Leading firms in Ethiopia

Aman & Partners Legal Service LLP

Aman & Partners Legal Service LLP provides a broad range of legal services with a particularly strong offering in the TMT sector, where the team advise on some of the most high-profile deals in the Ethiopian market. This is supplemented by the firm’s strong international focus, with a notable alliance with pan-African, South Africa-headquartered firm Bowmans. Aman Assefa heads the team, with broad expertise that includes banking, competition and intellectual property. Bahakal Abate handles work covering areas such as fintech, data protection and telecoms, Ermias Ayalew has experience in tax, Micael Sheul brings his previous in-house counsel experience to corporate and M&A matters, and senior associate Mintewab Afework is qualified to practice in New York and specialises in corporate transactions.

Practice head(s):

Aman Assefa


Other key lawyers:

Bahakal Abate; Ermias Ayalew; Micael Sehul; Mintewab Afework; Redeat Stiphanos


Testimonials

‘This is the go-to firm in Ethiopia for commercial and TMT advisory work. The team has a good grasp of the market realities, and are able to guide us on various cross-sector issues.’

‘I primarily work with Redeat Stiphanos. She has proved an invaluable asset, providing clear, concise and practical advice.’

‘The team have a thorough grasp of the law and the complexities/requirements of doing business, and seek to flag these up-front and provide processes and timelines for completing these items.’

‘Bahakal is very approachable, and always willing to assist.’

Key clients

Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC


Ardagh Group S.A


Guinness Overseas Holdings Limited (Diageo)


Work highlights


  • Advised the Safaricom consortium since the competitive bid phase stage all the way up to the company becoming fully set up and operational in Ethiopia.
  • Advised on the sale of a majority stake in Meta Abo Brewery S.C, the second oldest brewery in Ethiopia.
  • Advised Ardagh Group SA in the merger of target companies of Juniper Glass Industries SC, undertaking due diligence on Juniper and undertaking merger filings in Ethiopia.

Mehrteab & Getu Advocates LLP (MLA)

Mehrteab & Getu Advocates LLP (MLA) advises on the full scope of corporate, intellectual property, employment, energy, real estate and aviation matters, with notable work in tax disputes. The team’s broad practice is supplemented by its access to the global resources of DLA Piper, used by the team to service its predominantly international clients. Firm principal Mehrteab Leul is primarily active in project finance and corporate matters, with experience working on major infrastructure projects. Getu Shiferaw heads the corporate and finance practice, with a specialisation in M&A, private equity, financial regulation and sovereign debt.

Practice head(s):

Getu Shiferaw; Tibebe Zewdu; Selamawit Alemayehu; Meron Kahase; Redeat Kassahun; Yohannes Hailu


Other key lawyers:

Mehrteab Leul


Testimonials

‘The team is compose of lawyers who provide responses and opinions in a timely manner. I also understand that they check for the latest practices before providing guidance.

They have a very good understanding of their sectors and latest developments in their jurisdictions. They also provide guidance on optimal way of complying with regulatory requirements.

Their touch of class particularly when managing client expectations is par excellence.

The team have an attention to detail and the ability to think outside the box.

Mesfin Tafesse & Associates Law Office (MTA)

Mesfin Tafesse & Associates Law Office (MTA) advises a number of multinational and Ethiopian clients on the full scope of corporate matters across a variety of industries, with notable work on some of the most high-profile financing and energy transactions in the Ethiopian market. The firm’s leading position in the market is evidenced by its membership of the Africa Legal Network, an alliance of prominent independent firms across the continent. Mesfin Tafesse leads the team with significant experience in cross-border transactions in M&A, energy, finance and infrastructure, while senior associate Haymont Belay has a focus on corporate matters.

Practice head(s):

Mesfin Tafesse


Other key lawyers:

Haymont Belay


Testimonials

‘In our view, the top firm in the country.’

‘Haymanot Belay is extremely responsive, works at all hours, has excellent written English and high-quality legal advice. She could be an associate at any major law firm in Europe or the U.S.’

Key clients

International Finance Corporation


Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd


Financial Sector Deepening Africa


Betking


Wilmar International Limited


Boeing


Veris Investments B.V


DHL Express


Betika


Dummen Orange


Genesis Analytics


Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank


Zoscales partners


Mitsubishi


Tamrat Assefa Liban Law Office

Tamrat Assefa Liban Law Office has particular expertise in banking and finance, especially regarding financing by foreign banks and development finance institutions. The team offers advice more broadly in M&A, tax, energy and natural resources, agribusiness and intellectual property, and supplements these core areas of practice with some significant matters in the aviation, telecoms and NGO sectors. Tamrat Assefa Liban, who leads the team, handles banking and finance, foreign investment and international trade law, while Marina Bwile focusses on international finance, commercial law and regulatory work.

Practice head(s):

Tamrat Assefa; Marina Bwile


Testimonials

‘Tamrat Assefa Liban has a good reputation working on finance projects like ours. He has helped the company finalize the required documentation and he produced results on various occasions where we had limited time.’

‘Tamrat Assefa is a brilliant lawyer. He is very well connected and has the habit of overperforming, putting a lot of enthusiasm into the legal work, and delivering ahead of time. He regularly calls upon government offices to promote our cases. He has a very good business acumen and is an asset to our company.’

Key clients

United States International Development Finance Corporation


International Finance Corporation


Agence Française de Développement


Acciona Energίa, S.A. and Swicorp Company


Kenya Electricity Generating Company Plc


Abt Associates Inc.


Deloitte Deutschland


Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique S.A.


China Development Bank


Deutsche Investitions- Und Entwicklungsgesellschaft MBH


Ethos Mezzanine Partners


Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd.


PPC Group


Duet Vasari Beverages Africa Limited


Kenya Airways


Kleemann Hellas SA


CDC Group Plc and Philafrica Foods Limited


Felsted Investments Group Limited


International Lutheran Laymen’s League


Leadcom Integrated Solutions Ltd.


Ascott International Management, Dubai


Corbetti Geothermal Private Limited Company


SES Pty Ltd / SES Societe Anonyme


LOMINAT Beverages PLC


SOS Kinderdorf International


Work highlights


  • Advised CDC Group PLC and Philafrica Foods Limited in a potential acquisition of AgFlow Ventures, a Mauritian company, which has three Ethiopian operating subsidiaries.
  • Advised Ethos Mezzanine Partners of South Africa and PROPARCO in a financing of Mauritian entities having subsidiaries in Ethiopia.
  • Advised Felsted Investments Group Limited in connection with acquisition of shares by another investment fund in a company in Ethiopia where it owns a substantial number of shares.

Tameru Wondm Agegnehu Law office in cooperation with BonelliErede

Tameru Wondm Agegnehu Law office in cooperation with BonelliErede  collaborates with the broader firm's offices to advise clients in a range of different practice areas, including corporate, construction, energy, employment, and intellectual property. Of counsel Tameru Wondm Agegnehu brings extensive experience in corporate, commercial, civil and criminal law, while Gianpiero Succi, an Italian-qualified lawyer who divides his time between Genoa and Addis Ababa, and focuses on Italian-related work, M&A and joint ventures.

Practice head(s):

Tameru Wondm Agegnehu; Gianpiero Succi


Key clients

Carvico


Calzedonia


Bombardier


Dow Chemical


Unimpresa


Work highlights


  • Assisted Bombardier Transportation Italy S.p.A. on opening its branch in Ethiopia.
  • Consulted and assisted Mediterranean Shipping Ethiopia PLC with everyday legal questions and inquires in its joint venture.
  • Consulted and assisted SAS Construction Chemicals Ltd in its day-to-day activities, including representing the client before tax commission and in a branch purchase deal.