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Founding Partner
Addisu Hailegebriel has been recognized as a Recommended Lawyer by The Legal500 in 2024 and 2025. With over 15 years of legal expertise spanning Ethiopia’s private and public sectors, he holds an LLB from Addis Ababa University and possesses a robust background in both judicial and private legal practice.
Prior to co-founding DABLO, Addisu served for four years as an Assistant Judge at the Federal First Instance Court of Ethiopia, where he adjudicated a diverse array of cases, including commercial, civil, employment and labour, tax, and customs disputes.
On the international front, he has effectively represented both expatriate and local employees of the African Union in proceedings before the African Union Administrative Tribunal. As an accomplished lawyer, Addisu leverages his judicial experience to represent clients across various industries, such as real estate,
construction, agri-business, healthcare, and manufacturing.
He offers extensive experience in regulatory compliance across multiple sectors, corporate governance, transaction advisory, PPP laws, drafting and review of multi-party construction and real estate contracts and other complex business contracts, advising both local and international clients.
Furthermore, Addisu has substantial experience in charities and society law, providing legal counsel to both local and international NGOs, assisting with their registration, and offering legal consultancy on strategic matters and recurring legal issues impacting their operations.
Advised on aligning HR policies and employment contracts with Ethiopian labor law. Led a comprehensive review of the U.S.-designed HR framework, identified compliance risks, and revised employment templates to ensure local legal conformity.
Represented Ethiopia’s largest brewery in a USD 1.3 million (ETB 78 million) arbitration dispute concerning vehicle procurement from an importer.
Provided end-to-end legal support for the establishment of a renewable energy company in Ethiopia. Services included entity registration, document authentication, and tax compliance to ensure full regulatory alignment and operational readiness.
Representing the pharmaceutical company in an ongoing breach of contract dispute with a local distributor.
Advised a market entrant on franchising an American brand in Ethiopia. Guided the client through legal structuring, licensing, lease finalization, and digital registration, culminating in the successful incorporation of a private limited company with full commercial licensing.
Represented a developer in a USD 12 million (ETB 700 million) property ownership dispute with a private individual.
Delivered a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction legal feasibility analysis for establishing a continent-wide Shared Service Center (SSC) offering data analytics and operational support. The analysis addressed licensing, tax, regulatory, and corporate formation requirements, with a focus on cross-border service utilization by Ethiopian financial institutions.
Advised on the negotiation and legalization of a multimillion-dollar PPP project with the Addis Ababa City Administration, representing the private party in the transaction.
Representing the client in high-stakes litigation involving over ETB 33 million in claims brought by a former distributor following the termination of a nationwide distributorship agreement. Leading a strategic defense, including a counterclaim.
Advised on the formation and management of a USD 3 million (ETB 372 million) hospitality establishment in southern Ethiopia, structured as a partnership between Ethiopian and Australian nationals.
Represented one of Ethiopia’s leading coffee growers and exporters in a shareholder dispute and a parallel tax dispute with the Ethiopian tax authority.
Represented the company in an employment class action suit involving multiple claimant
LLB (Addis Ababa University)
Ethiopian Federal Bar Association
AEA
