The expansion BonelliErede embarked on into Africa and the Middle East back in 2016 has just reached a new milestone: a cooperation with Zahaf & Partners, a leading Libyan law firm with extensive experience assisting institutions and local and foreign companies. The cooperation will enable BonelliErede to expand its presence in the area, thereby continuing on a path of strategic development that has seen it open offices in Cairo, Addis Ababa and Dubai, grow its team, and expand its network of law firms to partner with.

Zahaf & Partners, based in Tripoli, is well-known in the local and international market for its assistance in all areas of law, with a particular focus on dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration and project finance. The firm – led by its founder, Dr Saleh Mohammed Zahaf – has 10 professionals and considerable experience in various industrial sectors relevant to Libya, including oil and gas, construction, heavy industry, transport, aviation and defence, and telecommunications. Dr Saleh Zahaf boasts over 30 years of experience and an impressive track record in supporting international investors in Libya. He has also played a key role in drafting legislative documents to attract investment to the country and assisted with the privatisation of some local banks.  

Stefano Simontacchi, President of BonelliErede, said: “This cooperation fits right in with the strategic path we embarked on a few years ago, as it takes us a step further in our growth in Africa and the Middle East. We are now present in 34 jurisdictions and thus offer in-depth, targeted knowledge across a very large and diversified area. Libya, despite its current political situation, is a very dynamic market full of opportunities for international investors in various fields that are facilitating the country’s reconstruction. And I believe there will be strong synergy between the BonelliErede offices in Africa and the Middle East, especially the Cairo office”. 

Dr Saleh Zahaf, founding partner of Zahaf & Partners, added: “Strengthening our partnership with BonelliErede, a firm we know well and have been working with closely for some years now, is a source of great pride for us. This fruitful cooperation will enable us to expand our international reach and strengthen our positioning in Libya. With Italian and European companies showing a growing interest in the Libyan market, this cooperation will boost both our firms’ abilities to offer a broader range of services and to seize these new opportunities”.