About
Mohamed Zaanouni is Dentons’ Chief Executive Officer for the Africa region and the managing partner at Dentons Zaanouni (formerly Zaanouni Law Firm & Associates).
Dentons continues to expand across Africa to meet the evolving needs of business, government and international institutions across the continent. Mohamed leads over 18+ offices across Africa including Angola, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.
Mohamed is involved in the acquisition and transfer of companies, equity investments, investments or partnerships for foreign investors wishing to set up and/or develop their investments in Tunisia and throughout Africa.
He has assisted several clients in their M&A operations, in particular cross-border, as well as in strategic mergers.
Mohamed also practices banking and finance law. He advises credit institutions, finance companies, investment firms, payment institutions and electronic money institutions on the legislative and regulatory framework applicable to their activity.
Experience
Leading group operating in the real estate industry: Assisting in the restructuring of a consortium of Tunisian real estate promoters and Kuwaiti investors in connection with construction projects of 4 hospitals in various regions in Tunisia:
Company operating in the oil and gas sector: Advising of a Tunisian company specialized in oil & gas sector in various partnerships and investments in Libya;
Company operating in mining industry: Assisting in the implementation of a mining project consisting in gypsum extraction using innovative process without explosives including fundraising operations and organization of roadshows;
Global company operating in the tourism sector: Assisting in its partnership with a large Tunisian group, from the negotiation phase to the closing, including the due diligence phase, as well as the financial and fiscal structure of the project, the drafting and review of agreements and the support for all locally required procedures;
Investment fund: Advising in the creation of a holding of Tunisian, British and Malaysian investors for the financing of multisectoral projects (cement plants, renewable energies, agro-industry, works and civil engineering, transport and logistics, education, big data, health);
Leading African group in higher education: Assisting of a private group of universities implanted in more than 11 African countries in the context of sale purchase transaction of teaching establishments.
Recognition
Mohamed has been recognized as one of the most influential business lawyers in Africa and as an expert in mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate and investment, Jeune Afrique Business 2019, Jeune Afrique Business 2020.
Activities and Affiliations
- Vice-President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia (Am-Cham)
- Chapter Chair of the New York State Bar Association in Tunisia (NYSBA)
- Arbitrator at The Tunisian Olympic Committee (CNOT)
Prior and Present Employment
- Chief Executive Officer – Africa, Dentons, 2025 to date
- Managing Partner, Dentons Zaanouni (formerly Zaanouni Law Firm & Associates), 2000 to date
- Foreign Associate, Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, New York, USA, 1995-1996
- Foreign Associate, MFB Solicitors London, UK, 1994-1995
Areas of focus
- Banking and Finance
- Corporate
- Energy
- Financial Institutions
- Hospitality and Leisure
- Industrial Production
- Insurance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Technology
Education
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Postgraduate Degree, Business Law
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Superior Studies Diploma, Foreign Trade Law
- Tunis University, 1993, Master Degree, Private Law
Admissions and qualifications
Tunis, 1996
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Postgraduate Degree, Business Law
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Superior Studies Diploma, Foreign Trade Law
- Tunis University, 1993, Master Degree, Private Law
Languages
- Arabic
- English
- French
- Italian
About
Mohamed Zaanouni is Dentons’ Chief Executive Officer for the Africa region and the managing partner at Dentons Zaanouni (formerly Zaanouni Law Firm & Associates).
Dentons continues to expand across Africa to meet the evolving needs of business, government and international institutions across the continent. Mohamed leads over 18+ offices across Africa including Angola, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.
Mohamed is involved in the acquisition and transfer of companies, equity investments, investments or partnerships for foreign investors wishing to set up and/or develop their investments in Tunisia and throughout Africa.
He has assisted several clients in their M&A operations, in particular cross-border, as well as in strategic mergers.
Mohamed also practices banking and finance law. He advises credit institutions, finance companies, investment firms, payment institutions and electronic money institutions on the legislative and regulatory framework applicable to their activity.
Experience
Leading group operating in the real estate industry: Assisting in the restructuring of a consortium of Tunisian real estate promoters and Kuwaiti investors in connection with construction projects of 4 hospitals in various regions in Tunisia:
Company operating in the oil and gas sector: Advising of a Tunisian company specialized in oil & gas sector in various partnerships and investments in Libya;
Company operating in mining industry: Assisting in the implementation of a mining project consisting in gypsum extraction using innovative process without explosives including fundraising operations and organization of roadshows;
Global company operating in the tourism sector: Assisting in its partnership with a large Tunisian group, from the negotiation phase to the closing, including the due diligence phase, as well as the financial and fiscal structure of the project, the drafting and review of agreements and the support for all locally required procedures;
Investment fund: Advising in the creation of a holding of Tunisian, British and Malaysian investors for the financing of multisectoral projects (cement plants, renewable energies, agro-industry, works and civil engineering, transport and logistics, education, big data, health);
Leading African group in higher education: Assisting of a private group of universities implanted in more than 11 African countries in the context of sale purchase transaction of teaching establishments.
Recognition
Mohamed has been recognized as one of the most influential business lawyers in Africa and as an expert in mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate and investment, Jeune Afrique Business 2019, Jeune Afrique Business 2020.
Activities and Affiliations
- Vice-President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia (Am-Cham)
- Chapter Chair of the New York State Bar Association in Tunisia (NYSBA)
- Arbitrator at The Tunisian Olympic Committee (CNOT)
Prior and Present Employment
- Chief Executive Officer – Africa, Dentons, 2025 to date
- Managing Partner, Dentons Zaanouni (formerly Zaanouni Law Firm & Associates), 2000 to date
- Foreign Associate, Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green, New York, USA, 1995-1996
- Foreign Associate, MFB Solicitors London, UK, 1994-1995
Areas of focus
- Banking and Finance
- Corporate
- Energy
- Financial Institutions
- Hospitality and Leisure
- Industrial Production
- Insurance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Technology
Education
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Postgraduate Degree, Business Law
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Superior Studies Diploma, Foreign Trade Law
- Tunis University, 1993, Master Degree, Private Law
Admissions and qualifications
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Postgraduate Degree, Business Law
- University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, 1995, Superior Studies Diploma, Foreign Trade Law
- Tunis University, 1993, Master Degree, Private Law
Languages
- Arabic
- English
- French
- Italian
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