About Horn Legal

Legal work grounded in Somalia. Connections across the region.

Horn Legal Consulting Services, or HLCS, is a full-service Somali law and consulting firm working with businesses, public institutions, international organisations, NGOs and private clients.

Our work covers commercial and regulatory matters, contracts and disputes, together with law reform, legislative drafting, legal research and institutional development. The team works in Somali, English, Arabic, Italian, Swahili, German and Swedish.

For matters extending beyond Somalia, the firm works with associate lawyers in more than six countries. Clients retain one main contact while the relevant local lawyers handle work in their jurisdictions.

Based in Somalia

Legal work shaped by long experience in Somalia.

The rule of law is essential to a fair, just and progressive society.

Our Background

The firm’s history began with the Somali Lawyers Firm, founded in December 1984. In 1993, Tahlil Haji Ahmed relaunched the practice under the name Horn Legal Consulting Services.

Its early work included legal advice, research, law reform and capacity building for legal institutions in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. In January 2014, additional partners and associates joined the practice, broadening its legal capabilities.

The expanded team brought experience from private legal practice, the judiciary, public institutions and community work.

The firm has also contributed to preserving and making Somali statutes and legislation accessible through its digital legal library.

What We Do

Our work falls into two broad areas: legal services for businesses and individuals, and legal support for international development.

For businesses, investors and private clients, we assist with commercial law, corporate matters, contract drafting and negotiation, dispute resolution, litigation support, regulatory affairs, labour law, immigration, tax, land and property issues, finance, insurance and related legal matters.

For international organisations, NGOs, UN agencies, government bodies and development partners, we provide support in law reform, rule of law programming, constitutional and legislative drafting, comparative legal analysis, human rights, judiciary training, law enforcement frameworks and institutional capacity building.

We agree the question, scope and timing with the client at the start. Our advice is written to be understood and used, not simply filed away.

Local Knowledge With a Regional Outlook

Legal work in Somalia depends on more than reading legislation. A lawyer also needs to understand how institutions operate, how business is conducted and which practical issues may affect the client’s options.

Our lawyers bring that local understanding to the legal analysis. Where a matter involves another country, we work with an associate lawyer who knows that jurisdiction.

The firm’s work and experience extend across Somaliland, Puntland, South Central Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and the wider Horn of Africa.

Our Approach

We begin by asking what the client needs to decide or achieve. We then identify the relevant law, explain the available options and agree on the next piece of work.

Clients can expect:

A clear scope of work
Direct communication with the lawyer handling the matter
Advice that distinguishes law, risk and practical choice
Realistic timelines
Confidential handling of sensitive matters

Our founder

Remembering Tahlil Haji Ahmed

The firm honours its founder through the work he began and the standards of care, service and legal seriousness he brought to the profession.

In memory

Tahlil Haji Ahmed

Founder

Tahlil Haji Ahmed was a Somali lawyer, former judge and the founding force behind Horn Legal Consulting Services. His work crossed private practice, the bench and public-interest legal advisory work, and he treated the law as both a profession and a public duty.

His legal journey began with the Somali Lawyers Firm, founded in December 1984. In 1993, he relaunched the practice as Horn Legal Consulting Services and built it into a respected legal and consulting firm serving clients in Somalia and across the wider Horn of Africa.

Over the years, Tahlil contributed to legal reform, legislative drafting, legal research and judicial development. He advised UN agencies, worked with Somali public institutions on governance, human rights and justice programmes, and contributed to assessments of justice systems in South Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland, including accountability arrangements for the police and judiciary.

He also believed legal support should be serious, practical and accessible to people who might otherwise be left without help. Horn Legal continues in his memory by carrying forward the standards he set: careful work, public service and a lasting commitment to the rule of law.

Our people

Leadership and legal team

The firm is led by Abdiwahid Tahlil, with experience spanning courts, public institutions and community work.

Additional lawyers and team profiles will be added here shortly as the firm completes the final stages of administrative work.

Leadership

Abdiwahid Tahlil

Managing Director

abdiwahid@hornlcs.com

Abdiwahid Tahlil is the Managing Director of Horn Legal Consulting Services. He completed his law studies and works in legal research, contract drafting and dispute resolution. He oversees the firm’s work for individuals, businesses and institutions.

Before becoming Managing Director, Abdiwahid served as Legal Assistant to the firm’s founder, the late Tahlil Haji Ahmed. He worked with Tahlil on case preparation, client matters and legal research, learning how the firm approached both its clients and its wider public responsibilities.

Abdiwahid has also worked in Sweden as a youth educator, treatment assistant and social care professional for municipalities and specialist care institutions. That work gave him experience leading teams, communicating across different backgrounds and responding calmly to difficult personal and social situations.

Legal team

Additional team profiles are being finalised

New lawyers and other members of the legal team will be shown here once the final administrative steps are complete.

Contact Horn Legal

Tell us about the matter.

A short account of the issue and any important deadline is enough for a first enquiry.

Contact our team Email us