The verdict in three sentences
A London law firm's Africa practice wins mandates when its website proves on-the-ground knowledge: dedicated pages on OHADA, mining and energy, tax and telecoms, plus regular, dated legal briefings. London agencies charge 8,000 to 25,000 GBP for a practice microsite or section, delivered in 6 to 12 weeks, before translation. The deciding factor is not visual design but credible French-language content for francophone clients, reviewed by a qualified lawyer.
What general counsel and investors look for
The general counsel of a mining group or a telecom operator preparing an entry into the DRC, Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire shortlists firms online. Within two minutes they check three things: command of the applicable law (the 2018 DRC Mining Code, OHADA Uniform Acts, local tax and customs regimes), experience on comparable deals, and the ability to work with local counsel in French.
A generic Africa page listing 54 countries loses that reader. Firms that win these mandates publish one page per practice area and region, with typical transactions, the responsible partners, a relationship-firm network and dated briefings.
| Page or content | Purpose | Suggested length |
|---|---|---|
| OHADA corporate and finance | Companies, security interests, enforcement | 800 to 1,200 words per language |
| Mining and energy | Licences, local content, disputes | 1,000 to 1,500 words per language |
| Tax and customs | Investment regimes, treaties | 800 to 1,200 words per language |
| Telecoms and digital | Licensing, data protection | 600 to 1,000 words per language |
| Partner profiles | Admissions, languages, deals | 1 page per partner |
| Africa briefings | New laws, case law | 2 notes per month |
| Secure contact | Confidential enquiries | encrypted form |
2026 cost in London and comparison
In London, quotes are in GBP. Price gaps come mostly from the volume of content the agency writes and from integration with the firm's main site.
| Option | 2026 order of magnitude | Timeline | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer, template build | 2,500 to 6,000 GBP | 3 to 5 weeks | Little SEO, uncertain upkeep |
| London agency, practice microsite | 8,000 to 25,000 GBP | 6 to 12 weeks | Little African market context |
| Full legal-sector agency rebuild | 40,000 to 120,000 GBP | 4 to 8 months | Whole-firm scope |
| Kolonell showcase grid, remote studio | 1,220 to 5,340 EUR | 5 to 15 days of development | Legal content supplied or approved by the firm |
| Legal translation EN to FR, reviewed | 0.10 to 0.20 GBP per word | 2 to 3 weeks | Budget separately in every case |
| Monthly bilingual briefing | 150 to 400 GBP per note | ongoing | Must be signed off by a lawyer |
Kolonell's grid runs Starter (1,220 to 1,830 EUR), Growth (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) and Premium (3,050 to 5,340 EUR). For an Africa practice, Growth or Premium fits best because it includes a briefing section and SEO. Legal review of the French version stays with the firm or a legal translator it appoints; if Kolonell coordinates it, it is quoted separately.
Technical points not to overlook
Clients and local counsel in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi or Abidjan often browse on unstable connections. A lightweight microsite served from a content delivery network loads quickly in Africa as well as in London. The contact form must be encrypted and must not store sensitive attachments on a weakly protected server. SRA transparency rules still apply to any page that describes services and pricing for UK clients.
SEO is about low-volume, high-value queries in English and French: mining lawyer DRC, OHADA law firm, avocat droit minier RDC. Around ten well-written pages is often enough to reach page one on these niche searches.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Emma, partner heading the Africa desk of a 40-lawyer firm in the City of London, commissions a Premium-level microsite at 4,800 EUR and a 25,000-word French translation at 0.16 GBP per word, so 4,000 GBP. She adds Standard maintenance at 114 EUR a month.
Within 9 months the microsite brings 2 inbound mandates from francophone clients. An average cross-border mining mandate represents about 45,000 GBP in fees. Even crediting only one mandate to the site, the 45,000 GBP covers the initial investment, translation and maintenance more than 4 times.
FAQ
Do we need a full French version?
Yes if you target francophone clients and local partners, who read French-language law. A French version of 20,000 to 30,000 words is the bulk of the translation budget, between 2,000 and 6,000 GBP depending on the per-word rate.
What are the advertising limits for a UK firm?
The SRA Code of Conduct requires accurate, non-misleading information and transparency on pricing for relevant services. Dated briefings, at 1 to 2 per month, are the most effective and compliant visibility tool.
How long until launch?
Plan 6 to 12 weeks with a London agency, or 5 to 15 days of development with a remote studio. Legal translation adds 2 to 3 weeks unless run in parallel.
Is monthly maintenance necessary?
It is recommended for security updates and publishing briefings. At Kolonell it costs 53, 114 or 183 EUR per month depending on the plan.
Can the microsite help recruit?
Yes, a careers section aimed at bilingual associates attracts profiles that are hard to find. A practice of 10 to 15 lawyers typically receives 3 to 6 qualified applications per quarter through it.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practice areas and target languages, and we will scope the sitemap, the French version and the launch schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
