Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, is announcing today a combination with leading Tunisian law firm, Zaanouni Law Firm and Associates (“Zaanouni”). The combination in Tunisia would position Dentons as a leading global law firm in a strategic location in North Africa, and accelerate the momentum for Dentons to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans, across 17 locations on the continent.

Zaanouni’s outstanding reputation as a leading service provider and its international focus, coupled with Dentons’ worldwide reach, positions the combined firm to help clients Grow, Protect, Operate, and Finance what is important to them in Tunisia and around the world.

In the New Dynamic Decade, clients will continue to be confronted with constant, accelerated change and want to work with a purpose-driven law firm that has the experience and confidence to help them thrive wherever they are located. Dentons’ combination with Zaanouni will help clients to navigate change in 17 locations in Africa, and more than 200 locations across more than 80 countries around the world.

On a continent scarred by the legacy of colonial domination and in a market where the operations of every leading law firm are hierarchical, Dentons’ unique polycentric and anti-colonial approach has been a stark differentiator, disrupting the traditional model for providing legal services in Africa.

“The combination with Zaanouni builds on our strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans and located in key markets,” said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons. “Tunisia is a priority market for our clients and combining with Zaanouni will allow us to connect clients to leading talent in Tunisia and to more than 20,000 people around the globe.”

“Dentons’ distinctly anti-colonial and polycentric approach continues to disrupt the traditional model for providing legal services in Africa,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. “Dentons has emerged from the pandemic stronger than it went into it and this combination will position us to help our clients who continue to be confronted with constant, accelerated change by bringing together the leading talent of Zaanouni and Dentons.”

Zaanouni is regarded as a top 10 firm in the Tunisia market and is one of the largest full-service firms operating in Tunis with two partners and 10 lawyers. Zaanouni has a deep knowledge of local sensibilities and legal capabilities, and is an integral part of the community. Ranked in both Chambers and The Legal 500, Zaanouni is highly recognized in the market for Investment Law, Commercial Law, Real Estate, Public and Administrative Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Environmental Law, and Litigation and Arbitration, particularly across the Real Estate, Shipping, Tourism, Manufacturing, and Aviation Sectors. The combination would lead to significant synergies in light of Dentons’ strengths in each of these areas.

“Dentons’ strategy is focused on finding combination firms who have the proven ability to offer sophisticated, high-quality legal services and business solutions in their home markets,” said Noor Kapdi, CEO of Dentons’ Africa Region. “Zaanouni was the clear choice for our combination by virtue of its standing in Tunisia and its international focus. Our combination will continue Dentons’ momentum in Africa, enabling Dentons to, once again, maintain and improve its quality as it grows.”

“Zaanouni and Dentons share the vision of building the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans,” said Mohamed Zaanouni, Managing Partner of Zaanouni. “Our future combination with Dentons means that our clients will benefit from continuing to be served by lawyers that they know and trust while also having access to more talent in more locations than any other firm.”

This combination, along with Dentons’ other locations in Africa, in Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, strengthens the foundation for Dentons to become the dominant global law firm on the continent.

In Africa, Dentons now has offices in:

The combination, following approval by the partners and subject to meeting regulatory requirements, is expected to launch in the coming months.

ENDS