Azzedine Kettani

About the Lawyer

Professor Azzedine Kettani is the founder of Kettani Law Firm in Casablanca and one of Morocco’s leading arbitration and commercial law practitioners. Since beginning his legal career in 1968, he has combined academic excellence with practical legal expertise, building one of Morocco’s largest independent law firms.

Throughout his career, he has represented multinational corporations, financial institutions, foreign governments, and public entities in complex domestic and international disputes. His long-standing commitment to arbitration has made him a respected figure in Morocco’s legal community and an important contributor to the country’s modern arbitration framework.

Today, Kettani Law Firm employs more than 120 legal and administrative professionals across multiple specialized departments, serving both Moroccan and international clients.

Experience

Professor Kettani began his professional career as a law professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Rabat before joining the Casablanca Bar on 16 July 1968. In 1971, he established Cabinet Azzedine Kettani, which later evolved into Kettani Law Firm.

Over more than five decades of legal practice, he has:

• Acted as sole arbitrator, tribunal chair, tribunal member, and legal counsel in major domestic and international arbitration proceedings.
• Represented multinational companies, governments, financial institutions, and investors in high-value commercial disputes.
• Advised on cross-border investments, joint ventures, financing transactions, and infrastructure projects.
• Assisted the Moroccan Government on privatization initiatives and legal reforms involving arbitration mechanisms.
• Led the expansion of Kettani Law Firm into one of Morocco’s largest full-service independent law firms.

His arbitration work spans banking, insurance, infrastructure, energy, aviation, telecommunications, tourism, and other commercial sectors.

Areas of Practice

Professor Kettani focuses primarily on arbitration and complex commercial disputes, including:

• International Arbitration
• Domestic Arbitration
• Commercial Arbitration
• Investment Arbitration
• Cross-Border Commercial Disputes
• Banking & Finance Disputes
• Infrastructure & Energy Projects
• Joint Ventures
• Contract Drafting & Arbitration Clauses
• Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

He also advises clients on arbitration strategy, institutional rules, enforcement of arbitral awards, and dispute prevention.

Education

• Law Degree — Faculty of Law, University of Rabat
• Doctorate in Law (Juris Doctor) — Faculty of Law, University of Paris
• PhD in Law — Faculty of Law, University of Nice, France

Alongside legal practice, Professor Kettani has taught and published extensively on arbitration, banking law, labour law, corporate law, and Moroccan legal reforms.

Leadership & Contributions

Professor Kettani has played an important role in shaping Morocco’s legal landscape through both practice and legal reform.

His contributions include:

• Founder of Kettani Law Firm (1971)
• Advisor to government commissions on arbitration, corporate law, and family law reforms
• Contributor to Morocco’s modern arbitration legislation
• Author of numerous legal publications on arbitration, commercial law, banking law, and intellectual property

Awards & Recognition

• Arbitration Law Firm of the Year (2017) – Corporate INTL Global Awards
• Arbitration Law Firm of the Year (2018) – Corporate INTL Global Awards
• Ranked as a Global Litigation Expert by Chambers Profiles
• Recognized as an Arbitration Expert by Global Law Experts
• Leading Adviser Awards (2023) – Recognition for arbitration practice

Representative Experience

Professor Kettani has advised and represented clients in disputes involving:

• International investment projects
• Banking and finance
• Insurance
• Infrastructure
• Energy
• Aviation
• Telecommunications
• Tourism
• Commercial contracts
• Joint ventures
• Government-related arbitration

He has also served on ICSID annulment committees, including matters involving Malicorp v. Egypt and Lemire v. Ukraine.