Business counsel
Legal counsel, without a legal department
A monthly arrangement with a named solicitor who knows your business, so the answer comes back the same day and nobody has to explain the background first.
Most businesses under 200 people have the same problem. Too much legal work to ignore, not enough to justify hiring anyone, and a set of questions that arrive on Tuesday and need answering by Thursday.
Three tiers
Choose the level of access you need
Essentials
£450
per month, excluding VAT
Named solicitor: Yes
Contract and policy review
Employment and HR advisory
—Annual compliance review
—Harassment risk assessment and policy
—AI governance review
—Equality Act audit
Advisory
£1,250
per month, excluding VAT
Named solicitor: Yes
Contract and policy review
Employment and HR advisory
Annual compliance review
Harassment risk assessment and policy
—AI governance review
—Equality Act audit
Counsel
From £2,500
per month, excluding VAT
Named solicitor: Partner
Contract and policy review
Employment and HR advisory
Annual compliance review
Harassment risk assessment and policy
AI governance review
Equality Act audit
Unused hours do not roll over. Work beyond the included time is charged at our usual rates, less your discount, and always with an estimate first.
Being clear
What this is not
A firm offering unlimited legal advice for a fixed monthly fee is offering something it cannot deliver, and the point at which you find that out is the point at which you need it most.
Defined hours mean the arrangement works when you actually use it.
Why now
Two duties that arrive this autumn
30 October 2026
All reasonable steps on harassment
The preventative duty tightens from reasonable steps to all reasonable steps, and employers become liable for harassment by third parties. A documented risk assessment and policy review is what the duty requires — and what a forty-person business cannot realistically do alone. It is included at Advisory and above.
Now, and 2 December 2027
AI in hiring and people decisions
The UK automated decision-making conditions have applied since the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, and the EU AI Act high-risk duties for recruitment AI arrive on 2 December 2027. An AI governance review establishes what you are running and what applies to it. Included at Counsel.
Start with a conversation
A free 20-minute call. Tell us what your business runs into and we will tell you which tier fits, or whether you need one at all.
No charge
A free 20-minute call
Tell us what has happened and we will tell you whether we can help, what it would involve and roughly what it would cost. No advice is given on this call and there is no charge for it.
£350 plus VAT
A paid strategy session
One hour with a partner, followed by a written summary of your position and options. For people who want proper advice without instructing a firm yet. Credited in full against your fees if you go on to instruct us.
Or reach us directly
We answer enquiries the same working day.