Company News - Nov 12, 2020

The ASAFO & CO. Paris office develops further with the hire of its eleventh partner, Noro-Lanto Ravisy, and expands the firm’s capabilities in M&A and private equity.

Admitted to the Paris bar since 1989, Noro-Lanto Ravisy started her career at Arthur Andersen where she became a partner in 1999. She later joined Taylor Wessing (2003-2008), Nixon Peabody (2008-2013), Simmons & Simmons (2013-2016), at each of which she headed the private equity practice, and more recently, Astaé Partners. She graduated from the University of Aix-en-Provence (post-graduate degree (DESS) in tax and business law, 1986). She also has a certificate in insurance law from the University of Aix-en-Provence (1987).

Over the course of her career, Noro-Lanto has advised major corporations, financial institutions, investments funds and managers on a large number of global transactions, ranging from small to large cap, (buyouts, capital raisings, acquisitions, disposals, mergers, JVs), including in Africa. ASAFO & CO.’s clients will benefit from her experinence advising international investors interested in acquiring share interests in African groups, as well as African companies interested in investing abroad.

In addition to international M&A/private equity, Noro-Lanto also has extensive experience advising managers and family offices in their growth and in buyouts involving private equity funds. She plans to build on this expertise at ASAFO & CO., particularly by developing a service offering for large African family businesses, the current and future champions, in their growth in Africa and beyond.

Noro-Lanto Ravisy, Partner, ASAFO & CO.: “I am delighted to be part of ASAFO & CO.’s growth and share my experience with the firm’s teams and clients.  ASAFO & CO. now has the largest team of lawyers in Paris dedicated to Africa. The firm’s unique positioning, combined with its strong presence in Africa and more recently in London, convinced me to join them.”

Pascal AGBOYIBOR, Managing Partner, ASAFO & CO.: “We are very pleased to have Noro-Lanto join our team. She will bring real added value to our global practice and to the firm’s positioning in Paris and in Europe. Despite the prevailing world pandemic, interest in Africa remains strong and investors remain active and in search of new opportunities. With our business model and teams on the ground in Africa, having an M&A / Private Equity partner in Paris with more than 25 years of experience and more than 150 deals in Europe and Africa to her credit, is particularly attractive for our clients, including DFIs, funds, and French and European corporations.”