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World’s largest law firm Dentons strengthens its African presence by officially expanding into Ethiopia
Already the firm with the most lawyers globally, Dentons has further added to its headcount and African footprint as it announced yesterday its presence in Ethiopia as Dentons Tamrat Assefa (formerly Tamrat Assefa Liban Law Offices)
Dentons expansion into Ethiopia marks a powerful step in the global firm’s Africa strategy, said Kate Barton, Dentons Global CEO, as the formation of Dentons Tamrat Assefa (formerly Tamrat Assefa Liban Law Offices) was announced yesterday.
“Together with our new colleagues, we are uniquely positioned to help clients seize opportunities in one of the continent’s most promising markets,” continued Barton. “This move reflects our long-term commitment to delivering legal services that are both locally rooted and globally connected.”
This latest expansion, which follows the announcement last week that Dentons had established a new office in Sousse, Tunisia, means the world’s largest law firm (with 12,500+ lawyers working across more than 200 locations in over 80 countries) now has a presence in 24 locations in 16 nations across the African continent.
“Formalising our presence in Addis Ababa is an exciting step and strengthens our position as a leading Pan-African law firm,” said Mohamed Zaanouni, Africa Region CEO for Dentons. “I look forward to working with our new colleagues to help serve our clients as they look to unlock opportunities in this exciting market and beyond.”
The Ethiopian team, led by Managing Partner Tamrat Assefa, is an integral part of Dentons’ Africa practice, providing a full range of legal services across Ethiopia’s key business sectors. Assefa is a highly experienced Ethiopian lawyer with over 20 years of practice in commercial law, international trade, banking and finance, taxation, investment, employment law, and dispute resolution. Marina Bwile, a Director at Dentons Tamrat Assefa, is an international finance and development law expert with 17+ years experience advising on complex cross-border transactions across Africa.
Assefa says he is delighted to announce the new offering with Dentons.
“I look forward to working together to provide our clients with local knowledge and global insights that will help them meet future challenges and maximise opportunities in Africa and around the world.”
The experienced team at Dentons Tamrat Assefa advises clients on local and cross-border matters, with in-depth knowledge of the Ethiopian legal and regulatory framework. Through enhanced capabilities and improved access to comprehensive legal services in the region, Dentons says it can now better support clients with leading legal expertise and a deep understanding of the local market.
As one of Ethiopia’s most distinguished firms, Tamrat Assefa Liban Law Office was a natural choice for Dentons. The firm has been ranked for seven years by Chambers and offers clients a team with substantial experience in cross-border investment and finance work, including in real estate, capital markets and renewable energy sectors.
As a nation, Ethiopia is poised for significant economic growth, underpinned by major development initiatives in renewable energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing and the recent launch of the Ethiopian Stock Exchange.
These developments are driving the emergence of a more diversified economy, providing opportunities across key sectors and positioning Ethiopia as an increasingly attractive destination for both domestic and international investors.