Member Profiles

Remi is an international corporate and transactional lawyer with strong focus on capital markets, banking/financial services and restructurings. He is a regular Monaco correspondent of international and “Magic Circle” law firms. He recurrently assists banks, funds and asset management companies in offerings, private placements, Monaco regulatory and securities laws. He has the most extensive track record in acquisitions deals in the banking and financial sector over the last 20 years in the Principality. As former European Counsel for McDonald’s and Schlumberger, Rémi has in depth knowledge of multinational organisations and companies, as well as sports federations in Monaco including the Automobile Club de Monaco, organizer of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Previous Experiences: Arthur Andersen: Managing Partner EMEIA Lagardère Group: Chairman of the Supervisory Board JCDecaux: Chairman of the Audit Committee Bernardaud: Director Former Member of the French National Bar Council Participants in several occasions to the World Economic Forum Chairman and/or member of Investment Committees of Family groups and/or private investment companies Education: Admitted to the French Bar (CAPA) MBA from HEC Paris (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales) Doctor in Tax Law, Paris-Panthéon Sorbone University Languages: French English Spanish "Xavier is recognized as an international expert on Family Governance matters. He authored several articles on the matter and has been a speaker at various conferences and forums. Also he is an expert in succession and estate planning, as well as asset protection mechanisms, and he serves as Director, Trustee or Protector of several family or private groups, based in Europe, US and Asia. Through his involvement in the setting up and management of sophisticated Private Client structures he has acquired a unique hands-on experience of such organizations."

Kettani Law Firm ('KLF') is a major Moroccan business law firm founded in 1971 by Professor Azzedine Kettani who was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1968 and is approved by the High Court of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco. He was joined in 1992 – after internships in France and the United States – by Nadia Kettani, who is the Head of the International Consulting Department while supervising some areas of the Litigation Department; and Rita Kettani in 1993, who is the Head of the Commercial Department, the Litigation Department and the Labour Law Department. In addition to international arbitration, the firm acts for banks and other financial institutions, international businesses, major public and private companies and government departments.

The firm was established in 1999 on the initiative of Mr. Abdellatif EL QUORTOBI, Chartered Accountant, and after accumulating a professional experience of fifteen years (15 years) in Morocco and abroad, including 10 years as a Director in a renowned auditing and consultancy international firm (Big Four). Team With a multidisciplinary team with 5 to 30 years of experience, we ensure that we are involving all the necessary skills to carry out the missions entrusted to us. Almost all of our employees are high level executives, graduates of universities or business schools. We are committed to offer you all our expertise in different areas and industries combined to a listening ability, pro-activity and precision. Areas of expertise The acquired experience covers the following domains: Audit and statutory audit Management and operational auditing Implementation of internal audit structure Accounting services Tax planning Legal and fiscal service and advice Assistance in case of fiscal controls Drawing up of contracts Company valuation Due diligence Merger/acquisition Corporate governance Training and seminars Our assets Listening ability & forward-thinking Assessment of issues at stake & appropriate advice Sector-based expertise & good knowledge of the Moroccan market and law Proactive & with a critical eye Always looking for the most appropriate solutions in order to build a lasting and trustworthy relationship with our clients and partners References by business sector Banks & leasing companies Insurers & Retirement funds Industries, trade & services Public enterprises Transportation & infrastructures Agriculture Communications & IT Associations Schools & training centers

Safia is a leader in her field as a corporate lawyer focusing on both domestic and cross-border M&A deals including sales and joint-ventures and banking and finance. Safia’s clients include international institutions, private equity funds and multinational corporations across multiple sectors. Safia has a specialised banking and finance practice advising on financing, lending and restructuring transactions acting for financial institutions as well as borrowers. Safia also regularly advises international clients with their employment issues as well as providing assistance on clients’ filings with the regulators representing them in relation to their litigation matters.  Safia is a board member of Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM - the equivalent of the UK CBI) and has chaired the legal commission for several years. Safia is also a board member of ALN. She is fluent in French , English and Arabic