THE AUTHOR:
Yassine Alaoui, Associate at Teynier Pic
Miya Benjelloun, Associate at Teynier Pic
Introduction
Over the past two decades, arbitration has established itself as an increasingly important means of dispute resolution in Morocco. Consequently, Morocco has developed its position as a key regional arbitration hub at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the MENA region.
Against this backdrop, Reda Lafrouji, Hamza El Hassani, and Salma Hakari founded Morocco Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (“Morocco VYAP”) in 2022, providing young professionals and students in Morocco with a platform to connect and engage with the domestic arbitration community. In parallel, Morocco VYAP has also operated as part of the broader Global VYAP network, building bridges between young arbitration practitioners in Morocco and abroad.
In November 2025, Morocco VYAP entered a new chapter with the appointment of its new Executive Board – comprising Yassine Alaoui (Teynier Pic, Paris), Miya Benjelloun (Teynier Pic, Paris), Yasmine Chouari (Komon Avocats, Paris), and Anass Moumen (Moumen Avocats, Casablanca). Over the past year, Morocco VYAP has sought to expand its activities, outreach, and engagement within the arbitration community.
This retrospective looks back at some of those initiatives and developments.
Sharing Expertise and Launching Its Partnership with Jus Mundi
The new Executive Board of the Morocco VYAP started its activities by collaborating with Jus Mundi on various projects. Morocco VYAP first contributed to the Jus Mundi 2025 Arbitration Year in Review.
In February 2026, Executive Board members Yasmine Chouari and Anass Moumen authored the section dedicated to arbitration in Morocco. Their contribution provides international practitioners with an overview of the legislative and regulatory framework and recent developments, the landmark investment and commercial arbitration cases, and major trends within the country. By detailing the evolution of Morocco’s arbitration landscape, this contribution also underlines its position as an increasingly active arbitration hub.
Following this first collaboration, Morocco VYAP became an editorial partner of Daily Jus. As part of this partnership, Morocco VYAP will regularly publish articles on Moroccan arbitration law and case law, as well as publications covering topics related to Morocco VYAP’s events and initiatives. This partnership provides an additional platform for young Moroccan arbitration practitioners to contribute to discussions on arbitration in Morocco and share developments with a wider audience, in line with its mission.
Nurturing North African Dialogue and Regional Connections at the 10th Edition of Paris Arbitration Week
In March 2026, during Paris Arbitration Week, Morocco VYAP co-hosted the first event dedicated to International Arbitration in North Africa, together with Algeria Very Young Arbitration Practitioners and Egypt Very Young Arbitration Practitioners.
Held at the Paris Arbitration Centre by Delos, this conference was moderated by Miya Benjelloun and opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Amel Makhlouf (AM Avocat, Paris), Hafez Virjee (Delos Dispute Resolution and Virjee Arbitration, Paris), and Adel Al Beldjilali‑Bekkaïri (Foley Hoag, Paris). It offered a closer and practice-oriented look at international arbitration in the region, drawing on the experiences of young practitioners and more senior counsel involved in North African disputes. The discussions featured insights from prominent practitioners representing key jurisdictions in the region, including:
- Munia El Harti-Alonso (MEHA Law, Paris) and Yasmine Chouari for Morocco;
- Mounia Larbaoui (White & Case, Paris) and Adam Malek (Darci, Paris) for Algeria;
- Yosr Bouassida (Freshfields, Paris) for Tunisia;
- Tarek Eltumi (Eltumi Partners, London) for Libya; and
- Sally El Sawah (Junction Law, Paris) alongside Zyad Loutfi (Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, Paris) for Egypt.
By bringing together diverse perspectives from across North Africa, the panel offered a practical look at arbitration across each jurisdiction, providing the audience with insider insights into the legal, institutional, and procedural nuances of regional disputes. Furthermore, the event created a valuable platform to compare national legal frameworks and practitioner experiences, while exploring the everyday realities, challenges, and opportunities shaping international arbitration in the region.
Connecting the Next Generation with the International Arbitration Community at the Casablanca Arbitration Days
In April 2026, Morocco VYAP launched its first partnership with the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (“CIMAC”). Together, they organized an event following the Casablanca Arbitration Days, held at the Royal Mansour Hotel. This interactive event was dedicated to young Moroccan practitioners and students interested in arbitration.
The panel brought together experienced international arbitration professionals from Morocco and abroad with diverse backgrounds, including private practitioners, arbitrators, representatives of international and arbitral institutions, and an expert: Amin Hajji (Hajji & Associés, Casablanca), Dr. Emilia Onyema (Onyema Arbitration Services Limited, London), Jihad Agouram (Agouram & Jalal Association d’Avocats, Casablanca), H.E Justice Michael Black KC (International Arbitrator & Judge in the DIFC, London), Chafiq Serragui (Serratec, Casablanca) and Francisco Luis Abriani (ICSID, Washington DC). Framed by the opening and closing remarks of Hicham Zegrary (CIMAC, Casablanca), Sofia El Baghdadi (CIMAC, Casablanca), Anass Moumen, and Yasmine Chouari, the panellists shared insights and experiences from their respective careers and answered questions from the audience.
This event attracted a full audience of young practitioners and students, providing them with the opportunity to engage directly with established arbitration figures. It also reflected the growing engagement and dynamism of the young Moroccan arbitration community, and its interest in exchanging with practitioners from abroad.
Bringing Mentors and Mentees Together over Mint Tea, Starting with Aïcha Brahma
Last but not least, Morocco VYAP launched its new monthly interview series, “Mint Tea Sessions…Where Mentors meet Mentees” – a nod to the Moroccan tradition of sharing conversations over a cup of mint tea and to the series’ focus on exchanges between different generations of practitioners.
Since September 2026, the organization hosts an online conversation each month with a leading arbitration practitioner regarding their professional journey, the lessons they have learned, the challenges they have faced, and the advice they wish they had received earlier in their career. They will also discuss specific aspects of arbitration practice and provide practical advice drawn from their experience in the field.
These unscripted sessions will allow students and young practitioners to engage in open dialogue with high-profile Moroccan arbitration professionals and to gain practical insights into their careers and the practice of arbitration.
The first guest in this interview series was Aïcha Brahma, Partner at Brahma Avocats (Casablanca), a prominent figure in the Moroccan arbitration community. Aïcha embodies a true arbitration success story, and her session was drawn on her professional path and experiences, discussing how she landed in the field and the various challenges she has navigated over the years, including as a female arbitration practitioner.
This inaugural interview launched a series of conversations with other experienced practitioners, each offering their unique perspective on building and developing a career in the field of arbitration in Morocco and beyond. The next in line is Mehdi Kettani, who will discuss his own experience in advising companies on the choice of arbitration and its practical arrangements.
What’s Next for Morocco VYAP?
Over the past year, Morocco VYAP has actively sought opportunities – and will continue to do so – for young Moroccan practitioners and students to connect, exchange, and engage with the wider arbitration community. And there is much more to come. The Executive Board is already working on new events, collaborations, and projects, both in Morocco and abroad, with the same unwavering objective of bridging the gap between established arbitration professionals and the next generation.
