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Banking & Financial services regulatory

Overview

At DABLO Law Firm, we provide strategic, future-ready legal support across Ethiopia’s dynamic banking and financial sector. Our team advises local and international banks, corporate borrowers, fintech companies, and regulators—helping them navigate complex regulatory frameworks, lending structures, and cross-border transactions with confidence.

We offer end-to-end counsel on financial service regulatory compliance, licensing, foreign exchange controls, AML/CFT, risk management, and governance.

Our Banking & Finance practice is built on deep local insight and global perspective. We assist with debt restructuring, enforcement actions, and insolvency proceedings—always with a focus on practical, commercially viable solutions.

At DABLO, we act not just as legal advisers, but as strategic partners—guiding clients through Ethiopia’s transforming financial landscape with clarity and purpose.

Work Highlights

  • Advised a global digital lender on market entry into Ethiopia, including structuring partnerships with local financial institutions, navigating fintech licensing gaps, and ensuring compliance with foreign exchange and investment laws
  • Provided regulatory guidance to an offshore cryptocurrency exchange in response to a central bank inquiry, including enforcement jurisdiction, product risk, and compliance positioning under Ethiopia’s crypto prohibition regime
  • Supported Two fintech companies in applying for a Payment Instrument Operator License, drafting bilingual governance documents, reviewing IT and data contracts, and aligning operations with AML/CFT and data protection laws
  • Structured an offshore employee savings scheme for a global foundation, addressing capital account restrictions, labor law, and tax implications to enable compliant implementation
  • Advised on the formation and regulatory structuring of a domestic fintech firm entering the digital lending space, including partnership agreements with microfinance institutions and alignment with central bank directives
  • Delivered legal opinions on deferred payment structures and subcontracting arrangements for a $50 million cross-border infrastructure project, ensuring compliance with foreign exchange and public procurement laws
  • Provided regulatory and operational guidance to a ride-hailing platform entering Ethiopia, including licensing strategy, foreign exchange compliance, and market structuring alternatives
  • Conducted a regulatory compliance assessment for a SaaS-based eKYC solution, addressing data localization, licensing, and ESG-aligned fintech deployment
  • Advised on the licensing application of a capital markets advisory firm under Ethiopia’s new capital market regime, including corporate restructuring and compliance documentation

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