On 27 May 2025 in Casablanca, the Moroccan legal community witnessed the launch of the Moroccan Arbitration Club (MAC), a new platform designed to bring together professionals with a shared interest in advancing arbitration practice across Morocco and the wider African continent.
This initiative comes at a time when Morocco is stepping up efforts to positioning itself as a leading arbitration hub in the region. The recent overhaul of its legal framework, particularly through the adoption of Law No. 95-17 on Arbitration and Conventional Mediation, has laid a solid foundation for institutional growth. Several arbitration centres have emerged in recent years, further reinforcing the country’s commitment to modern dispute resolution.
A Space Created by Practitioners, for Practitioners
What sets the Moroccan Arbitration Club apart is its practitioner-led structure. It was founded by three experienced arbitration lawyers -Wissam Mghazli, Aïcha Brahma and Ghiyta Iraqi- who saw the need for an independent and informal forum where lawyers, arbitrators, in-house counsels, experts and academics could exchange ideas, discuss trends, and share practical insights.
MAC is not an arbitral institution and does not administer cases. Rather, it acts as both a vehicle and a network: a professional community driven by dialogue, collaboration, and the promotion of best practices in arbitration.
Regional Reach and Pan-African Ambitions
Although based in Morocco, the MAC is firmly oriented toward Africa. Its founders believe that building stronger connections among African arbitration practitioners is key to raising the visibility of African expertise in international dispute resolution.
Culturally Fluent and Multilingual
The MAC is well-positioned to engage with the realities of cross-border practice. Its trilingual approach (Arabic, French, English), familiarity with both civil law and common law traditions, and understanding of regional business environments make it a valuable platform for practitioners operating in diverse legal systems.
By offering thought leadership, peer-to-peer learning, and opportunities for younger professionals to grow, the MAC complements existing institutional frameworks and contributes to the development of a more cohesive arbitration culture on the continent.
Looking Forward
The Moroccan Arbitration Club represents a new generation of professional networks: agile, practitioner-driven, and rooted in practical experience.
As arbitration continues to evolve across Africa, initiatives like the MAC will play an important role in shaping how the next generation of legal professionals engage with international dispute resolution.
Though still in its early days, the MAC already offers a model of what regional collaboration can look like: one that could inspire similar movements across the continent.
For more information on the Moroccan Arbitration Club contact Ghiyta Iraqi, I&I Law Firm, the LEX Africa member for Morocco, on g.iraqi@iilawfirm.ma
