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Abidjan, May 12, 2025 – Nearly eight years after its founding, Thiam & Associés marks a new milestone in its growth with the opening of an office in Abidjan.

Founded in 2017 by Baba Hady Thiam, the firm has established itself as a leading name in business law, recognized for its sector-specific expertise serving both local and international companies, particularly in the fields of natural resources, energy, infrastructure, finance, and technology.

Recently, Thiam & Associés has advised on several major transactions across the continent. Notably, the firm advised China BaoSteel Group on the Simandou project, a landmark $15 billion mining initiative that combines the exploitation of the world’s largest iron ore deposit with the construction of railway and port infrastructure, with operations set to commence in the coming months. The firm has also assisted Vista Bank with a series of strategic expansion and restructuring transactions across multiple West African countries. In the energy sector, Thiam & Associés has supported Karpowership in deploying innovative power solutions in Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Republic of Guinea. On the litigation front, the firm represents a consortium of European and American banks—including Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Citibank—in a complex multi-jurisdictional dispute.

The new Abidjan office will be led by Gilles Kouamé, an accredited legal advisor in Côte d’Ivoire, who joins the firm as a partner. Gilles specializes in mergers and acquisitions and transactional tax with additional expertise in the mining, oil, and energy sectors. With over fifteen years of experience at leading firms PwC Tax & Legal and KPMG in Côte d’Ivoire, he regularly advises companies on complex transactions, corporate reorganizations, and tax optimization projects. Commenting on this new chapter, he stated: “Joining Thiam & Associés is an incredible opportunity. I was drawn to the firm’s vision, which blends strong local roots with an international outlook. Thanks to its dynamism and deep understanding of the regional context, we are well-positioned to provide economic players with first- class support that combines excellence, proximity, and international standards ” .

Baba Hady Thiam, founding partner, added: ” We are delighted to welcome Gilles to Thiam & Associés. His expertise and in-depth knowledge of the Ivorian market will strengthen our capacity to serve an increasingly demanding international clientele seeking integrated, global, and multi-jurisdictional support. Opening an office in Abidjan—a key business hub—is fully aligned with this strategy. It marks a major milestone in our development, and we aim to continue with the opening of additional offices in Africa’s main capitals. Our ambition is to be present wherever our clients do business “.