Fatmata Forster is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone with 6 years experience in litigation and other legal services. She graduated from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone in 2013 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree.She has also attended a course in Introduction to the Sierra Leone Tax system.
Fatmata is a civil litigation lawyer and has a wealth of advocacy experience in real property law, employment and labour law, personal injury claims, estate planning and management, commercial law, family law including adoptions, divorce and custody cases.
She is currently the Lead Associate at Renner-Thomas Associates where she liaises with clients, writes legal opinions on varied legal issues, prepares and reviews contracts and agreements including leases and mortgages, manages and handles court cases to conclusion for firm clients including banking institutions, international corporations and non-governmental organisations. She also supervises and reviews the work of Junior Associates.
Fatmata has good organisational skills, is efficient at time management and completes tasks in a timely manner. She also possesses good negotiation and networking skills and is a good team player.
She is fluent in English, French and other indigenous West African languages.
CAREER/ WORK EXPERIENCE
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
RENNER-THOMAS ASSOCIATES
March 2021-Present
Renner-Thomas Associates is a leading law firm in the practice areas of commercial, corporate law and admiralty law. My role as Senior Associate is to liaise with clients, write legal opinions on varied legal issues, review contracts and agreements, commence, manage and handle court matters to conclusion for clients including banking institutions, international corporations and non-governmental organisations. I also supervise and review the work of Junior Associates.
SOLICITOR/DUTY COUNSEL
LAWYERS YEARNING FOR EQUALITY AND SOCIAL RIGHTS (L.A.W.Y.E.R.S.)
September 2020- April 2020
I worked as part of a team for a UN Women funded project: Mainstreaming Gender in the Covid 19 Response Project. My responsibilities included giving efficient legal advice and assistance to female victims of sexual and gender based violence in Freetown referred by the LAWYERS secretariat, manage client relationships mainly clients interactions with the police and other service providers; provide and support the education and sensitisation of vulnerable women and girls who are victims/survivors of SGBV through radio discussions and debates, school assembly talks. Also engaging stakeholders in the justice sector on issues surrounding Gender Based Violence especially the challenges in accessing essential social services during the Covid 19 pandemic and its attendant lockdowns and restriction of movement.
Board member, Apex Bank Sierra Leone
March 2020 to present
Apex Bank is an agricultural finance bank providing services to remote rural areas in Sierra Leone through the use of community banks and financial service associations. My responsibilities include overseeing the management of the Bank in consultation with the other members of the Board. With my legal expertise, I proactively work with the Secretary to the Board to ensure the secure repayment of loans, a source of constant loss to the bank by helping to review and improve loan agreements between the bank and customers by seeking for more secure collateral without inhibiting access to loans by the intended beneficiaries.
SENIOR ASSOCIATE, JENKINS-JOHNSTON & CO.
November 2018 to July 2020
I managed a team of 4 lawyers and 4 members of staff. I delegated, assigned and supervise the work of the other lawyers, acted as focal point between clients and the firm and between the Senior Partners and junior lawyers. I provided legal advice to clients of the firm which include private individuals, corporate bodies and government institutions and also represented them in court when necessary. The firm’s practice was diverse and included company law, family law, real property law, planning and administration of estates, employment and labour law and personal injury law.
ASSOCIATE, JENKINS-JOHNSTON & CO.
March 2015 to October 2018
My duties were advising and representing clients of the firm on their legal issues. This includes writing legal opinions, appearing at all levels of the courts of Sierra Leone and prosecuting or defending claims on behalf of clients, drafting contracts and agreements, conveyances, lease agreements, hire purchase agreements and all other legal documents, incorporating companies and reviewing cases, case law and analysing evidence.
LEGAL CONSULTANT, BBC MEDIA ACTION
July 2015 to September 2015
Developed a technical handbook for BBC Media Action Radio Series Programme intituled ‘Leh Wi Know’. The handbook contained sections on: the main legal issues in each episode; a simple explanation of the relevant legislation; practical access to security and justice services in the scenarios portrayed in the drama; suggestions for community-based action and possible interviewees.
LEGAL ASSISTANT, JENKINS-JOHNSTON & CO.
July 2013-March 2015
Assisted senior lawyers in the firm in conducting their matters and general legal practice. Assistance took the form of legal research and reasoning, legal writing such as opinions, drafting legal documents such as contracts, tenancy agreements and reviewing case law and evidence.
INTERN, NICOL-WILSON & CO.
July 2009-September 2009
Collection and analysis of policies dealing or having an impact on the environment from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies as part of a European Commission project intituled Technical Assistance and Capacity Building for the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency. My duty was to assist in providing a concise view of all the environmental policies adopted by the different Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and to show similarities or differences where applicable.