Effi & Associés, a leading business law firm based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, has officially joined Africa Law Practice International (ALPi), becoming the network’s tenth member firm as it expands into Francophone West Africa.
The onboarding ceremony, held at the offices of Effi & Associés in Abidjan, marks a significant milestone in ALPi’s strategic growth across the continent. With the addition of Effi & Associés, ALPi now operates in ten African countries — Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Namibia, Mauritius and Côte d’Ivoire — making it one of the continent’s most geographically diverse and AfCFTA-focused legal and professional services networks.
Welcoming the firm to the network, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Senior Partner at ALP Nigeria, described the partnership as a major step forward for the group’s clients and operations across Africa. “Getting one of the most highly regarded lawyers in Francophone Africa, Serge Effi, and his firm, Effi & Associés, 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,” he said.
Mr Shasore added that the bilingual strength and cross-border expertise of Effi & Associés would enhance the network’s capacity to serve clients across 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,” he said.
The Senior Partner of Africa Legal Associates (ALP Ghana), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, said the inclusion of Effi & Associés reflected ALPi’s deliberate strategy to establish a strong presence across Africa’s major economic zones.
“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,” he said.
In response, Dr Serge Effi, Managing Partner of Effi & Associés, said joining ALPi represented an exciting opportunity to offer seamless legal services to clients across Africa’s evolving business landscape. “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,” he stated.
A Partner at ALP Nigeria, Uyi Giwa-Osagie, added that the partnership would further strengthen business and trade relations between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, two of the fastest-growing economies in West Africa.
Founded and led by Dr Effi, Effi & Associés is a top-tier corporate and tax law firm located in Abidjan-Plateau. It provides legal and advisory services in areas such as taxation, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, employment law and commercial litigation. The firm’s clientele includes both local and multinational companies in sectors such as energy, banking, telecommunications, and construction.
Africa Law Practice International (ALPi) brings together independent law firms and professional service providers across the continent under a unified structure focused on supporting Africa’s integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Its collaborative model offers clients access to expertise across Africa’s key regional blocs — ECOWAS, EAC, SADC and COMESA — helping them navigate complex regulatory frameworks and cross-border transactions.
Effi & Associés will be formally introduced at the ALPi Annual General Meeting scheduled for February 2026 in Accra, Ghana, where partners from all member countries will outline the network’s growth strategy for 2026–2030.