Teams
MANAGING PARTNER
Yehualashet Tamiru Tegegn is a founder and managing partner at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. Yehualashet graduated from Addis Ababa University School of Law with Very Grate Distinction. He received his LLM from University of Pretoria in International Trade and Investment Law in Africa Program before pursued his second LLM from University of Turin in Comparative Law, Economic and Finance Program.
Yehualashet has accumulated more than half a decade of experience with core competence in corporate, tax and litigation matters working as an Associate in top-notch firms in Ethiopia. On top of this, he is a non-salaried law professor at Addis Ababa University and founder and chairperson of the Network of Ethiopian Legal Professionals. (NELP)
Top Matters
- Assisted a Joint Venture of Turkey and Chinese Company in connection with an international arbitration it has with Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
- Assisted Swiss based Multinational Corporation in its Lease Financing Potential Business in Ethiopia.
- Assisted Cyprus Company in connection with a potential domestic arbitration proceeding with government owned entity.
- Assisted American based financier and investment bank in connection to Netting enforcement in Ethiopia.
- Provided legal due diligence checklist provided by the IFC in relation to the legal status and mandate of municipalities under relevant Ethiopian law.
- Assisted Ethiopian Food Processing PLC in connection with its tax matter it has with Ethiopian Customs Commission.
- Assisted Saudi Arabian based entity in connection with its coffee export matter it has with Ethiopian based exporter.
- Assisted UK based entity on potential investment in Ethiopia.
- Assisted South African entity in connection with poultry feed export exclusive distribution agreement.
- Assisted Italian based in connection with anti-arbitration injunction order it has with Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
- Assisted France based entity in connection to its tax matters in Ethiopia.
- Assisted Chinese based entity in connection to a transaction it has with South African based entity.
- Assisted an Indian based and Chinese based joint venture in connection with Ethiopia- Djibouti transport corridor project
- Provided a legal due diligence report for IFC as part of the World Bank Group addressing Ethiopian competition law, environmental law, and intellectual property laws.
- Assisted a private equity firm in connection to an ongoing court and arbitration proceedings.
- Assisted World Bank Group in Doing Business 2021 on Protection of Minority Shareholders in Ethiopia.
- Assisted World Bank on Public Private Partnership survey.
- Assisted World Bank Group Survey on impediment to service Integration.
- Assisted German based real estate entity on its real estate business.
- Assisted South African based entity on the possibility of Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia.
- Assisted UK based entity in a case of the applicability of the reverse VAT to the Company.
- Assisted Japan and Egyptian based entity in the capital increment and other aspects.
- Assisted Danish in connection with tax implication of the commercial contract between the government entity based.
- Assisted a Belgian based entity in its tax remission issue with the FDRE government.
- Assisted an Israel based entity in the capital increment and other aspects.
- Assisted UK based entity in its litigation with one of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
- Assisted American based entity in its hotel management service in Ethiopia.
- Assisted a Chinese based entity in doing limited due diligence for its IPO application.
- Assisting UK based entity Ethiopia Limited in its mining investment in Ethiopia.
- Assisted Indian Mining PLC in its tax compliance.
- Assisted Chinese based entity in its merger and acquisition transaction in Ethiopia.
- Assisted a private equity firm in relation to acquisition of one of the major companies in Ethiopia.
PARTNER
Ketema Adane Bargecho is a partner at Ethio-Alliance Advocates LLP. He has LL.B from Hawassa University and did his LLM from the same university specializing on commercial laws. Ketema has extensive experience in taxation and customs law. He has successfully represented multinational and national companies in high-stakes tax disputes, advised and represented the government on tax matters, and conducted training for tax officers and private sectors.
In addition to his expertise in taxation and customs law, Ketema also has experience in criminal law, general corporate law, competition law, finance and banking law, investment law, intellectual property law, dispute resolution, and government relations.
Top Matters
- Advised the Ministry of Revenues on tax matters.
- Represented the government in tax cases involving multinational and national companies in a variety of industries, including brewery, cement, metal and steel, banking and insurance, construction, mining, energy, information technology, and media.
- Successfully defended the government in cases involving complex tax issues such as income tax, tax administration, excise tax, VAT, TOT, and customs.
- Represented various multinational and national clients in tax dispute settlements
- Conducted tax and customs training for tax officers and private sectors, including preparing training materials and internal tax control manuals.
- Extensive experience in teaching criminal law, criminal justice system of Ethiopia, criminal procedure, evidence law, human right and humanitarian law.
- Advised clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, securities law, governance, and compliance.
- Drafted and negotiated complex commercial agreements, such as shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, and purchase agreements.
- Represented clients in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and private equity investments.
- Drafted and negotiated intellectual property agreements, such as licensing agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and assignment agreements.
- Represented clients in intellectual property disputes, including trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and patent infringement.
- Advised clients on intellectual property strategy and portfolio management.
- Conducted intellectual property due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and other transactions.
- Handled numerous tax cases involving banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions. In addition, provided counsel and representation to banks, microfinance institutions, and other players in the financial industry on a range of issues including shareholder disputes, debt recovery, and cryptocurrency matters.
PARTNER
Addis Sadik Zeinu is a partner at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. He has LLB from Addis Ababa University. He is doing his LLM in business law at the same university. Addis has accumulated almost a decade of experience with core competence in construction, labor, succession, family, contract, banking and other corporate issues specializing in litigation matters.
Top Matters
- Advised various financial institutions in Ethiopia.
- Advised various construction companies in Ethiopian focusing on their dispute and relation with Ethiopia Road Authority.
- Advised and represent high profile cases of corruption and human rights.
- Represent a high net worth client in a family proceedings which include child custody and maintenance, divorce and matrimonial property proceedings filed in various courts.
- Acting for a client in the sale of a high stake property including carrying out a due diligence on the acquiring the property and negotiating the agreement for sale and preparing the completion documents.
- Advising various purchasers of commercial and residential properties in Addis Ababa including negotiating the agreement for sale and lease with various developers/owners and their respective advisors.
- Acting for large multinational in connection with anti-bribery allegations, including advising on Ethiopia laws and the scope and extent of regulatory powers of investigation.
- Incorporation and restructuring of companies.
- Drafting of commercial contracts and deeds.
- Carrying our legal research on various aspects of the law that clients require legal advice on.
PARTNER
Kaleegziyabher Gossaye Wedajo is a partner at Ethio-Alliance Advocates LLP. Kaleegziyabher has LLB from Dire Dawa University with distinction. He received his LLM from the University of Addis Ababa in Business Law.
Kaleeegziyaber has accumulated more than seven years of experience with core competence in corporate, insurance, banking, arbitration, and construction matters. He worked in the judiciary in commercial and investment benches. In addition, he has been working as a coordinator of legal research department as appointed by the President of the court and took part judicial reform activities and researches. He has also worked as public prosecutor and as a legal advisor in governmental and private institutions respectively.
Top Matters
- Advised Clients in connection with setting up operation in Ethiopia.
- Assisted a client with advice on and preparation of a privately initiated investment proposal under the public private partnership framework
- Assisted the vice president of the Federal First Instance Court doing a comparative research on the issue of budgetary of courts.
- Advised the Shareholders of a major company in Ethiopia in connection with the negotiations and drafting of the shareholders agreement.
- Drafted more than five hundred commercial and business related judgment, decrees and orders in the federal first instance court as an assistant Judge.
- Mediated and closed more than sixty commercial and construction cases at the Federal First Instance Court commercial and mediation center.
- Worked as a focal person at Federal First Instance Court annexed mediation center for the commercial and investment bench.
- Carried out due diligence for a client in respect of a proposed joint venture involving the acquisition of shares in a company.
- Acted for Kenyan based entity in connection with the filing and prosecution of trade mark registration application in respect of its trade mark issue.
- Assisted an emerging real estate company in connection with the raising of additional capital by way of issuance of new shares and convert its form from PLC to Share Company.
PARTNER
Arba Beyene Uba is a partner at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. He has graduated from Addis Ababa University with distinction and has received his LLM from the same university in Business Law. Arba Beyene is highly regarded lawyer having worked at different governmental and private organizations, managed different kinds of cases.
He has worked as Senior Lawyer at Ministry of Revenues. At Ministry of Revenues he has managed high profile tax cases. He also has involved in drafting directives such as directive on book keeping and records and amending self-assessment. He also rendered invaluable advices on how to manage tax collection and administration at time of COVID Pandemic.
Top Matters
- Advised and managed one of the biggest real estate home buyers associations.
- Advised Chinese based entity in connection with the tax implication and structuring of its Ethiopian subsidiary business.
- Advised Chinese based entity in connection with the acquisition of shares and subscription for shares including advising on the tax structure for the acquisition and negotiation tax indemnities and warranties relating to the transaction.
- Advised a multinational company engaged in the construction of large infrastructure and its tax and legal structure of the proposed project.
- Advised a Client on various derivative instruments including currency and interest swaps and synthetic derivative instrument under Ethiopian legal framework.
- Advised a Client on tax implications on acquisitions, reorganizations and tax planning.
- Litigated tax cases representing Addis Ababa City Revenue Authority.
- Litigated customs cases representing Customs Commission.
- Represent domestic client on high stake negotiation with government.
- Advised Chinese companies on legal and regulatory framework of real estate sector in Ethiopia.
- Advised foreign NGOs on tax implications of employment income and allowances of international staffs.
- Assisting Chinese companies in their tax cases against Ministry of Revenues
- Assisted one of the biggest manufacturing companies in it tax case against Ministry of Revenues.
- Assisted one of the leading security solution companies in its Bankruptcy proceeding.
- Assisting and advising formation of micro-finance with thousands of shareholders.
TIGIST DESSUE GEBREHIWOT (PhD)
OF COUNSEL
Tigist Dessue Gebrehiwot is of counsel at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. She has LLB from University of Pretoria, which is ranked as the number one law school in the continent and LLM from the same University. She did her PhD in intellectual property law, food and agricultural law and food security at the same University. She acquired an extensive experience in technology transfer working at the Directorate Innovation at University of South Africa, Pretoria. She has a certificate in legal practical study from University of South Africa and has advance certificate in Intellectual property and transfer of technology. She has ample experience working as a legal advisor the prominent law offices based in South Africa. She worked with a team and independently executed and managed various business contracts and drafting various winning court cases.
YORDANOS DEREBEW
ASSOCIATE
Yordanos Derbew is an Associate at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. She has LLB from Jigjiga University. Early in her professional journey, she served as a Legal Officer at the Ministry of Trade’s Commerce and Sectoral Associations Department. Venturing into diverse legal arenas, Yordanos accumulated over six years of experience as an Assistant Judge at the Federal First Instance Court. Her contributions extended beyond the courtroom, encompassing legal research and administrative affairs.
TILAHUN JAMBO
ASSOCIATE
Tilahun Jambo is an Associate at Ethio-Alliance Advocates LLP. He has LLB from Addis Ababa University with distinction and pursued his LLM in the same university. He has amassed immense experience in academia, research and legal practice. He has ample experience in handling labor matters, construction, arbitration, and aviation matters.
ABRHAM HAILEMESKLE
ASSOCIATE
Abrham Hailemeskle is an Associate at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. He has LLB from Addis Ababa University and doing his LLM at the same university on business laws. He advises on real estate, project financing, natural resource and land. He has conducted various legal opinions and transaction advice in the real estate, manufacturing and land related matters.
ASMA NEBIL
ASSOCIATE
Asma Nebil is an Associate at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. She has LLB from Wollo University and doing here second degree at Addis Ababa University. She has good experience in project management, designing, implementing, strategic planning, producing communication materials, monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building in projects that promote gender equality within a given timeline and budget. She has excellent writing and verbal presentation skills, the capacity to work effectively in a team, and independently with effective time and budget management skills.
NATHNAEL MENGESHA
ASSOCIATE
Nathnael Mengesha Mekonnen is a Junior Associate at Ethio Alliance Advocates LL.P. Nathnael earned his LLB Addis Ababa University with Great Distinction. He has gained vast experience on litigation matters mainly on civil litigations while working as an Assistant Judge at the Federal Supreme Court.
MOHAMMED ABDELLA SHEGERE
IT SUPPORT
Mohammed Abdella Shegere is an IT support at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. He graduated from Hawassa University Institute of Technology and doing his second degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Bahir Dar University. In his short yet productive professional career he has assisted Addis Ababa Science and Technology Agency as a network Engineer and Programmer. He has also assisted the first deployment of City Administration of Addis Ababa Resident ID program.
MELAT SAMSON
OFFICE MANAGER
Melat Samson is an Office Manager at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. She has a BA Degree in Business Administration from Admas University. She has over three years experience as qualified office and technical manager.
BETHLEHEM ZELALEM
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Betelehem is a business development manager at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP. She has diploma from Admas University and perusing her degree at the same university. She has more than three years experience in the fields of project management and customer services. She has had the opportunity to work for various government and private organizations.
MIKIYAS FANTAHUN
FINANCE MANAGER
Mikiyas is a finance manager at Ethio Alliance Advocates LLP with over three years experience working in private sectors. Mikiyas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Addis Ababa University.