A small firm built for the matters that actually matter.
Bakarr & Associates is a boutique law firm based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We were founded on a model that runs counter to the prevailing logic of the legal industry: stay small, take fewer matters, and put a senior lawyer on every one of them.
We act for established Sierra Leonean businesses, international companies entering the West African market, property owners and developers, and individuals navigating commercial disputes. Our practice is deliberately concentrated in four areas — corporate law, real estate, litigation, and company secretarial services — because depth in a few practices serves clients better than a thin spread across many.
“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.
Every matter is led by a partner.
There is no model in which a junior associate runs your file and a partner reviews it once before billing. The lawyer you meet at the first consultation is the lawyer who drafts your agreements, negotiates your terms, and stands in court if it comes to that.
We are direct about scope, direct about cost, and direct about what we can and cannot achieve. We would rather decline a matter than take one we cannot do well.
Four commitments, in writing from day one.
Same-day response
A response to any inquiry within one business day, usually faster.
Fixed fees
Fixed fees on most transactional work, agreed in writing before we begin.
Plain language
Plain-language explanations of what the law requires and what we recommend.
Strict confidentiality
Strict confidentiality, applied to every conversation from the first call.
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.
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