the global Interlaw network, of which they are also members: Deberti Jacchia Franchini Forlani, Aird & Berlis LLP, Shipman & Goodwin LLP, Gökçe, Trowers & Hamlins LLP, Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS et ONV LAW.
Other counsels involved in the transaction
Systra was advised by:
- Deberti Jacchia Franchini Forlani for the Italian legal aspects, including Cristina Fussi (Partner) and Orsola Galasso (associate)
- Aird & Berlis LLP for the Canadian legal aspects
- Shipman & Goodwin LLP for the US law aspects
- Gökçe for the Turkish law aspects
- Trowers & Hamlins LLP for the UK law aspects
- Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS for the Norwegian legal aspects
- ONV LAW for the Romanian legal aspects
Sws Engineering was assisted by Hilex Avvocati Associati with Leonardo Proni, Serena Nasuti and Melania Ferrara. The seller was also assisted by the financial advisor KON S.p.A. and by Matteo Mancaruso and Loredana Gilca.
About UGGC Africa
Since 2002, UGGC Avocats has had pioneering visions. It was the first independent French law firm to open an office in Casablanca and an Africa Desk in Paris. These two platforms enabled it to operate in the Maghreb and sub-Saharan, Central and West Africa.
Almost 20 years later, the logical continuation stated in launching UGGC Africa to materialise its pan-African development. With the addition of two leading law firms in Ivory Coast and Cameroon into its network, UGGC Africa can offer corporate law expertise of the highest international standards, combined with a strong regional focus. With a team of 8 partners and 30 lawyers, UGGC Africa covers more than 20 business law practices (M&A, Private Equity, International Investments, Anti-Trust, Litigation and Arbitration, etc…).
Media contacts
Marine Dahais mdahais@golinfrance.fr +33 7 60 54 00 25
Anne Da Silva Passos adasilvapassos@golinfrance.fr +33 7 60 53 99 28
