How is outsourced general counsel priced?

As a fixed monthly fee against a defined scope, agreed before the engagement starts. Work outside that scope is quoted separately, so the monthly figure does not move without a conversation.

How is this different from using a law firm?

A firm prices per matter and starts each one cold. A retained adviser carries your context, works to your commercial priorities and manages the firms you do need, which is where most of the saving comes from.

Can you work alongside an existing in-house lawyer?

Yes. A common arrangement is covering contract volume and compliance documentation so the in-house lawyer can focus on deals and disputes.

Which jurisdictions can you cover?

England and Wales commercial work directly, with cross-border matters coordinated through local counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

Commercial Legal Advisory

Outsourced General Counsel

Retained senior commercial legal cover without a full-time hire: contracts, compliance, escalation routes and regulated firms managed on your behalf.

Years Advising: 10+Years Advising
Typical First Response: 48hTypical First Response
& Cross-Border: UK+& Cross-Border

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Senior adviser on every matter
Free initial position assessment
Fixed-scope fees agreed upfront

UK & Cross-Border Counsel

Short answer

When does outsourced general counsel make sense?

When legal questions reach a founder or finance lead weekly, contract turnaround is slowing revenue, or an investor or customer is asking for evidence of process — but volume still does not justify a full-time in-house hire. It is a retained monthly scope, not per-matter instruction.

Legal advisory built for commercial decisions

We advise UK and international businesses on commercial contracts, business disputes, employment advisory and regulatory compliance, then set out the options and the risk attached to each.

Senior-led advisory: One accountable adviser on your matter from first assessment through to resolution.
Built for commercial pressure: Drafting, negotiation and escalation handled on one timeline, because delay costs leverage.
Clear risk and cost picture: Exposure, options and likely cost set out in plain language before you commit to a route.

See the full scope across our services, or book a call for a free legal position assessment.

Overview

What outsourced general counsel means

Outsourced general counsel is retained senior legal cover for a business that has outgrown ad-hoc advice but cannot justify a full-time in-house lawyer. Instead of instructing a firm matter by matter, you get a named adviser who knows your contracts, your customers and your risk appetite, on a fixed monthly scope.

Pearl Lemon Legal is a commercial legal consultancy. We hold the commercial legal function, scope the work and instruct regulated firms where representation or reserved legal activity is required.

How It Works

What the retainer covers

Contracts.

Customer, supplier, reseller and NDA templates maintained, plus negotiation of the deals that fall outside them.

Commercial escalation.

A first call on disputes, terminations, debt and breach before positions harden.

Compliance.

Data protection, AML where applicable, sector permissions and the documentation an auditor or investor will ask for.

Employment documentation.

Contracts, contractor arrangements, restrictive covenants and exit paperwork.

Panel management.

Selecting and supervising regulated firms so you are not managing three sets of hourly rates.

Our Approach

How the engagement works

Week one: legal position review.

Contract estate, live risks, open disputes and the documentation gaps that matter most.

Week two: priority plan.

What we fix immediately, what is scheduled, and what stays on watch.

Ongoing: fixed monthly scope.

A defined volume of contract and advisory work, a named adviser and an agreed response time.

Escalation: regulated cover.

Court work, reserved activities and specialist tax or immigration matters go to a regulated firm we brief and manage.

What To Expect

When it is the right model

The retainer usually earns its cost at the point where legal questions are reaching a founder or finance lead weekly, where contract turnaround is holding up revenue, or where an investor, customer or regulator has started asking for evidence of process. Businesses with a single high-value dispute are usually better served by a scoped piece of work than a retainer.

Working With Us

What it is not

We are not a regulated law firm and do not conduct litigation, provide reserved legal activities or act as your solicitor on the record. Where a matter needs that, we say so and bring in a firm authorised to do it, then stay involved on the commercial side.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions clients ask most often before instructing us on this matter.

Services

Related services

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How we work: Pearl Lemon Legal is a commercial legal consultancy. We scope your position, advise on strategy, commercial risk and documentation, and where a matter needs court representation or regulated advice we introduce and manage a suitable regulated firm alongside you. Nothing on this page is regulated legal advice on your specific circumstances.