Dawit Kidane is the Co-Founder and Principal Managing Partner of DABLO Law Firm and a highly respected Ethiopian lawyer with extensive experience in complex disputes, regulatory advisory, commercial transactions, and cross-sector project work. With a strong background spanning both judicial service and private practice, Dawit combines deep litigation insight with comprehensive expertise in corporate and commercial advisory work.

Recognised by Chambers and Partners 2025 and listed by The Legal 500 among Ethiopia’s leading lawyers, Dawit is widely praised for his strategic, internationally oriented approach and his ability to deliver precise, commercially grounded legal solutions. His work demonstrates a rare blend of courtroom experience, regulatory acumen, and multi-industry transactional capability.

Dawit’s career includes service as an Assistant Judge at the Federal First Instance Court of Ethiopia before transitioning into private practice, where he has spent more than a decade representing multinational corporations, NGOs, development entities, and major Ethiopian businesses in high-value disputes and transactions. As Principal Managing Partner since 2023, he continues to lead the firm’s growth, provide leadership on complex mandates, and contribute to Ethiopia’s legal profession through his role on the Bar Exam Committee of the Ethiopian Federal Bar Association.

Practice Areas

• Complex Litigation & Arbitration
• Commercial & Corporate Advisory
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
• Energy, Construction & Infrastructure
• Mining & Natural Resources
• Regulatory Compliance & Government Relations
• Charities, Societies & NGO Advisory
• Mergers, Acquisitions & Due Diligence

Professional Experience

• Principal Managing Partner, DABLO Law Firm – Co-founder and head of the firm, advising major domestic and international clients on complex disputes, regulatory matters, PPP projects, and high-value commercial transactions.
• Chairman of Executives for Ethiopia Federal Advocate Association (EFAA)_ the Ethiopia national lawyers Bar Association established under the Federal Advocacy Service Licensing and Administration Proclamation. (since December 2025).
• Judicial Service – Assistant Judge, Federal First Instance Court of Ethiopia – Developed strong judicial insight and broad experience across civil, commercial, and procedural matters.
• Private Practice (since 2013) – Represented corporations, NGOs, and individuals in high-stakes litigation and arbitration, securing favourable outcomes in courts and tribunals.
• Board Member (since 2026) _ Board Member of BDO Ethiopia PLC.
• Extensive experience advising on NGO registration, compliance, charity governance, and operational matters for international development organisations.
• Member of the Bar Exam Committee, Ethiopian Federal Bar Association, contributing to the advancement of Ethiopia’s legal profession.

Education & Qualifications

• LLB, University of Gondar.
• Certified and licensed legal practitioner in Ethiopia.

Notable Matters / Representative Work

• Acted as lead counsel in numerous corporate transactions, offering legal advice to a broad range of multinational and foreign corporations.
• Energy EPCC Project (China Corporation) – Advised on regulatory compliance for a USD 50 million (ETB 6.7 billion) engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning project.
• Tis Abay Mining Company – Represented the client in a licensing dispute with the Benshangul-Gumuz regional mining authority.
• Urban Housing PPP – Gift Real Estate Plc – Advised on a PPP with the Addis Ababa City Administration to develop 12,000 housing units, including negotiation and legal risk assessment.
• Premier Grade 1 Construction Company – Represented the client in a major ETB 700 million dispute with the Addis Ababa City Administration.
• Ethiopian Lottery Service – Advised on a multimillion-dollar digital lottery joint venture agreement.
• Sports Betting Acquisition – Counsel to the acquirer in a licensed gaming company acquisition, including due diligence and regulatory clearance.
• EPPAD Pharmaceuticals (U.S.) – Conducted due diligence for a USD 2 million pharmaceutical plant acquisition.
• Brewery Company – Secured a favourable arbitration award in a contractual dispute and successfully handled enforcement through civil litigation.
• Remedica Ltd – Represented a European pharmaceutical group in a cross-border distribution dispute involving a foreign forum clause.
• USAID-Affiliated Arbitration – Acted for 17 Ethiopian construction firms in multimillion-dollar arbitration proceedings.
• Pan-African Bank – Conducted comparative regional regulatory research for a shared services centre project.

Publications & Contributions

• Contributor to legal and professional development through service on the Bar Exam. Committee of the Ethiopian Federal Bar Association
• Contributor to legal and policy discussions involving NGO law, regulatory compliance, and the evolving Ethiopian commercial environment.

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

• Ethiopian Federal Bar Association.
• Member – Bar Exam Committee.
• Advisor to local and international NGOs on regulatory and charities law.

Awards & Rankings

• Ranked Lawyer – Chambers and Partners 2025.
• Recognised for his strategic legal acumen, international client handling, and strong performance in disputes and commercial matters.
• Recommended Lawyer – The Legal 500.
• Acknowledged as one of Ethiopia’s leading practitioners in litigation, corporate advisory, and regulatory matters.
• Widely regarded for his deep understanding of the Ethiopian legal system, commercially oriented advice, and strong track record in high-value disputes and multi-sector advisory work.