Mr. Bekele has extensive business and legal experience in the United States as well as in Africa. Mr. Bekele, has been in private practice in the US since 1999 where he gained invaluable experience on a wide range of areas including Corporate Transactions and Finance, International Business, International Finance, Energy, Banking and Securities Law. Mr. Bekele provided advice to clients regarding various issues including Corporate Finance and transactions, Banking, mergers and acquisitions, compliance with legislation and regulations, participated in international negotiations, prepared international bids, successfully represented clients during litigation, prepared and negotiated contracts on behalf of clients. Before joining private practice, Mr. Bekele worked at different organizations and held various legal positions. In Ethiopia, Mr. Bekele had worked at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia; the Ethio-Djibouti Railway Company; and as a High Court Judge of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In the US, Mr. Bekele worked at International Center Not-for-Profit, United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and Arnold & Porter. Currently, Mr. Bekele is a senior partner at the Transnational Business Attorneys Group serving corporate as well as private clients. Mr. Bekele is admitted to the Maryland Bar and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is also a member of the American Bar Association. Education: Mr. Bekele earned his Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1999. Previous to that, he graduated with LL.B from Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Law in 1990.