This move is fully aligned with ASAFO & CO.’s development strategy, building on the firm’s already largest Africa-focused team in Paris. It will further strengthen ASAFO & CO.’s ability to handle large-scale mandates in collaboration with its teams across the firm’s five offices in Africa, and to support major corporations, international lenders, governments, and public entities on strategic projects.

Founded by Nicolas Jean, a recognized figure in major international projects, Stork Avocats has experienced steady growth since its inception. As the firm explored opportunities to strengthen its offering and scale its operations, a merger with ASAFO & CO. emerged as the most natural and logical path, reflecting the strong alignment of their client bases, the distinctly African positioning of both firms, and the clear synergy between their practice areas.

Stork Avocats’ expertise in the legal and contractual structuring of complex transactions — particularly in project development (including real estate and urban planning), structured finance, and public sector reform — further strengthens and complements ASAFO & CO.’s existing capabilities.

Nicolas Jean is joining ASAFO & CO. alongside partners Perrine Delandre (project development, public contracts, and public-private partnerships) and Aurélien de Castéja (bank and structured debt financing, as well as fund structuring), together with two associates, Yasmin Chebaro and Jean-Etienne Guitard.

Nicolas Jean, Perrine Delandre, Aurélien de Castéja and their team advise African and international investors, industry players, governments, and state-owned entities on major projects across Africa in the agriculture, energy, real estate, infrastructure, natural resources, tourism, public sector, and digital economy sectors, as well as on legislative and regulatory reforms involving sovereignty considerations.

Nicolas Jean, Partner, ASAFO & CO.: “I am delighted to be joining ASAFO & CO. alongside my partners and colleagues. For more than 10 years, our ambition has been to work with public and private stakeholders to support the projects and reforms shaping Africa’s economic and institutional future. Combining our firms will enable us to continue the journey we began with Stork Avocats and to fulfil a shared vision: contributing to the development of the first global law firm dedicated to Africa and bringing together the best talent to better serve our clients and respond to their evolving needs. On a personal level, this decision was also shaped by my meeting with Pascal Agboyibor and his partners, with whom we share a common development strategy, values, and goals.”

Pascal Agboyibor, Managing Partner, ASAFO & CO.: “We are delighted to welcome the Stork team. This combination significantly strengthens the firm’s overall capabilities, to the benefit of our shared clients —particularly on complex and transformative mandates across Africa. Nicolas Jean will join the firm’s global governance team, further enhancing our strategic leadership and our ability to serve clients throughout the Continent and beyond. With this recruitment, we also aim to accelerate the deployment of the Paris office’s services to French and European players expanding into East and Southern Africa.”