MESFIN TAFESSE | PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY
BACKGROUND
Mesfin Tafesse is the founder and Principal Attorney of Mesfin Tafesse & Associates. He has more than 30 years of legal experience in the private, public, and civil society sectors in Ethiopia. Mesfin is an eminent attorney with extensive experience representing multinational investors in sectors including M&A, banking and finance, power and energy, oil and gas, and infrastructure. Mesfin Tafesse also played a large role in various prominent projects that have national significance. He has been recognized by Chambers & Partners as a Band I legal service provider in Ethiopia consistently for twelve years and is also recognized by Legal 500 and ILFR1000 as a leading professional in Ethiopia.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Ethiopian Lawyers’ Association
- Employment Law Alliance
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- 2000-2001: Master of Laws [LLM] in International Business Law, University of London
- 1984-1989: Bachelor of Laws [LLB] from Addis Ababa University
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2007 to DATE: Principal Attorney, Mesfin Tafesse & Associates
- 2003- 2007: Commissioner, Civil Service Commission
- 2001-2003: External Relations and Mobilization Director, Ministry of Capacity Building
- 2000-2000: Justice System Reform Program Co-director, Ministry of Capacity Building
- 1999-2001: Head of the Civil Cases Dept., The Ministry of Justice
- 1997-1999: Senior Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice
- 1993-1997: Judge/Senior Judge, Public Service Commission
- 1992-1993: Legal Service Head, Meher Fibre Products Company
- 1992-1993: Legal Service Head, Meher Fibre Products Company
- 1989-1992: Pleader, National Textiles Corporation
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Business & Investment Law
- Project Financing
- Dispute Resolution
LANGUAGES
- English
- Amharic
TOP MATTERS
- Representing MTN during its participation for a telecom licensing bid in Ethiopia and providing legal assistance throughout the process.
- Advising MTN ICT Services, a subsidiary of MTN Group, in connection with their operations in Ethiopia, including advising on telecommunication law, Value Added Service (VAS) issues, and conditions for renewal of VAS and other licenses.
- Member of the task force in charge of revising the Ethiopian investment proclamation and upcoming regulation.
- National consultant for Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) to draft an amendment to the previous investment proclamation and industrial park regulation.
- Acting for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation in the drafting of the Public-Private Partnership Policy and Proclamation.
- Acting for Frigorifico Boran Foods, Export Trading Group, KBA Metal Print, Kanoria Chemicals and Industries, Universal Plastic, Axreal Group, Oxford Group, and Godrej in connection with their manufacturing businesses in Ethiopia.
- Acting for or advising Goldman Sachs, Standard Chartered, Morgan Stanley, City Bank, China Development Bank, China EXIM Bank, CAD Fund, ICICI, IDA South Africa, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), Deloitte, KPMG, Samsung Africa, Mastercard, and Natixis in connection with their banking, finance, and project financing transactions in Ethiopia.
- Acting for the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) in connection with the Scaling Solar Project aimed at generating 500MW solar energy.
- Acting for ENEL Green Power (ENEL) in connection with its bid for the 100 MW Metehara Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generating Facility Project as issued by Ethiopian Electric Power.
- Acting for the Vasari group, Veris Investments, 54 Capital, the Abraaj Group, Shultz Global Investments (now Cerberus), Essilor Middle East Ltd., IFFCO Group, Zoscales Partners, and in connection with their various merger and acquisition transactions in Ethiopia.
- Acting for Heineken Breweries in its investments and ongoing transactions in Ethiopia.