Counsel · Strategy · Results
An independent law office in Addis Ababa serving businesses, investors and families across Ethiopia — with counsel that is precise in court and plain across the table.
The Law Office
One of the leading and prominent law offices based in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, with a wide range of legal services across the country. Our law office is built on a simple belief: clients deserve their lawyer's own attention, honest assessment, and advice they can actually understand and rely on.
Workineh Zewdie Law Office provides comprehensive legal services to individuals, businesses, companies, investors, institutions and organizations operating in Ethiopia. We combine sound legal knowledge with practical experience to provide clients with effective and result-oriented legal solutions.
Our approach is founded on professional integrity, confidentiality, diligence, responsiveness and a thorough understanding of the legal and business environment in Ethiopia while representing and advising clients before relevant Ethiopian courts, government institutions, administrative bodies, regulatory authorities, arbitration tribunals and other dispute-resolution forums.
Working in both Amharic and English, our law office serves Ethiopian companies, individuals, international investors, NGOs and diaspora clients — often acting through power of attorney for those managing Ethiopian affairs from overseas.
More about the firm and its principles →
What We Do
Twelve areas of Ethiopian law, practised deeply rather than listed decoratively.
How We Work
Legal services fail when clients can't see what's happening. Ours are built so you always can.
A consultation where we understand the facts, the documents and what a good outcome looks like to you.
A written view of your legal position — strengths, risks, options and realistic timelines. If the best advice is "don't litigate," you'll hear it.
Defined work, defined fee, in writing, before we begin. No surprises on the invoice.
We do the work and keep you informed at every stage — in Amharic or English, in Addis Ababa or abroad.
“A client should leave every meeting knowing exactly where they stand, what happens next, and what it will cost. That is the whole practice, in one sentence.”Workineh Zewdie — Principal Attorney
Questions
Yes. We begin every matter with a consultation to understand your situation, explain your legal position in plain language, and give you a clear scope and fee estimate before any commitment. Consultations are available in person in Addis Ababa or by video call for clients abroad.
Yes. A significant part of our practice is acting for diaspora and international clients through power of attorney — in property transactions, inheritance proceedings, company matters and litigation — with regular written updates so you can follow your matter from anywhere.
We work in Amharic and English, including contracts, legal opinions and correspondence in either language, and we appear before courts and authorities that operate in Amharic on behalf of English-speaking clients.
Depending on the matter: fixed fees for defined work such as company registration, contract drafting or a due-diligence report; hourly or stage-based fees for litigation and negotiations; and retainer arrangements for businesses that need ongoing counsel. You receive the structure in writing before we start.
Foreign investors can fully own companies in most sectors under the Investment Proclamation, subject to minimum capital and permit requirements. Land is state-owned for everyone; buildings and lease-based land-use rights can be held by foreign investors through their investment. Holders of the Ethiopian Origin ID (yellow card) enjoy substantially broader rights. The details depend on your status and sector — ask us before you commit.
It varies widely: straightforward labour or debt matters may conclude within months, while contested commercial or property litigation can run one to three years including appeal. We give you a realistic timeline at the outset, and where speed matters we advise on arbitration and settlement paths that resolve faster than court.
Insights
Ethiopia's investment regime is more open than its reputation suggests — if you take the steps in the right order. Here is the sequence we run for every entering client.
Read the article →Ethiopian labour law does not ask whether a dismissal was deserved. It asks whether the ground existed in law and the procedure was followed exactly. Most employers lose on the second question.
Read the article →Every painful property dispute we have litigated could have been prevented by checks that take two weeks and cost a fraction of one per cent of the price. This is the checklist.
Read the article →Get Started
One consultation gives you a clear picture of your position and a plan you can act on — whether or not you engage us further.