SIERRA LEONE Trends and Developments
Trends and Developments Contributed by: Gelaga King, Eku Williams, Robert Koroma and Valentina Coker GPKLegal GPKLegal is located in central Freetown and has three partners, 15 associates, four administrators, six clerks and other miscellaneous staff. The firm spe - cialises in advising on cross-border and domestic transactions, M&A and regulatory compliance across key sectors, such as telecommunications, mining, energy and infrastructure. It regularly liaises with government ministries, departments and agencies to obtain approvals and consents. Recent clients/en - gagements include Deutsche Bank, DeBeers, FMO, Zenith Bank, Koidu Holdings, Maersk, Dangote, Spo -
tify, Kanu Equipment, BRAC, Columbia University, AFREXIM, IFC and ADB. Recent instructions have in - cluded legal due diligence, advising on employment and regulatory matters, drafting security instruments, and handling litigation. The firm’s lawyers regularly appear in the superior courts, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Sierra Leone, and in international arbitral tribunals. All lawyers attend training on good governance and best practice, and are fully conversant with the money laundering and anti-bribery laws and regulations.
Authors
Gelaga King is managing partner of GPKLegal. He is also qualified in the UK, where he sits part-time as a judge and is a Master of the Bench of Gray’s Inn. He is an accredited civil and commercial mediator, and
protection and financial restructuring. He holds an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law (Distinction) from Queen Mary University of London.
Robert Koroma is an associate at GPKLegal and holds an LLB from Fourah Bay College. He was called to the Bar in January 2022. At GPKLegal, Robert has advised both local and international clients on
advises clients on private sector investment and ancillary matters. Gelaga is regularly instructed as local counsel by international law firms and as an expert on Sierra Leonean law. His clients include international solicitors, financial institutions, mining companies and NGOs. He is an international trainer of advocacy trainers, and Vice Chair of the SL/UK Pro Bono Network working on legal development and the Rule of Law in Sierra Leone.
commercial transactions, compliance matters and regulatory requirements. He has also conducted comprehensive due diligence for both local and international companies, and offered guidance on employment-related issues, helping businesses minimise potential risks.
Eku Williams is an associate at GPKLegal, specialising in capital markets, corporate finance and private equity. He advises companies, investors and financial institutions on investments, regulatory compliance,
Valentina Coker is an associate at GPKLegal, with an LLB from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. She was called to the Sierra Leone Bar in October 2023. Valentina advises on commercial law, corporate disputes,
corporate advisory and strategic financing across all stages of the transaction life cycle. Eku interned at Hogan Lovells, working with the private equity and restructuring teams, and gained experience at London law firms, working with UK, African and European companies on cross-border investments and joint ventures, M&A, asset financing, IP
employment class actions and mining law. She has experience in forming local and foreign companies, including SPVs and joint ventures, and in conducting due diligence on corporate acquisitions. She regularly appears before the High Court of Sierra Leone and in interlocutory appeals before the Court of Appeal.
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