Mesfin Tafesse & Associates (MTA)

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL

Over the past decade, MTA has assisted a number of clients with corporate and investment advisory services.  MTA’s services typically begins by assisting clients understand the Ethiopian legal and investment environment by providing general Ethiopian law related legal memos, opinions and completing jurisdictional questionnaires relevant to the Client’s investment sector. MTA brings its many years of experience and deep local law knowledge to provide clients with realistic and feasible approaches to doing their business in Ethiopia by offering multi-disciplinary expertise in corporate law, investment, taxation, competition, labour and immigration, among others.

Some of the representational clients that MTA has supported in corporate advisory, local presence facilitation and incorporation include:

• Boeing, in relation to its registration, renewals and corporate filings.
• Schlumberger, in its operations in Ethiopia and consideration of establishment of a local subsidiary.
• Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewaterhouse Coppers (PwC) in connection with their operations in Ethiopia and the setting up and restructuring of local presence in Ethiopia for various projects.
• AI Foods PLC., a subsidiary of a Dutch company engaged in the manufacturing of baby food products, in its establishment of a local subsidiary.
• YKK Middle East Sal, a Japanesse company engaged in producing a zipper, snapp & buttons.
• China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited (CEEC), a Chinese state-owned energy conglomerate.
• Wilmar International Limited, a leading Singaporean company, in connection with setting up its local subsidiary and assisting with operational issues including representation in litigation.
• Life ET Research Works PLC, Paradign East Africa Manufacturing PLC, Ice-Addis PLC, Ngines PLC, Zembil Distribution Trading PLC, Gebeya Media Productions PLC, Okros Mining PLC,
• Ethiopian Education Initiative, Global One Health, Girl Effect Trading, Institute for Health Improvement.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

MTA represents clients in both formal and alternative dispute resolution forums on disputes and claims involving share transfers, breach of contracts, tax claims, labour disputes and anti-competitive claims. A team of experienced and licensed attorneys provide services including:

• Leading and negotiating out of court settlements.
• Representing clients in all levels of the Ethiopian court system up-to the Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court.
• Representing clients before the Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Authority’s Administrative Tribunal
• Representing clients before the Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority
• Representing clients in arbitral and mediation proceedings.
• Acting as an arbitrator.

MTA represented and is currently representing a number of foreign investors in their disputes with their co-investors, employees, managers, tax authority, competition authority and other parties. Some of the clients represented by MTA attorney in the various judicial and administrative forums including arbitral bodies include:

• Wilmar International, Heineken Breweries, Allana Potash Corporation, Consta, Schulze Global Investments, Oxford Group and University of South Africa.

CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE

MTA has solid experience in assisting local and international clients engaged in the construction and real estate sectors. MTA’s expertise include advising real estate developers, private owners, EPC contractors engaged in large scale infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, power transmission and distribution lines.

• Drafting and reviewing lease agreements, construction contracts, sub-contracting arrangements and EPC contracts.
• Support with obtaining title deeds, construction and building permits.
• Interfacing with relevant regulatory agencies such as the Ministry of Construction, land administration agencies and municipal bureaus,

MTA has substantial experience advising clients engaged in property, construction and real estate markets. These include:

• IFC on the Scaling Solar Project, Enel Green Power, Boortmalt Ethiopia PLC, Kanoria Africa Textiles, Schultz Global Investments.

EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION

MTA offers a variety of services to clients in matters relating to employment and immigration. MTA’s services include:

• General advisory on Ethiopian employment law matters, including recruitment of Ethiopian and foreign nationals, restructuring of employees in M & A deals, employee benefits and entitlements, termination of contracts, redundancy and redeployment, pension and insurance schemes and compensation claims.
• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts for managerial, non-managerial employees, temporary and permanent employees,
• Facilitating business visa, work and residence permits for foreign nationals.
• Representing clients in employment related litigations.
• Interfacing with relevant regulatory agencies such as the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) and the Main Department for Immigration Affairs.

Some of MTA’s experience in employment and immigration matters includes acting for: 

• AI Foods PLC., a subsidiary of a Dutch company engaged in the manufacturing of baby food products, in connection with facilitating work and resident permits for foreign employees.
• YKK Middle East Sal, a Japanesse company engaged in producing a zipper, snapp & buttons, in connection in connection with facilitating work and resident permits for foreign employees.
• Girl Effect Trading, a UK based marketing and behavioral branding company, in connection in connection with facilitating work and resident permits for its commercial representative.
• Tetra Tech ES Inc, a US company working on the Power Africa Project, in connection with facilitating a business visa, work and residence permits for their foreign employees.

EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION

MTA offers a variety of services to clients in matters relating to employment and immigration. MTA’s services include:

• General advisory on Ethiopian employment law matters, including recruitment of Ethiopian and foreign nationals, restructuring of employees in M & A deals, employee benefits and entitlements, termination of contracts, redundancy and redeployment, pension and insurance schemes and compensation claims.
• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts for managerial, non-managerial employees, temporary and permanent employees,
• Facilitating business visa, work and residence permits for foreign nationals.
• Representing clients in employment related litigations.
• Interfacing with relevant regulatory agencies such as the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) and the Main Department for Immigration Affairs.

Some of MTA’s experience in employment and immigration matters includes acting for: 

• AI Foods PLC., a subsidiary of a Dutch company engaged in the manufacturing of baby food products, in connection with facilitating work and resident permits for foreign employees.
• YKK Middle East Sal, a Japanesse company engaged in producing a zipper, snapp & buttons, in connection in connection with facilitating work and resident permits for foreign employees.
• Girl Effect Trading, a UK based marketing and behavioral branding company, in connection in connection with facilitating work and resident permits for its commercial representative.
• Tetra Tech ES Inc, a US company working on the Power Africa Project, in connection with facilitating a business visa, work and residence permits for their foreign employees.