BonelliErede appoints two partners in Ethiopia

BonelliErede, an Italian legal firm covering all areas of business and corporate criminal law, in partnership with Ethiopian law firm Tameru Wondm Agegnehu, appoints two local partners in Ethiopia.

The two young and energetic Ethiopian lawyers appointed to serve BonelliErede are Seble Geberegiorgis Baraki and Weynalem Weldesenbet, according to the statement from the company. The Addis Ababa team is part of BonelliErede’s broader Africa Team, which boosts 40+ professionals across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Seble Geberegiorgis Baraki (34) is an expert in corporate, commercial and IP matters and has been practising law for more than 10 years. She holds an LL.B. from Addis Ababa University and an LL.M. in European IP Law from the University of Stockholm.

Weynalem Weldesenbet (34) has a strong background in real estate and investment law, corporate, litigation and arbitration. He was a former assistant judge at the Federal First Instance Court in Addis Ababa and holds an LL.B. from Addis Ababa University. He holds various offices, including member of the Pan African Lawyers’ Union and executive board member of the Ethiopian Lawyers’ Association.
Tameru Wondm Agegnehu Law Office in cooperation with BonelliErede has been assisting international companies looking to invest in Ethiopia and major local businesses on complex legal and tax matters since its foundation.

Tameru Wondm Agegnehu, founder of Tameru Wondm Agegnehu Law Office and of counsel of BonelliErede, commented: “Ethiopia has long been one of Africa’s most promising economies, and even amidst the backdrop of Covid-19 this remains true. However, the virus poses many challenges and as such it is important that we continue to build our abilities to help our clients navigate these challenging times. Gianpiero Succi and I, as well as the other partners in BonelliErede’s Africa Committee, are confident that both Seble and Weynalem, with their noteworthy credentials, will increase our ability to handle a wide range of assignments as Ethiopia’s landscape continues to adapt to a new normal.”

Stefano Simontacchi, President of BonelliErede and member of the Africa Committee, commented: “Ethiopia, and the Horn of Africa generally, is an incredibly important market for BonelliErede and our clients. Positive government reforms and the liberalisation of various sectors in recent years fills us with optimism about the future of this market. We are thrilled to have Weynalem and Seble on board, especially as their appointments coincide with Africa Day, a joyous occasion that signifies unity and triumph. We look forward to combining their expertise with the highly talented team at Tameru Wondm Agegnehu Law Office, as we make further strides towards realising our vision for the region”.

With these two senior appointments, Tameru Wondm Agegnehu Law Office in cooperation with BonelliErede now comprises nine professionals and is expected to continue to expand over the next couple of years. Gianpiero Succi retains his role as partner in charge of developing and expanding BonelliErede Sub-Saharan African practice.

Gianpiero Succi, Partner at BonelliErede said “Ethiopia enjoys a robust and diverse economy, and one that has only gone from strength to strength with the entry into force of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. Moreover, the fact that Ethiopia will recognise and enforce international arbitral awards will further boast the country’s economy, making it even more appealing to international investors. By reinforcing our capabilities with the likes of Weynalem and Seble, we are even more well positioned to support our clients looking to invest and be a part of the nation’s bright future”.