OHADA Corporate & Commercial Law
One uniform body of business law governs companies in seventeen African states. We guide investors, groups and growing enterprises through every stage of it — incorporation, governance, capital transactions, commercial contracts, security packages and restructurings — with the precision your board expects and the local fluency the market demands.
What we do for you
Company formation and structuring
Choice of vehicle (SARL, SA, SAS, branch), articles and shareholders' agreements, RCCM registration and one-stop-shop filings — typically completed in days, not weeks.
Governance and corporate secretarial
Shareholder and board meetings, statutory registers, resolutions and filings kept current under the revised Uniform Acts.
Commercial contracts
Distribution, agency, franchise and subcontracting agreements, general terms, governing-law and dispute-resolution clauses drafted to be enforceable where it matters.
Security interests and financing
Mortgages, pledges, autonomous guarantees and security-agent structures, registered and perfected at the RCCM.
Mergers, disposals and restructurings
Legal audit, structuring, negotiation and documentation of acquisitions, carve-outs and group reorganisations.
Insolvency and turnaround
Conciliation, preventive settlement and judicial reorganisation — advising directors and creditors alike.
How an engagement unfolds
- QualificationYou describe your matter through our form; a partner calls you back within 24 hours.
- Engagement letterScope, deliverables, timing and fees are agreed in writing before work begins.
- ExecutionAn integrated legal, tax and regulatory team, led by a partner who remains your single point of contact.
- MonitoringTailored alerts on the texts that affect your matter, through the regulatory library.
Other practice areas
Frequently asked questions
Which corporate vehicle should we choose for an OHADA entry?
The SARL suits closely held structures; the SA suits ventures that require a board or access to public capital; the SAS, introduced by the 2014 revision, offers the widest contractual freedom. The right answer depends on shareholder numbers, funding plans and the tax regime you are targeting.
Is OHADA law applied identically in every member state?
The Uniform Acts apply directly and identically in all 17 states. Registration procedures, taxation and employment law remain national — which is precisely why counsel who knows each jurisdiction is worth retaining.
How long does incorporation take in Abidjan?
Through the CEPICI one-stop shop, a SARL can be registered within a few working days once the articles are finalised and the capital paid up. Timelines vary materially from one country to the next.
A matter in corporate law?
Describe your matter in two minutes. A partner — not an intake team — responds within 24 hours.