Italian and German firms unite for Libya launch

27 January 2012 | By Joanne Harris

The two firms have signed a best friend alliance covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and will operate a co-branded office in Tripoli.

Amereller has established alliance and associated firm relationships with local practices in Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Qatar and has its own offices in the United Arab Emirates as well as Berlin and Munich.

The agreement with CBA will see the Italian firm send lawyers on secondment across the region. CBA’s international practice group chair Alessandro Varrenti will be in charge of the MENA project.

Following the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi law firms are gearing up to act on projects in Libya (16 January 2012). Gulf-headquartered firm Al Tamimi & Company became the first to announce it was planning a Libya launch late last year (22 December 2011).

CBA managing partner Angelo Bonissoni said the move coincided with Italian government plans to foster Italian business in Libya. The two countries have a long historical relationship, as Libya was an Italian colony in the first half of the 20th century.

“We have planned to concentrate strong efforts initially in Libya and also in Iraq, where our friends at Amereller have done so well thus far and foreign investments are expected to be booming in the next years,” Bonissoni added.