“…every experience is a learning opportunity, so embracing each moment and enjoying the ride is important.” – Deborah Haddis Berhanu
Deborah Haddis Berhanu is a Senior Associate at Aman & Partners LLP, Ethiopia. She provides legal advice on various transactions, representing clients before government institutions, assisting clients in negotiations, and drafting transaction documents. In addition to her legal advisory work, she manages multiple events, institutional publications, and firm business development activities. From 2015 – 2022, she practiced law at Mesfin Tafesse & Associates Law office, where she was a member of the management advisory team of the law office and led the corporate team. In 2018, she was seconded to Hogan Lovells’ London office, working as an associate in the corporate and commercial team. In 2017, she was also seconded to Webber Wentzel, Johannesburg office.
Deborah is a steering committee member of Women in the Profession, Ethiopia Chapter. It is an initiative under the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, which aims to increase the representation of women in leadership positions within the legal profession.
Deborah Haddis has experience in providing trade and investment advisory services as well as project management. She mainly focuses on corporate and commercial law. She has led projects involving investment structuring advice on cross-border transactions, regulatory due diligence investigations, legal opinions, and drafting transaction documents. Deborah has an LLB from Addis Ababa University (with great distinction) and an LLM in International Economic Law from the University of South Africa. Deborah has also been recognised as a Rising Star by Legal 500 as well as IFLR100. She is also recognised as an Up-and-Coming lawyer by Chambers & Partners.
- The driving force for choosing the legal profession.
Her spark for the legal profession started in elementary school from John Grisham’s books and her mom’s great storytelling ability. She would ask her mom to tell her about the books she sees her reading, and she was fascinated by the legal profession as it was portrayed in those novels. Though in hindsight, a lot of credit goes to her mom’s narration capacity. Her passion was later fueled by extracurriculars such as the debate club and school newspaper. The law provides predictability, consistency, and order to the flow of things. In her opinion, the practice of law strikes the balance between stability and provides the excitement of constantly learning something new, and continues to make the legal practice a fulfilling pursuit.
2. Qualities of an exceptional lawyer and how young professionals can cultivate the attributes.
In her opinion, a truly exceptional lawyer is:
- Knowledgeable – has sufficient legal knowledge of his/her practice area.
- Committed to upholding ethical standards of the profession
- Adaptable – to change. In the fast-paced world we live in today, one must adapt to technological developments, changing circumstances, and new legislation.
- Balanced – Though this is not unique to the legal profession. Preserving mental health and finding the appropriate work-life balance is of paramount importance.
She believes young professionals can cultivate these attributes by exerting a dedicated effort toward the achievements they are pursuing. This means stretching one’s limits at times, which usually brings out the diamond in the rough. She believes every experience is a learning opportunity, so embracing each moment and enjoying the ride is important.
3. Next groundbreaking project or initiative and possible impacts.
She is a member of the steering committee of the Ethiopia Chapter of the Women in the Profession Initiative. Among other things that this initiative will achieve, she is hoping to create a mentorship program for young lawyers in Ethiopia, aspiring to grow their careers in corporate law.
4. Role models and books with huge impacts.
She can’t refer to any single legal mind who has influenced her journey. A lot of her university professors, as well as mentors who have shared their professional experience with her, have shaped her perspective of legal practice.
The Bible has greatly shaped her thoughts and perspectives on life in general. From the 10 Commandments to the more than 600 laws of the book of Numbers and the profound phenomenon called grace, the Bible continues to shape and challenge its perspectives.
5. Advice or guiding principles for young legal professionals and advocates trying to find their place and purpose in the legal terrain.
One thing she has realised is that legal education equips young professionals not only to grow in the legal practice but also to diversify their career paths. She believes that having a career plan helps one stay focused on a goal. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and it is good to cherish every professional opportunity. Sometimes it is the “by chance” encounters that become an eye-opening experience to what one’s career can be. She highly encourages young professionals to be the best version of themselves and to strive for excellence in every task they face.
Click here to read our previous Millenial, Dr William Kiema Sammy
Editorial Credits for this article
The Millennial Editors at The PALM:
- Silver Obioha – Managing Editor
- Dikeledi Matlhagare – Deputy Managing Editor
- Aya Hamdy, Princess Maake – Associate Editors
- Jemilat Akerele, Vera Enubianozor, Oluwabusayo Awodele, Gift Nwoke, Jessica Odoh, Tracy Karumba, Mary-Jones Ossi, Halimah Oladunni, Mary Linus, Jessica Omoruyi – Assistant Editors
Special thanks to the editorial team for shaping and refining this feature on Deborah Haddis Berhanu.
