AI Magazine Issue 12 2018

46 Acquisition International - Issue 12 2018 Now in its 47th year of operation, Kettani Law Firm has grown steadily from a one-mad band to the family empire it is today. Mr Azzedine Kettani, the firm’s founder, provides us with a brief history. t was in 1968, whilst working as a young lecturer at the Faculty of Law in Rabat, That Mr Azzedine Kettani had a vision. The vision that his theoretical knowledge was pointless, and his workmeaningless, if he couldn’t actively contribute to enrich the practise of law. What followed was the embracing of the law profession, which started with an internship, and culminated in the creation of law firm Azzedine Kettani in 1971. “The trust that some multinationals, particularly Americans, and the Government of the United States of America, placed in the firm shortly after its creation was due to the acceptable use of the English language that I could offer as one of the rare English speakers of the Casablanca Bar,” explains Mr Kettani, speaking of the early days and his firm’s growing success. “This asset has drawn a clientele that has continually developed amongst multinational companies from all over the world, as well as foreign governments that engaged the law firm’s services, which in 1973 already included six people, a team that doubled in 1980 to reach 15 employees in 1990.” Then, to ensure a further succession, Mr Kettani’s first children, attracted by their father’s profession and the law, joined the firm. “Nadia and Rita respectively arrived in 1992 and 1993 after brilliant studies,” enthuses Mr Kettani proudly. “They focused on strengthening the English- speaking orientation of the firm, studied in the US and developed their knowledge and use of Shakespeare’s language.” In 1995, Mr Kettani found himself on Nolly Street in Casablanca, using two-floors of a prestigious 1930s classified building, which was soon expanded to occupy nearly 400m2. By this point the firm comprised of around 35 associates who were actively working as lawyers, legal counsels and paralegals, as well as secretarial and accounting staff. “The “Departments” were beginning to take shape,” comments Mr Kettani. “Resulting in the creation of the department of litigation for the defence of banks, insurance and all companies, and the consulting department for contractual matters, investment, financing, etc.” During the 2000s, Mr Kettani had the idea to grow Kettani Law Firm and create a leading firm that could Contact: Azzedine Kettani Company: Kettani Law Firm Address: 8 Rude Lahcen El Basri 20100 Casablanca Telephone: +212 522 438900 Web Address: www.kettlaw.com FromHumble Beginnings I 1807AI56 rival the big firms, particularly the American firms, and provide a quality of service which would be comparable to theirs. “To reach this goal, we had to invest and I thus decided to buy, in the beginning of 2004, in the heart of the city, in a street perpendicular to Anfa Boulevard, a building that, once demolished, would consist of seven floors and two undergrounds, and become the new Kettani Law Firm Building of some 3000 m².” Achieved and completed in May 2005, the behemoth building is divided into several units: consulting, intellectual property, commercial and corporate, labour law, arbitration, and a recovery department composed of specialised units for banks and insurance companies - a model that is unique to Kettani Law Firm. More than 120 employees, including administrative staff, alongside Moroccan and foreign lawyers and legal counsels, are now permanently working at Kettani Law firm, each one abiding by the same motto: “Serving the client to the best”. Two new “youngsters” have joined their older sisters: Driss Kettani who, after his law studies at the Pantheon-Sorbonne University in France, was admitted to the Casablanca Bar where he has been a lawyer since 2012, in charge of the finances and organization. He was followed by Zineb Kettani, who took an unusual path by graduating in pharmacy from the University of Lausanne. She then abandoned pharmacy to answer the call to law and is now registered with the same Bar of Casablanca. “We had to take the final leap and remove the craftsmanship coat to become a partnership, and in November 2011, Kettani Law Firm became a private lawyers’ partnership under the new law that permitted it. “A new adventure has started,” states Mr Kettani, as he explains just how important his staff members are to the firm. “Kettani Law firm is a family run firm, but its family includes all its associates and staff members, and not only “the Kettanis”. “This is also the reason we are organising our annual “family days” where we all meet altogether and celebrate our successes. These successes have allowed us to receive regularly prestigious international awards.”