Freetown · Sierra Leone · Established 2021
A boutique Sierra Leonean law firm.
Modern in practice. Above and beyond in service.
We offer hands-on assistance to clients pursuing their strategic goals, while steering them away from the legal challenges encountered in the ordinary course of business. Solution-oriented counsel, from inception through every stage of the company's life. Going above and beyond is our default, not our exception.
We offer hands-on assistance to clients pursuing their strategic goals, while steering them away from the legal challenges encountered in the ordinary course of business. Solution-oriented counsel, from inceptionthrough every stage of the company's life. Going above and beyond is our default, not our exception.
Areas of practice.
Our practice spans the full commercial lifecycle. We are experienced in liaising with government ministries, regulators, and the courts in our clients’ behalf from the National Investment Board formerly Corporate Affairs Commission and the National Revenue Authority to the EWRC, EPA and beyond.
Corporate &
Commercial
Company formation and structuring, shareholder and joint venture agreements, commercial contracts, corporate governance, and ongoing advisory work for Sierra Leonean and international businesses.
Learn more →M&A & Due
Diligence
Mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, and the corporate and project due diligence that precedes them. Capitalisation, financing arrangements, and mortgage transactions.
Learn more →Energy Law
& Policy
Specialist advisory on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing renewable energy, distributed energy resources, climate finance, environmental impact, and local content, for developers, investors, and policymakers.
Learn more →Real Estate &
Land
Conveyancing, title due diligence at the OARG and Ministry of Lands, commercial leases, ongoing estate management, and advisory under the National Land Commission Act 2022 and Customary Land Rights Act 2022.
Learn more →Employment
& Labour
Compliance with the Employment Act 2023 and Employment Regulations 2023. Drafting employment contracts and HR policies, NASSIT and PAYE advisory, and representation in workplace disputes.
Learn more →Litigation
& Disputes
Specialists in complex commercial litigation. Representation in the High Court of Sierra Leone, debt recovery, alternative dispute resolution, and inter-company negotiation.
Learn more →Regulatory &
Compliance
Sector-specific compliance across telecommunications, energy, financial services, and security. Anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, and Data Protection Act compliance.
Learn more →Company
Secretarial
Annual returns, board minutes and resolutions, share registers, and statutory compliance with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Outsourced corporate governance for institutional clients.
Learn more →Tax &
IP
Strategic tax planning, NRA filings, and tax dispute resolution. Trademark and brand protection, intellectual property licensing, and creative works advisory.
Learn more →Investment
Due Diligence
Pre-investment, pre-acquisition, and pre-financing due diligence for investors, IGOs, and acquirers, corporate, regulatory, financial, and operational scoping to support informed investment decisions.
Learn more →Family
Law
Adoptions, wills, guardianship applications, and estate management, supporting individuals and families through significant life and legacy decisions with discretion and care.
Learn more →
“On staying the course, and building something enduring.”
When I founded Bakarr & Associates in February 2021, I did so with a clear vision of what a Sierra Leonean law firm could be, and what it could offer to the people, businesses, and organisations doing important work in this country.
I believe the future of legal practice in our region lies in two things: depth of expertise rather than generalisation, and genuine partnership with the people we serve rather than transactional advice. This firm exists to be exactly that kind of partner, a bridge, in particular, for businesses entering Sierra Leone, and for those already operating here who want to grow sustainably.
What that looks like in practice is straightforward. We help companies structure their operations, navigate the regulatory environment, and become investment-ready for local or international funding. We provide practical, commercially sound advice to clients facing the operational realities of doing business in Sierra Leone. We respond to every query within 24 hours, because what matters to our clients matters in real time.
Equally important to the work we do for clients is the work we do as a pupil chambers. I serve as a pupil master because I believe legal education is a privilege passed forward, and because the next generation of Sierra Leonean lawyers will determine what is possible for the next generation of Sierra Leonean businesses. Every member of our team is here both to serve and to grow.
If you are an organisation, business, or individual considering us, whether you are operating in Sierra Leone, considering entry, or somewhere in between, I welcome the conversation.
The team.
Practitioners and operations professionals with credentials from Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, and Central Europe, including Chevening Scholars and degrees with Distinction from the University of Dundee CEPMLP and Central European University.
Sadia Bakarr
Fatmata Forster
Kadiatu Osal Gbla
Jenabu Jalloh
Albert Joe Vandy
Abel Alusine Bassie
Johnet Kamara
Plus legal assistants and strategic partners across accounting and business-analysis disciplines.
Trusted by operators, investors, and institutions.
Selected experience.
A representative sample of recent engagements across our practice areas.
PowerGen Renewable Energy
Comprehensive legal advisory on corporate restructuring, share transfers, shareholder loans, and public-private partnership (PPP) structuring. Engagement with the Government of Sierra Leone on regulatory approvals and tariff negotiations, and end-to-end transactional and compliance support throughout the project lifecycle.
CrossBoundary Energy (via The Betts Firm)
Strategic legal support on infrastructure and renewable energy projects, including regulatory compliance for telecom and distributed energy resources (DER), environmental impact assessments, local content obligations, and offshore financing structures, with active engagement with NATCA, the EPA, and the EWRC.
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Sierra Leone
Advisory on community land acquisition and tenure frameworks, navigating regulatory requirements under the National Land Commission Act 2022 and the Customary Land Rights Act 2022, and structuring equitable engagements with communities, government officials, and private-sector stakeholders.
Education Development Trust
Retained counsel in Sierra Leone providing comprehensive support including employment and labour advisory, contract drafting and negotiation, work permits and immigration, company secretarial services, response to legal notices, document certification, and ongoing due diligence work.
Redsalt Angel Investment Network (RAIN)
Company secretarial services, due diligence, and contract review to ensure compliance with Sierra Leone law in line with international best practice, supporting an impact-driven investor backing early-stage startups and social businesses in low-income countries.
Icechem Tankers
Acting on a complex commercial dispute before the Commercial and Admiralty Division, requiring extensive applications on vessel arrest and release, security negotiations, and jurisdictional applications in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Lite Salone Project
Consultants on a sustainable business model for Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) in rural Sierra Leone, designing service-based frameworks for delivering energy access in underserved communities.
Karadeniz Powership Kaya Bey Company Limited
Delivering bespoke company secretarial and compliance services to Karadeniz Powership Kaya Bey Company Limited, with responsibility for annual returns, corporate registry compliance, board and directorship updates, and the diligent preservation of all statutory records in accordance with regulatory standards.
How we work.
Senior-level engagement as the default. Documented service-level commitments. A digital-first operating model designed for clients who expect institutional-grade responsiveness.
Senior-led, by default
Every engagement is overseen by Managing Counsel. The lawyer you meet is the lawyer accountable for your matter.
24-hour response, by SLA
Documented service-level commitments by matter type, from urgent queries to written opinions, contract reviews, and conveyancing.
Digital-first delivery
E-procurement ready, e-signature enabled, electronic invoicing, and secure document exchange via encrypted channels.
Predictable pricing
Annual fixed-fee retainers, hourly-rate work where appropriate, and clear scoping before every matter begins.
Publications.
Scholarly and policy writing by members of the firm, on regional trade, energy and climate, corporate governance, and the legal frameworks that shape commerce in Sierra Leone and West Africa.
New publications coming soon.
Insights from our practice.
Plain-language analysis of legal and regulatory developments shaping business, energy, property, and disputes in Sierra Leone.
New insight articles coming soon.
Top Floor, 1B King Harman Road, Freetown.
Visit by appointment. We meet clients at our offices in central Freetown, by video conference, or on-site at your operations across the Western Area and the provinces.
Tell us about your matter.
We respond to every inquiry within 24 hours. Initial conversations are confidential and without obligation.
Request a consultation1B King Harman Road
Freetown, Sierra Leone
+232 78 396 144