Effi & Associés, a leading business law firm based in Abidjan, has officially become the tenth member firm of Africa Law Practice International (ALPi), the fast-growing Pan-African legal and professional services network.
The on-boarding ceremony took place at the offices of Effi & Associés in Abidjan and marks a major milestone in ALPi’s strategic expansion into Africa, generally, and Francophone West Africa, in particular. With this addition, ALPi now operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Namibia, Mauritius and Côte d’Ivoire, making it one of Africa’s most geographically diverse and AfCFTA-focused law networks.
Welcoming the firm into the ALPi network, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Senior Partner of ALP Nigeria, said:
“Getting one of the most highly regarded lawyers in Francophone Africa, Serge Effi, and his firm, Effi & Associès to join the ALPi Practice Group is fantastic news for us and for our clients, including those across the ten African Union member states where we now operate. Serge’s cross-border experience and the bilingual strength of Effi & Associés deepen our capacity to serve clients in both civil and common law systems. This step advances our commitment to building a truly Pan-African legal services platform designed for the AfCFTA era, and for truly opening up African business.”
Adding his voice, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Senior Partner of Africa Legal Associates (ALP Ghana) stated:
“Africa is becoming increasingly a single market, where we see our clients, from multinationals to SMEs, expanding across borders. That’s why we are deliberate about ensuring that ALPi has a presence across the continent for our clients and potential partners both within Africa and globally. Having Effi & Associés as part of the family perfectly aligns with our vision to build a one-stop, high-quality advisory firm for clients seeking to do or expand their business in Africa.”
In his response, Dr. Serge Effi, Managing Partner of Effi & Associés, expressed enthusiasm about joining the network:
“We are very happy to be part of this Pan-African-focused law family. This partnership is greatly welcomed by our clients, and it enhances our ability to offer seamless legal services across both civil law and common law jurisdictions. This is exactly where Africa is going, which is toward deeper integration and cooperation among its professionals and markets. We are excited to represent ALPi in Côte d’Ivoire.”
Uyi Giwa-Osagie, Partner at ALP Nigeria, also welcomed the new member, noting that Effi & Associés’ entry would further strengthen business and trade relations between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, two of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
About Effi & Associés
Founded and led by Dr Serge Effi, Effi & Associés is a top-tier corporate and tax law firm based in Abidjan-Plateau, Côte d’Ivoire. The firm provides legal and advisory services in business law, taxation, mergers & acquisitions, project finance, employment law, and commercial litigation. Its clientele includes both local and multinational companies operating across diverse sectors, including energy, banking, construction, telecommunications, and logistics.
Dr Effi holds a Doctorate in Law from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, with earlier degrees in Economic Law (Université Paris XIII) and the CAPA qualification from the Paris Bar. He is admitted to both the Paris Bar (since 1996) and the Abidjan Bar (since 2006). Before founding his firm, he worked with Ernst & Young Abidjan and SCP Boineau-Soyer Paris, giving him a deep understanding of corporate restructuring, tax advisory, and cross-border transactions within the Francophone and Anglophone business ecosystems.
About Africa Law Practice International (ALPi)
ALPi is a Pan-African grouping of independent law firms and professional services providers founded on a shared commitment to Africa’s integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It brings together elite firms that combine legal, policy, tax, and strategic advisory capabilities under one collaborative structure.
With offices in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Namibia, Mauritius and now Côte d’Ivoire, ALPi provides clients with seamless access to legal expertise across Africa’s key regional economic communities, namely, ECOWAS, EAC, SADC, and COMESA, with the view to expand to other regions.
The network’s model enables clients to navigate complex cross-border transactions, dispute resolution, regulatory frameworks, and market-entry issues under the emerging single African market.
The new Côte d’Ivoire member will be formally introduced at the ALPi Annual General Meeting scheduled for February 2026 in Accra, Ghana, where partners from all nine other countries will meet to align on the network’s 2026–2030 growth strategy.
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