Ethiopia

BonelliErede has been present in Ethiopia since 2016 where it currently operates through a local law firm.

In Ethiopia we offer a complete range of legal services to international investors and major local corporations, including contracts law, investment, corporate, commercial, construction, energy, employment, intellectual property including patent, trademark and copyright law, and international arbitration and litigation.

The professionals work in full synergy with our offices in Europe, especially for specialised advice and cross-national practices, and with the other offices in North Africa and the Middle East (Egypt, UAE).

Our team is composed of an integrated group of 7 lawyers led by Gianpiero Succi, Partner at BonelliErede, in charge of the development of our practice in East Africa and in the other Sub-Saharan African. He is supported by other lawyers of different seniority, including Daniele Gambirasio, Partner, and the associates Michele Saponaro, Abay Mekonnen, Robel Mehari, Samrawit Behailu and Tsedey Girma.

Abay Mekonnen is a litigator, with expertise in dissolution and liquidation, contract law, product liability, insurance law, IP law, employment and tax law, and financial crimes. Robel Mehari, has experience in local and international taxation and was seconded to BonelliErede’s Milan office in 2020. Samrawit and Tsedey are Junior associates with experience in corporate law, employment law, litigation and local and international taxation.

Daniele Gambirasio and Michele Saponaro together with Gianpiero Succi are the Italian members of the team. Daniele Gambirasio, a corporate Partner, was seconded in 2016 and he has been in Addis Ababa since October 2019. He has a great experience in international corporate law with a particular expertise on extraordinary transaction, private and public M&A and joint ventures. Michele Saponaro is a litigation law associate who was seconded to Addis Ababa in 2018, greatly contributing to our development in the country, with expertise in civil law, business law and company law.

As part of the BonelliErede network the Addis Ababa office collaborate in total synergy with the other firm’s offices in Italy, Europe and the Middle East. Depending on the needs of a matter, we integrate the competences of the local professionals with all the BonelliErede experts from our teams based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The team

Gianpiero Succi

Daniele Gambirasio

Michele Saponaro

Robel Mehari Tsegaye

Samrawit Behailu

Tsedey Girma

Sandra Rezene

Gianpiero Succi
Daniele Gambirasio
Michele Saponaro
Robel Mehari Tsegaye
Samrawit Behailu
Tsedey Girma
Sandra Rezene

Insights

Draft VAT proclamation on its way to Parliament - 13 April 2023

Ethiopia’s legislative landscape is evolving by the day, especially when it comes to doing business. And the draft VAT proclamation looks set to be one of the biggest steps taken since VAT was introduced back in 2002. So what are the proposed key changes to the VAT rules? Our

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The latest developments in the Ethiopian banking industry - 16 September 2022

The latest Council of Ministers meeting earlier this month approved the long-awaited policy that allows foreign investors to invest in the Ethiopian banking industry. Given that foreign banks stopped operating in Ethiopia when the Derg took power, the opening-up of the banking industry is ex …

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Spotlight on IP – Trademark protection in Ethiopia - 23 February 2022

Recent liberalisation initiatives by the Ethiopian government have attracted interest from local and foreign businesses: the consequent growth of Ethiopia’s market underlines how important it is to protect intangible assets as much as others. Since the introduction of the Commercial Code i …

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The new Ethiopian Arbitration and Conciliation Working Procedure under Proclamation No. 1237/2021 - 17 September 2021

Up until publication of the Proclamation to Provide For Arbitration and Conciliation Working Procedure, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) – more specifically, arbitration – in Ethiopia lacked a detailed procedure and implementation mechanism. The newly introduced proclamation addresses/a …

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Ethiopian Parliament approves new Commercial Code - 29 March 2021

The FDRE House of People’s Representative’s session on March 25th, 2021 has approved a draft bill to amend the 1960 Commercial Code. The new Code, which replaces the old Commercial Code in force for over 62 years, has been anticipated by practitioners and the business community for a v …

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National Bank of Ethiopia introduces new rules on foreign exchange retention accounts - 18 March 2021

The National Bank of Ethiopia has recently introduced the new FXD/70/2021 Directive, which covers the retention and utilisation of export earnings and inward remittances. The new directive changes the foreign currency amounts that eligible exporters of goods and services and recipients of in …

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Investment opportunities for the Ethiopian diaspora community - 11 February 2021

Foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin can contribute to the development and prosperity of their country of origin. Consequently, restrictions on foreign nationals regarding the use of economic, social and administrative services do not apply to foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin who hold an …

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Salient features of Ethiopia’s logistics policy - 15 October 2020

Ethiopia has laid out its first ever policy on the logistics sector. The policy endorsed by the council of ministers and published by ministry of transport is expected to serve as a guidance for further legislative enactments and determine the set up and function of public enterprises that serv …

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Ethiopia: Investment Proclamation n. 1180/2020 - 19 June 2020

The Ethiopian government has issued a new investment proclamation, with a view to enhancing the role of the private sector and increasing the country’s global competitiveness. The Ethiopian Council of Ministers must still specify the details of the new investment framework in an upcoming r …

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Covid-19: Ethiopian Law Key Issues - 26 May 2020

The Covid-19 outbreak in Ethiopia and in many areas of the East Africa has led to a public health emergency and unforeseen challenges for businesses. It has also led to uncertainties, including from a tax/legal perspective. Furthermore, as you may know, the Council of Ministers of Ethiopia h …

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News

BonelliErede expands its partnership: six new partners announced

On 17 December, BonelliErede’s partners’ meeting approved the promotion to partner of six of the firm’s managing associates: Livia Cocca, Francesco Casamassa, Gianpaolo Ciervo, Daniele Gambirasio, Giulio Mazzotti and Giovanni Minuto. Livia Cocca joined BonelliErede’s Milan office in 200 …

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The largest common market in the world is born in Africa

On 7 July in Niamey, the capital of Niger, the Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who is president of the African Union announced the establishment of the Afcfta (African Continental Free Trade Agreement). The African continental free trade agreement that will give a green light to the lar …

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Addis Ababa launches the "Ethiopia: Taste of Origins" brand

Agriculture is still the foundation of Ethiopia’s economy: it represents 41% of the gross domestic product, 83.9% of exports and 81% of jobs. The primary sector remains the main engine of rapid economic growth, this year expected to be around 8.2%, the highest rate in Africa thanks to the …

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