Freetown · Commercial Law

Investment counsel for Sierra Leone’s most consequential transactions.

Serving international investors, development finance institutions, and infrastructure sponsors across cross-border transactions, financings, and regulatory mandates in Sierra Leone.

Instruct the Firm About the Practice
Combined Experience 50+ Years
Transactions Advised $500M+
Practice Areas 9
01 / About the Firm

Expert Legal Counsel for Complex Transactions.

Iroko Legal Services is a specialist commercial firm based in Freetown. We advise on high-value transactions, project finance, infrastructure, mining, and the regulatory environments that surround them.

Our team brings unmatched expertise in Sierra Leone’s legal, regulatory, and commercial landscape — combined with the international perspective that complex cross-border transactions demand.

We act as a trusted bridge between our clients’ ambitions and the realities of doing business in West Africa, offering clarity, speed, and strategic insight at every stage of a transaction.

Combined Experience 50+ Years
Transactions $500M+
Practice Areas 9
02 / Practice Areas

Nine practice areas. One firm.

Comprehensive coverage across nine core practice areas, tailored to the unique demands of Sierra Leone’s evolving economy.

01

Project Finance, Infrastructure & Capital Markets

Large-scale project finance, PPPs, infrastructure mandates, capital raising and securities.

02

Corporate & Commercial Law

Formations, governance, commercial contracts, joint ventures.

03

Mergers & Acquisitions

Buy-side and sell-side M&A, due diligence, deal structuring.

04

Mining & Natural Resources

Licensing, JVs, environmental compliance.

05

Energy Law

Renewables, PPAs, sector regulation.

06

Sustainability

ESG advisory, carbon markets, sustainability regulation and impact transactions.

07

Technology & Innovation

Digital economy, data protection, IP.

08

Regulatory & Compliance

Risk management, regulatory frameworks.

09

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation, arbitration, neutral facilitation.

03 / People

The lawyers behind the work.

A deeply credentialed team — with experience spanning the world's leading firms, the United Nations, and Sierra Leone's most consequential mandates.

Henrietta Cole
Managing Partner

Henrietta Cole

Highly experienced in project finance, Henrietta is accomplished as a lead lawyer, mainly representing lenders in public partnership agreements, infrastructure, mining licence agreements and mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to law, Henrietta worked as a consultant for a number of international non-governmental organisations including UNHABITAT and World Bank, advising them on strategies aimed at enhancing the social and economic conditions of the urban poor and their integration into the formal economy.

Henrietta is a keen runner. She completed the London Moonwalk and Edinburgh’s Moonwalk. She enjoys African Art. Henrietta is married to Nick and says she’s ‘kept grounded by three grown-up children!’.

Project Finance M&A Infrastructure Mining
Practice Leads
Joy
Partner

Joy

Joy advises on technology, finance, energy, and infrastructure matters, with extensive experience conducting due diligence for international investors, development finance institutions, and multilaterals. Her career bridges private practice at Basma & Macaulay and Chariot Eight (Elenchus Chambers) — with policy at Sierra Leone’s Directorate of Science, Technology & Innovation, and advisory work with the FAO and World Bank. Ph.D. candidate, Harvard; MPA, London School of Economics; LL.B., University of Sierra Leone.

Technology & Finance Energy & Infrastructure Due Diligence Policy & Regulatory
Lanla
Partner

Lanla

Lanla brings 23 years of United Nations experience, most recently as General Legal Counsel for Sierra Leone on the UN Security Council, covering international humanitarian law, digital & emerging technologies, and intergovernmental affairs. She chaired the Informal Working Group for International Tribunals (IWGIT) and coordinated the Africa Group for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ). Called to the Bar in England & Wales and Sierra Leone; admitted as an Attorney in New York.

Environmental Law Carbon Markets Data Governance Law of the Sea
Associates
Francella Nylander
Associate

Francella Nylander

Previously an Associate at Kanu & Associates – Streamline Chambers. Outside of practice, serves as Duty Counsel and Head of Legal Representation at L.A.W.Y.E.R.S, leading pro bono advocacy and advancing access to justice in Sierra Leone.

Litigation Commercial Law Legal Advisory
Wusiatu Sento Samura
Associate

Wusiatu Sento Samura

With a dual academic background in Peace and Conflict Studies and Law, Wusiatu brings strategic analysis and stakeholder-sensitive counsel to litigation, corporate advisory, and regulatory matters.

Corporate Advisory Regulatory Litigation
Lolita Annie Ayodele Campbell
Associate

Lolita Annie Ayodele Campbell

Called to the Sierra Leonean Bar, 2023. Advises on corporate and commercial matters.

Corporate Law Gender Justice
Esther
Legal Assistant

Esther

04 / Why Iroko
01

Local Fluency, Global Standards

Deep familiarity with Sierra Leone’s regulatory bodies and approval processes — paired with the rigour expected by international institutions.

02

Economic Development Focus

Our practice is built to facilitate investment that creates jobs, transfers knowledge, and builds sustainable economies — aligning client success with Sierra Leone's growth.

03

Cross-Sector Track Record

Mining, energy, fintech, agribusiness, real estate — our lawyers have closed transactions across every major sector of Sierra Leone’s economy.

04

Responsive & Practical

We understand that deals move fast. Our team delivers clear, actionable advice on tight timelines without sacrificing the rigour that complex transactions demand.

05 / Insights

Practice-led research and analysis.

Project Finance

Risk Allocation in West African PPPs

Structuring infrastructure deals that balance lender and sponsor expectations.

Forthcoming · Read →
Mining Law

Sierra Leone’s Mining Code: What Foreign Investors Need to Know

A practical primer on licensing, community engagement, and tax frameworks.

Forthcoming · Read →
Carbon Markets

Carbon Markets in Sierra Leone: An Emerging Opportunity

Project structuring, compliance pathways, and revenue models for credit-generating projects.

Forthcoming · Read →
A periodic research series · First issue forthcoming

Ready to invest in Sierra Leone?

Whether you’re exploring new opportunities, setting up operations, structuring complex transactions, or navigating regulatory requirements — our team is ready.

Schedule a Consultation
06 / Contact

Begin a conversation.

Office
Top Floor, 14 Madongo Town
Congo Cross, Freetown
Sierra Leone
Phone
+232 79 97 17 17
WhatsApp
+232 31 83 37 88
Email
info@irokolegal.com
Hours
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM GMT · International clients accommodated across time zones.

Send a message.

We respond to qualified enquiries within one business day.