UGGC AFRICA - Key Persons
Ali Bougrine is a multidisciplinary lawyer working on local and cross-border transactions mainly in the EMEA region. He specializes in corporate law with a focus on Mergers & Acquisitions, International Investments, Private Equity, and Litigation & Arbitration. He is also an expert in OHADA Law which he has been practicing for more than a decade. In 2021, he was ranked among the 20 best lawyers in Africa by Jeune Afrique Business+.
He has a double degree in public and corporate law (DEA and DESS) from the University of Paris V - René Descartes, and was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2003. He started his career at UGGC Avocats in 2002 and has remained loyal to this independent firm created in 1993. He then became a partner of the M&A department in Paris.
Ali is also the Managing Partner of UGGC Africa, leading the African offices in Casablanca, Douala, Abidjan, and Paris Desk. For over 20 years, UGGC Africa has been deeply involved in major pan-African cross-border transactions, primarily in French-speaking Africa.
Ali Bougrine is a member of several associations such as the « Conseil Français des Investisseurs en Afrique » (CIAN), the Israel-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry since the launch of the international alliance of the two leading law firms in Morocco and Israel: FIRON-UGGC in 2022, the International Association of Lawyers (ULA), the "Association Française d'Arbitrage" (AFA), the French Association of Investors for Growth, France Invest, the Moroccan Business Lawyers Association (AJAM), the Moroccan Association of Capital Investors (AMIC). He holds the job of representative for the BNP Trade International.
Ali is the author of several articles and publications and has given numerous interviews to the media (Le Monde du Droit, BFM TV, RFI, La Tribune Afrique, Médi1 radio, Magazine de l'Afrique, Les Inspirations Eco magazine, Africa Business+, etc.). He is a regular speaker at international conferences and forums and pursues an educational activity by regularly conducting numerous training sessions on Mergers & Acquisitions, international investments and litigation & arbitration (Francis Lefebvre Formation, "Ecole de Formation du Barreau de Paris" EFB, Groupe EFE, "Université International de Rabat" UIR, etc.). With The World Bank Group, he contributed in 2021 to the drafting of the Moroccan chapter of the Doing Business Project related to their Transfer of Ownership indicator, including a section describing efforts to support recovery after Covid-19.
Ali is a native French and Arabic speaker, and is fluent in English.
Aurelien is an Attorney-at-law and Partner in the firm.
He is a Member of the Cameroon Bar Association and a trained OHADA Arbitrator.
He holds a Diploma of Specialized Higher Studies in Corporate Law Practice. He is a Business law graduate and a trained professional in Domestic and International Arbitration from the University of Montpellier in France. He has also completed professional training in the Commercial Arbitration system of the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) under the auspices of the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA).
Aurelien specializes in commercial litigation and arbitration. He represents clients in OHADA-related litigation within Africa and International Arbitration proceedings. He is known for his industry-specific knowledge and his expertise in litigation before state courts including the Supreme Court of Cameroon and litigation before the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration. He handles domestic and international arbitration proceedings and has acted as Counsel in proceedings before the Swiss Chambers' Arbitration Institution.
He regularly provides clients with strategic advice on the execution of public procurement contracts and structuring projects, on tax issues and administrative law issues. He also advises investors, institutional and corporate clients about their projects within the OHADA zone with a focus on the setting up, management, and dissolution of companies, joint-ventures, securities, debt recovery procedures, liquidation of assets, and insolvency.
He handles company secretarial services and advises on shareholders' agreements, shares purchase, corporate governance, corporate finance, company restructuring, regulatory compliance, negotiation, and drafting of commercial agreements. He is known for his expertise in assisting corporate entities in their investment projects. He handles complex public procurement contracts, including engineering, procurement, and construction contracts (EPCs).
He is an approved and certified World Bank Consultant and the Representative of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) in Cameroon. He is among the lawyers recognised by the most renowned International Legal Directories like The Legal500.
Aurelien is fluent in French, English, and Spanish.
Danielle is an Attorney-at-law and the Managing Partner of the firm.
She is a member of the Cameroon Bar Association, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
She is a Business law graduate and an experienced business lawyer. She has undergone qualifying professional training before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI). She is a trained professional in Artificial Intelligence, Financial Technology, and LegalTech (Japan), Computer science and Artificial Intelligence for lawyers (Harvard University - USA), and The Fintech Revolution (The University of Pennsylvania - Wharton, USA).
Ericson Dirabou is a partner of the Dirabou & Partners Law Firm, leading the Public Business Law Department.
Admitted to the Ivory Coast Bar in 2005, he holds a Master's degree in Business Law from the University of Lille II (France) and a LLM in Energy Law from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland).
Eugene is a Paralegal in the Firm.
With a strong history of education gathered in Cameroon and Gabon, Eugene supports lawyers by drafting documents, organizing files, maintaining the legal library, and more.
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Franklin is an Attorney-at-law and Senior Associate in the firm.
He is a Member of the Cameroon Bar Association and the Gambia Bar Association.
He is a graduate in Business Law, and holder of a Certificate in General Courses on Intellectual Property delivered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Franklin has completed a professional internship at the Office of the Attorney General of The Gambia. He was a contributor to the Chambers Global Practice Guide 2019 on Trademarks and the 2019 International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) on Mergers and Acquisitions.
He handles corporate litigation files and counterfeiting proceedings. He advises on intellectual property issues, including trademarks, patents, industrial designs, trade names, geographical indications. He recognises the significant value of IP rights and takes a practical view to resolve issues arising.
He handles complex corporate matters with a focus on the following sectors Financial services, Telecom, Distribution, Construction, Health, Tourism, Transportation, Audiovisual, Postal courier, and Professional services.
He was among the key members in the firm advising The World Bank Group and the World Trade Organization on the trade in services policies in Cameroon for the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) negotiations. The combined African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the 55 Member States is valued at USD 3.4 trillion with a population of 1.3 billion people. The AfCFTA Agreement represents the turning point that will accelerate intra African trade and promote Africa's global market position by unifying the continent under one voice.
He is an approved and certified World Bank Consultant.
Franklin is fluent in English and French.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Attorney - at - Law and Senior Associate
Shella is an Attorney-at-law and Senior Associate in the firm.
She is a Member of the Cameroon Bar Association and the Nigeria Bar Association.
She is a graduate in Business Law, and holder of a Certificate in General Courses on Intellectual Property delivered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and a Professional Arbitrator's certificate delivered by the UK International Center for Arbitration and Mediation, Nigerian Branch (Abuja).
She specializes in corporate governance, commercial contracts, and Intellectual Property.
She handles company secretarial services and advises on shareholders' agreements, shares purchase, corporate governance, corporate finance, company restructuring, regulatory compliance, negotiation, and drafting of commercial agreements. She is known for her expertise in assisting corporate entities in their investment projects. Her competence ranges from business incorporation to the negotiation and execution of complex commercial contracts.
She has extensive experience in securities, mergers, and restructuring. She has developed a great interest in technology projects and advises on specific issues relating to payment services, mobile money transactions, payments services distributors/sub-distributors agreements, and international money remittance in the CEMAC zone. Shella is fluent in English and French.