Biography

Overview

Abdata Abebe Sefara is a lawyer and academic with extensive training in both Ethiopian and international business law at Ethiopian and European universities. Currently, he is working as an independent researcher, academic, legal consultant, and attorney. He has earned immense litigation and legal consultation experience while serving as an in-house lawyer at Ethiopian Development Bank, Sinoma International Engineering Ltd. (in Dangote Ethiopia Ltd.), and while handling his other court client cases.

Apart from his position at Makkobilli as a “Regional of-Counsel at Ambo,” Abdata holds the role of a private attorney and serves as an Assistant Professor of Law at Ambo University, further contributing to his diverse legal service portfolio.

Bar Admission

Licensed to practice law at all Federal courts of Ethiopia

Licensed to practice law at all Oromia Regional State courts of Ethiopia

Education

LL.M  in International Business Law, from Department of Legal Studies, Central European University (2015, Hungary)

LL.M in Maritime Law,  from Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, University of Oslo (2014, Norway)

LL.B in Law, from Hawassa University Faculty of Law (2001, Ethiopia) 

Languages

English

Amharic

Afaan Oromoo

Selected Experience

Served as In House Lawyer at Ethiopian Development Bank (2014) and Sinoma International Engineering Ltd (in Dangote Ethiopia Ltd.) (2020-2022)

Practiced litigation and legal consultancy by representing private clients since 2018. 

Taught post graduate courses ( LL.M Courses) extensively as an Assistant Professor of Law in different Ethiopian Public universities notably; International Business Transactions; at Ambo University (since 2018), Haramaya University (2018-19) and Wallaga University, (2019-2021) International Investment Law (Ambo University-since 2018) (Haramaya University-2018-19) (Wallaga University, 2019-2021) (Jimma University-2018/19) Ethiopian Investment Law and Policy (Jimma University-2018/19) Advanced Company Law and Finance Ambo University-since 2018) (Haramaya University-2018-19) (Wallaga University, 2019-2021) (Jimma University-2018/19) (Hawassa University-2020-2021) Bankruptcy Law (Ambo University-since 2018) (Hawassa University-2020-2021), Legal Aspects of E-Commerce (Ambo University-since 2018)

Engagements in research and publication activities

Areas of Practice

Corporate Services

Investment

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Reviews & Due Diligence

International Trade

ICT Law

Capital Markets

Litigation

Arbitration & Other ADR

Maritime Contracts

Personal Services (Family Law, Succession, etc)

Criminal Defense

Land and Natural Resources

Publications

Achieving Access to the Maritime Transport Services Market in the European Union: A Critical Discussion of Cabotage Services, Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs, Volume 6, Issue 2,  Tylor and Francis Group, 2013

Combating Impunity While Challenging the International Criminal Court:  The African Paradox, East African Journal of Social Sciences,Vol-1, No-1, 2016 (Co-authoring: Solan Dula Seman)

Sea Carrier’s Exemption of Liability for Navigational Error: The Norwegian Perspective Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs, Volume 8, Issue 3, Tylor and Francis Group, 2016

Preferred Shares under Ethiopian Company Law: The Ignored Vehicles of Corporate Finance? Journal of Ethiopian Law,Vol-28, No-1, 2016

The Structure of Carrier’s Liability and Burden of Proof Under The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly By Sea (2009) Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs, Volume 8, Issue 3, Tylor and Francis Group, 2016

The Case for Employee Board Level Representation in Ethiopian Corporate Governance System, Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, Vol.84, 2019

Assessment of the Implementation of Workers' Occupational Safety and Health Standards in Building Construction: The Case of West Shoa Zone, East African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (2019) Volume 4 (2) 1-12

Domestic Workers’ Treatment under Ethiopian and South African Laws,  Italian Labour Law e-Journal Issue 2, Vol. 13 (2020)  (Co-authoring Diriba Mangasha Dabala)

Protection of Creditors from the Abuse of Limited Liability in Firms under Ethiopian Laws, Jimma University Journal of Law, V-15, No-1, 2023 (Co-authoring Firaol Tafese Adugna)