ALN’s Ethiopia Member Firm Rebrands as Taza Legal: A Bold Vision for Transformation and Pan-African Growth

The combination brings together decades of distinct legal expertise by the founding partners, having advised domestic and international investors, multinational corporations, financial institutions, development partners and public sector institutions on many of Ethiopia’s most significant transactions.

Effective immediately, Taza Legal became one of the largest independent law firms in Ethiopia by practice, with offices in Addis Ababa and an integrated team serving clients across the country. By combining complementary strengths, deep sector expertise, and longstanding client relationships, Taza Legal is positioned to provide sophisticated, responsive, and internationally benchmarked legal services while remaining firmly rooted in Ethiopia.

The formation of Taza Legal arrives at a significant moment for Ethiopia’s legal and business community. As the country continues to open its financial sector, attract international investors, and pursue large-scale infrastructure and energy development, demand has grown sharply for legal counsel capable of handling multi-jurisdictional transactions, sophisticated financing structures, and high-stakes disputes entirely from within Ethiopia.

Taza Legal is positioned to fill that gap. By combining four established practices into one integrated firm, the new firm offers clients a single point of access to corporate and commercial legal advisory, banking and finance, M&A, energy and infrastructure, mining, tax, and dispute resolution expertise, a breadth of service historically available only through international firms operating at a distance from the Ethiopian market. For local and international businesses alike, the firm represents a credible, locally rooted alternative built on decades of institutional knowledge and client trust.

As the Ethiopian member firm of ALN, Taza Legal combines deep local expertise with access to one of Africa’s largest and most integrated legal alliances. Through ALN’s presence across 15 key African markets and its extensive global relationships, the firm is uniquely positioned to support clients on complex domestic, regional, and cross-border matters.

Mesfin Tafesse, Managing Partner, Taza Legal, expresses his excitement at the change, saying: “The formation of Taza Legal marks an important milestone for our founding practices and for our decade-long journey within ALN. Four successful Ethiopian firms have made a deliberate decision to come together and build something larger than any one of us could achieve individually—an enduring institution that will outlive its founders, nurture future generations of Ethiopian legal talent, and provide clients with sophisticated legal counsel delivered with depth, continuity, and international standards. We are proud that Taza succeeds MTA as ALN’s member firm in Ethiopia, bringing together the collective strengths of our founding practices with the connectivity, shared values, and pan-African reach of one of Africa’s leading legal alliances. Rooted in Ethiopia and connected to opportunities across the continent, Taza is committed to supporting our clients’ ambitions and contributing meaningfully to Ethiopia’s economic transformation.”

Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman, ALN, welcomes the firm’s new identity: “Taza Legal represents the continued evolution of one of Ethiopia’s most trusted and respected legal institutions. The new brand reflects the firm’s ambition, market leadership, and commitment to innovation while preserving the values and expertise that have earned the trust of clients for decades. We are proud to support this next chapter and look forward to the firm’s continued growth within ALN.”

Tameru Wondm Agegehnu, Senior Partner, Taza Legal, comments: “Throughout its history, Ethiopian legal practice has been defined by individuals. Taza is founded on a different belief: that the future belongs to institutions. By bringing exceptional lawyers together under one vision, we are building a firm that will elevate the profession and deliver greater value and excellence to clients. I expect Taza to live up to its name, which in Amharic means ‘shield’ or ‘shelter’—serving as a trusted protector of our clients’ interests and a platform for enduring legal excellence.” 

Karim Anjarwalla, ALN Board Director, adds: “This transformation reinforces the strength of ALN’s vision: combining outstanding local firms with a shared commitment to delivering seamless, Africa-wide legal solutions. Taza Legal embodies the entrepreneurial spirit, excellence, and client-centric approach that define ALN. As investment flows and commercial activity continue to increase across Africa, our clients will benefit from even greater collaboration, connectivity, and insight.”

Mekdes Mezgebu, Partner, Taza Legal, shares her excitement,“The launch of Taza Legal is ultimately a statement of optimism. Optimism about the opportunities ahead of us, and the role that an institutionalised legal service can play in helping businesses grow and succeed.”

Leyou Temeru, Partner, Taza Legal, expresses her excitement on this transformation:  “The most striking aspect of Taza Legal is not simply that it is the first consolidation of independent law practices into a single full-service firm in Ethiopian legal history. It’s that this is a multi-generational firm, with a senior partner with over 50 years of experience and younger partners with 15 years of experience. I believe this is the real strength the firm brings to the market.” The most striking aspect of Taza Legal is not simply that it is the first consolidation of independent law practices into a single full-service firm in Ethiopian legal history. It’s that this is a multi-generational firm, with a senior partner with over 50 years of experience and younger partners with 15 years of experience. I believe this is the real strength the firm brings to the market.” 

Weynalem Weldesenbet, Partner, Taza Legal, adds:  “Taza Legal is a firm built for the future. In our disputes practice, our role is to transform that story into resolution,  grounded in law, guided by strategy, and delivered with the discipline of a firm built for the future.”

Hanna Mulugeta, Partner, Taza Legal, also adds:  “Taza Legal is not just a firm, it is a statement of a shared participation. We are dedicated to inspiring and mentoring the next generation of women lawyers who are empowered to lead and shape the future of Ethiopian law.”

The launch of Taza Legal reflects more than a new visual identity. It signals the firm’s continued investment in its people, capabilities, and client service, while strengthening its position as a leading legal advisor in Ethiopia and across Africa.

United by ALN’s shared vision and values, Taza Legal remains committed to helping clients unlock opportunities, navigate complexity, and achieve sustainable growth in Ethiopia and beyond.

________________________

About Taza Legal
Taza Legal brings together four respected Ethiopian legal practices: Tamiru WondimAgegnu & Partners LLP, Mesfin Tafesse & Associates Law Office, Mekdes & Associates Law Office and Hanna Mulugeta Law Office. The firm was built on a shared belief that clients facing complex commercial matters need more than individual expertise; they need the strength, continuity and confidence of an enduring institution. With more than 100 years of combined experience in Ethiopian and international law, Taza Legal combines deep local judgement, specialist capability and international standards to help businesses invest, operate and grow in Ethiopia and across Africa.

The firm advises domestic and international clients across a broad range of practice areas, including corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, infrastructure and energy, employment, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and foreign investment.

As the Ethiopian member firm of ALN, Taza Legal combines deep local knowledge with access to one of Africa’s largest alliances of leading corporate law firms.

About ALN
ALN is an integrated alliance of the preeminent full-service corporate law firms in 15 African countries. ALN also has a regional office in Dubai, UAE, which serves as a gateway to the Gulf region and beyond. Together, ALN firms provide clients with seamless, practical and business-focused legal, advisory and transactional services across Africa. The alliance specialises in blending deep local knowledge and reach with sector-specific expertise to successfully guide clients in navigating locally and across borders.

Click here to discover more about ALN Ethiopia | Taza Legal.