Dentons Morocco launches its China desk

Dentons Morocco announces the launch of its China Desk, a dedicated division aiming at advising clients on market entry, investments and commercial partnerships in Morocco, in particular and Africa, more generally.

About the China desk

The decision to establish a dedicated China Desk comes at a pivotal time of major growth in Chinese investments in various sectors in Morocco, including automotive, infrastructure and renewable energy.

The launch of the China Desk is also closely aligned with Morocco’s strategic participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By joining the BRI in 2017, Morocco positioned itself as a strategic hub for Chinese investments in Africa, serving as a gateway for Chinese enterprises seeking access to the continent’s markets.

The BRI has boosted an array of business partnerships and infrastructure projects that have enhanced connectivity and trade between the two countries. Recent years have seen a significant increase in Chinese investment, highlighted by major projects such as the establishment of a $6.4 billion battery Gigafactory for electric vehicles by Gotion High-Tech. Dentons Morocco’s legal team played a key role in this groundbreaking transaction, providing top notch legal advice that ensured the successful launch and execution of the project.

Ms. Xiaolei Zhang (pictured left) joins as the head of the China desk. With extensive expertise in oil and gas, infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation and logistics, public relations and more, she brings her experience across various economic sectors and cultures. Dentons’ China Desk is uniquely positioned to offer comprehensive support across various sectors, including Projects and Public-Private Partnerships, Corporate/M&A, Financing, Corporate/M&A, Industrial Projects and Infrastructure, Mining, Intellectual Property, and Tax and Regulatory matters.

Omar Sayarh (pictured right), managing partner at Dentons Morocco, commented:

Our goal at Dentons Morocco is to provide specialized legal services that support our Chinese clients navigate the Moroccan legal landscape, ensuring their business operations are smooth, compliant and successful. We are excited to be part of Morocco’s growing role as a key destination for Chinese investment.