De Gaulle Fleurance strengthens its EMEA strategy with the appointment of Laurence Vanderstraete as partner

Laurence Vanderstraete has been promoted to partner at De Gaulle Fleurance. From the firm’s Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary, De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd, she advises public and private clients on their operations across Africa and the Middle East.

De Gaulle Fleurance is pleased to announce the promotion of Laurence Vanderstraete to partner. Based in Abu Dhabi, she provides counsel to both public and private clients on their operations across Africa and the Middle East, thereby reinforcing the firm’s presence in this rapidly growing region.

A graduate of the Free University of Brussels and the University of Ghent, Laurence Vanderstraete brings extensive experience in corporate law and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) honed through her experience in international Anglo-Saxon law firms and further developed at De Gaulle Fleurance since 2016. She has cultivated strong expertise in the extractive sector, advising both governments and international corporations on mining and oil projects.

In addition, she regularly assists companies operating in telecommunications and new technologies, infrastructure and energy, as well as in project finance, including Islamic finance structuring.

Having grown up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and with nearly fifteen years of professional practice across Africa, Laurence Vanderstraete maintains a close connection to the continent. She travels extensively throughout West, Central and East Africa and remains deeply engaged in the region’s development. Her thorough understanding of local and regional challenges, alongside her expert knowledge of applicable legal frameworks such as OHADA business law, represents a significant strategic advantage for her clients.

Operating from Abu Dhabi, she has developed a strong presence by advising companies established in the Middle East, as well as those seeking to expand into the regional market or invest in Africa.

“Laurence Vanderstraete’s promotion is fully aligned with our ambition to support investors in their projects across the EMEA region, from our Abu Dhabi office. Her deep knowledge of Africa, combined with close collaboration with our legal advisory subsidiary in Abidjan, led by Mounira Coulibaly, are key levers for strengthening our presence in the region,” said Jean-Baptiste Santelli, Partner at De Gaulle Fleurance and CEO of the Abu Dhabi subsidiary.

“I am delighted as a partner, to support investors and public stakeholders in their projects across the Middle East and Africa. This appointment marks the culmination of a long-standing commitment, as these projects go well beyond business law – they have a transformative impact on local economies, contributing to the continent’s growth dynamic, supporting the development of national resources, strategic infrastructures and job creation”, concluded Laurence Vanderstraete.