Education
Graduate of ESCP-EAP and Paris I and Paris XII universities in business law. Holder of the French professional lawyer qualification (CAPA).
LISTEN. UNDERSTAND. DEFEND.
Law & taxation.
With conviction.
Moroccan tax. Corporate law.
Support for your business in Morocco.
THE FIRM
Your advocate.
Your voice.
Your legal ally.
For 22 years, Matthieu Laval has helped businesses and their leaders navigate legal and tax decisions. His French-Moroccan perspective brings clarity to your choices and security to your projects.
Based in Paris and Casablanca, ML Avocat advises international groups, SMEs and investors. One dedicated contact coordinates your matter, from market entry and growth to resolving disputes.
Matthieu Laval
Lawyer · Paris - Casablanca
22years of experience
2France · Morocco
8areas of expertise
MATTHIEU LAVAL · LAWYER
One career, two legal cultures.
2006 - 2013 · Paris
Senior associate at Reinhart Marville Torre, playing a central role in the private equity department.
From 2013 · Casablanca
Head of business law at CMS Francis Lefebvre Morocco, notably advising international clients.
From 2017 · ML Avocat
Founded his own firm to combine legal and tax advice, French-Moroccan expertise and a direct client relationship.
Paris - Casablanca
Two locations. One coordinated approach.
A combined view of both legal systems, coordinated timelines and one contact overseeing the whole project. For projects in French-speaking Africa, the firm works with local correspondents.
Paris
Supporting French and European businesses with projects in Morocco and French business law matters.
Casablanca
Securing investments in Morocco and supporting Moroccan groups expanding into France and Europe.
OUR EXPERTISE
My areas of expertise
Law and tax considered together. Expertise tailored to your circumstances, in France and Morocco.
01Business & corporate law
Structure, grow and transfer your business.
- Companies, subsidiaries and holding structures; articles and shareholder agreements.
- Governance, capital transactions, M&A and restructuring.
- Commercial contracts, distribution, partnerships and distressed businesses.
02Corporate tax
Tax decisions aligned with your business and prepared for scrutiny.
- Profit taxation, VAT and restructuring transactions.
- Executive remuneration, intragroup flows and transfer pricing.
- Preventive reviews and requests for tax certainty under applicable rules.
03Wealth & succession
Organise your assets and prepare their transfer.
- Income, capital gains and property taxation.
- Gifts, succession and wealth structures alongside your advisers.
- Tax residence and the consequences of leaving or returning to France.
04Employment & mobility
Support employers and their teams at key moments.
- Employment contracts, executive status and collective relations.
- Expatriation, secondments and social security coordination.
- Restructuring, terminations and employment disputes.
05Tax audits & disputes
Support from the first enquiry through to an appeal.
- Audit preparation and risk assessment.
- Responses to reassessments and administrative appeals.
- Claims, litigation and voluntary compliance procedures.
06France - Morocco expansion
Bring your cross-border project under control.
- Choosing a company, branch or permanent establishment structure.
- Tax treaties, exchange controls and dividend repatriation.
- Case-by-case assessment of investment schemes and Casablanca Finance City status.
07Disputes & arbitration
Protect your interests while pursuing a useful outcome.
- Pre-litigation, negotiation and cross-border debt recovery.
- Commercial and employment disputes, mediation and arbitration.
- Recognition and enforcement of decisions between both countries.
08Compliance & regulated sectors
Build sector requirements into your decisions.
- Banking, insurance and personal data protection.
- Exchange controls and dealings with authorities.
- Contracts and transactions reviewed against applicable rules.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ADVICE
Understand your situation. Clarify your decision.
Useful advice leads to practical choices. Your contact follows the matter from the first conversation through implementation.
01
Listen to your objectives, constraints and timetable.
02
Assess legal and tax risks, options and opportunities.
03
Recommend a clear route, with costs and milestones.
04
Implement, monitor developments and adjust together.
Our values
Rigorous advice. A personal relationship.
Anticipate difficulties, provide recommendations rather than lists of rules, and help you stay in control of your decisions.
Clarity
Direct answers, explained options and accessible language.
Integrity
Candid advice, professional ethics and confidentiality.
Commitment
A dedicated contact who knows your matter and keeps you informed.
Rigour
Careful analysis, ongoing monitoring and reviewed recommendations.
Proximity
Direct conversations and collaboration grounded in your reality.
RELATIONSHIPS THAT MATTER
Trust built together.
Banking · Insurance · Hospitality · Retail · Industry · Energy · Healthcare
RELATIONSHIPS THAT MATTER
Our clients’
perspectives.
Lasting relationships, supported projects and trust built over time.
01 / 15
“
Thank you, Matthieu, for your commitment alongside us over three years, particularly throughout our negotiations with the Walis of the Kingdom’s six largest cities.
Yann BLAY
CEO of Roby Technologies · Testimonial, 2021
Fees
Fees with nothing left unclear.
Scope, budget and billing arrangements are agreed together in writing before work begins.
Fixed fee
An agreed price for a defined assignment.
Contracts, company formation, advice or a focused audit: the agreed price is known. Any extension requires prior agreement.
Retainer
Ongoing support with a monthly budget.
For recurring questions and day-to-day advice. Scope, included volume and terms are set out in the agreement.
Hourly billing
A flexible approach for evolving matters.
Rates and an estimate are provided at the start. Work is itemised and foreseeable overruns are flagged before costs are incurred.
Expenses, disbursements, deposits and applicable taxes are set out in the agreement. Hourly matters may require a €2,000 deposit excluding tax, credited against the final invoice; any remaining balance is refunded.
WITH CLARITY
Your questions,
our first insights.
Every situation deserves a conversation. Here are a few points to help prepare ours.
Do you support foreign companies in Morocco?
Yes. Foreign investment and foreign exchange regulations form part of the firm’s practice. An initial conversation clarifies the project and its needs.
Can we outsource our legal department?
The firm offers outsourced legal support covering corporate law, property, employment matters, foreign exchange and regulated activities, within an agreed scope.
How are fees determined?
A fixed fee, retainer or hourly basis is chosen to suit the matter. A written agreement sets the scope, estimated budget and expenses before work starts.
How do you approach disputes?
Shareholder disputes, negotiations and recovery are among the firm’s activities. The presentation provides for collaboration with partner litigation lawyers for court proceedings in Morocco.
What should I prepare for an initial discussion?
A short description of your situation, objectives, deadlines and key documents. Do not send sensitive information through this preview form.
Matthieu LavalLawyer · Paris - Casablanca
A FIRST CONVERSATION
Let’s discuss your project.
An investment, a contract or a legal question: simply tell us what you need.