Mulugeta is a founding partner of Ethio Legal Shield LLP (ELS). Prior to assuming this role, Mulugeta has been consulting and teaching for close to twenty years. He advised HE Hailemariam Desalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, for over five years on diverse matters including climate change, environment, international climate diplomacy, rule of law and legal and justice reform.

While advising the Prime Minister, Mulugeta has also been involved in a number of national initiatives including the revision of Ethiopia’s Commercial Code, in which he led the work on revising the Bankruptcy section. He contributed to the development of a financing proposal to the Green Climate Fund and led the effort to pitch the proposal to the various members of the Board of the Fund. Through this he helped in mobilizing a total of 50 million USD.

Mulugeta also led the diagnostic study on the quality of the federal government’s regulatory system which consists of more than 200 agencies. The study was conducted together with the World Bank. He led a national rapid assessment of the state of rule of law and justice which contributed to the various legal reforms by Hailemariam’s successor.

Mulugeta represented his country in various international and regional platforms where he spoke extensively on Ethiopia’s green economy and climate resilient policies.

Upon leaving the Office of the Prime Minister, Mulugeta served as a board member of Ethiopia’s energy regulator. He also initiated together with his nine friends a peace initiative called Destiny Ethiopia, which helps broker stable relationships and common vision among contending political and social leaders in the country.

Mulugeta taught law in the University of Surrey (UK), Addis Ababa University, Mekelle University, Haromaya University and Debre Birhan University. He consulted a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations including the Ministry of Water and Energy, the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment, UNDP, OECD, NORAD, and many others.

He is an author of a leading commentary on Ethiopia’s law of contracts.

Mulugeta’s practice areas include business transactions, bankruptcy, corporate organization and management, natural resources and climate, energy law, capital market, public administration including regulatory agencies, human rights

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Ethiopian Federal Advocates Association

Education

• Addis Ababa University, School of Law (LL.B)
• Ghent University, Belgium (LL.M Very Great Distinction)
• Ghent University, Belgium (LL.M in law and economics Great Distinction)
• University of Rotterdam, the Netherlands (LLM in law and economics)
• Manchester University, UK (LLM in law and economics)
• University of Surrey, UK (PhD)

Languages

• English
• Amharic