Signage is seen outside of the law firm Jenner & Block LLP in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 30, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Jan 24 (Reuters) – Sierra Leone must face a lawsuit by U.S. law firm Jenner & Block seeking to recover more than $8 million in fees from the West African country for several years of legal work, a federal judge has ruled.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C. on Thursday rejected, opens new tab Sierra Leone’s arguments for now that there was no valid contract between it and the firm and that the country was immune as a foreign sovereign.
Chicago-based Jenner sued Sierra Leone in 2022 to recover allegedly unpaid fees, arguing that the firm “vigorously” represented the country in a dispute with an iron ore contractor whose claims exposed the country to $1.8 billion in potential damages.
A lawyer for Sierra Leone, Paul Thaler, said he was disappointed Chutkan allowed the lawsuit to move ahead.
“It will be incumbent on Jenner & Block to substantiate the allegations in its complaint as the case proceeds,” Thaler said. “We remain confident in our position and the strength of the Republic’s case.”
A representative for Jenner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sierra Leone retained Jenner in 2019 to pursue claims against concessionaire Gerald International Ltd for allegedly breaching a contract to remove and sell iron ore from mines. Gerald subsequently brought claims against Sierra Leone.
Jenner said its work “turned out to be far more complex and voluminous than either party initially contemplated.”
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Sierra Leone paid Jenner $3.6 million in legal fees between 2019 and late 2021, the lawsuit said, leaving a balance of $8.1 million.
In seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, Sierra Leone said Jenner had not shown it was owed any additional fees. The country disputed the validity of an alleged oral contract for some work Jenner said it performed.
Chutkan said in her ruling that Sierra Leone waived immunity by accepting the terms of Jenner’s engagement letter.
The case is Jenner & Block v. The Republic of Sierra Leone, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:22-cv-03599-TSC.
For plaintiff: Michael Brody and Maria del Carmen Gonzalez of Jenner & Block
For defendant: Paul Thaler, Jackson Nichols and Casey McKinnon of Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/sierra-leone-must-face-law-firm-jenners-8-million-fee-lawsuit-2025-01-24/