Business and investment lawyers in The Gambia

Legal work built around your commercial objective

Whether you are establishing a business, investing, entering an agreement or facing a dispute, the starting point is the decision you need to make. Solie Law Chambers advises businesses, investors and professional advisers on the Gambian legal aspects of their plans.

Specialist work for banks, corporations and international business

Solie Law Chambers has offices in Fajara and Dubai and advises businesses, financial institutions, NGOs and professional clients on Gambian and cross-border matters. Our commercial practice includes specialist banking, fintech and trade-compliance work alongside business establishment, contracts and disputes.

For a regional group or international transaction, identify the entities, countries, responsible advisers and the commercial decision you need to make. We can then define the required advice and how it fits into the wider matter.

How we can assist

• Starting and structuring a business: discussing the proposed activity, ownership and registration route.
• Commercial agreements: drafting or reviewing terms, responsibilities, payment provisions and remedies.
• Partnerships and investment: clarifying contributions, control, decision-making and exit arrangements.
• Property and operations: reviewing premises and the legal arrangements needed for the business.
• Disputes and unpaid accounts: assessing evidence, possible settlement and proceedings where appropriate.

Starting a business or investing in an existing company?

A new venture requires decisions about structure, ownership, control and the route to registration. An investment in an existing business calls for a different review: what you are buying, what obligations already exist and whether the seller can deliver the interest promised.

For an acquisition or investment, prepare the available company records, ownership information, accounts, material contracts and details of debts or disputes. Identify whether the transaction concerns shares, particular assets or a loan. This determines the documents and enquiries needed before money changes hands.

Our company-registration guidance explains the starting documents and overseas-company route. The partnership and investment guidance addresses contributions, control and exit arrangements.

Which contract terms deserve attention before you sign?

A commercial agreement should translate the intended deal into obligations that each party can understand and perform. Start by identifying the correct legal parties and the person authorised to sign for each.

• Deliverables: describe the goods, services or work, the standard expected and how acceptance is recorded.
• Payments: specify the price, currency, due dates, invoicing requirements and treatment of disputed amounts.
• Changes and delay: set out who can approve variations and what follows if delivery or payment is late.
• Ending the agreement: address notice, outstanding payments, return of property and continuing obligations.
• Disputes: consider the governing law, the agreed process and where a dispute would be resolved.

Contract review is most useful while terms can still be negotiated. If work has begun under emails or informal arrangements, preserve those records and identify what remains unsettled.

How do premises and operating permissions affect the plan?

Review a proposed lease or land purchase alongside the intended activity. The agreement should address permitted use, fit-out works, repairs, access, utilities and what happens if a necessary approval is unavailable. An attractive site may still require enquiries before it can support the business.

Prepare a separate list of applicable sector licences, tax matters, employment arrangements and banking requirements. Allocate each task to a named person or adviser so that registration and operational preparations stay coordinated. See our tax guidance and commercial property services.

From initial instructions to defined work

1. Explain the transaction

   Identify the parties, business activity, commercial objective and timetable. For a dispute, set out the key events and the outcome sought.

2. Identify the legal questions

   Discuss the relevant documents, proposed structure, approvals and responsibilities of any other advisers.

3. Agree the scope

   The work may involve a document review, drafting, registration support, negotiation or representation. Agree the deliverables, fees and next steps for the stage required.

For overseas businesses and referring advisers

Tell us where the business, owners and decision makers are based. If another jurisdiction is involved, identify your existing legal and tax advisers so the responsibilities for Gambian and overseas advice can be discussed.

Registration, sector permissions, tax treatment, employment and banking arrangements are separate questions to consider. A company certificate alone should not be treated as confirmation that every operational requirement has been met.

Costs, timing and information to prepare

The number of parties, document complexity, negotiations and official processes affect the work and timetable. Share a short transaction summary, existing agreements, the proposed value where relevant and any deadline. Ask for fees and expenses for the proposed scope.

Practical guides for business owners and advisers

Explore the questions behind a new venture, trading arrangement or contract review. Each guide explains the decisions to make and the information to prepare before instructing the firm.