Corporate Counsel
Considering Corporate Retainership: Scope, Instructions and Records
Information to organise before discussing an ongoing corporate counsel arrangement, including entities, recurring work, existing disputes and scope boundaries.
Points to review
- Identify the business, related entities and authorised person giving instructions.
- Prepare a non-confidential outline of recurring contract, governance or dispute-coordination requirements.
- List existing disputes and counterparties for conflict review without sharing privileged advice.
- Discuss what is included, what requires a separate assignment and how instructions and review dates will be recorded.
- Record acceptance, scope, professional terms and any renewal arrangement expressly; a preliminary enquiry creates no retainer.
This article is general information only. The applicable remedy and procedure depend on the documents, dates, current law, forum and stage of the specific matter. An enquiry does not protect a deadline.
Information to organise for an enquiry
- Proposed client and opposing parties
- Notice or order date and present forum
- Current stage and known upcoming date
- A short, non-confidential factual summary
Related practice information
Submit matter for preliminary review
Consultation and any further professional work require conflict review, express acceptance and separately agreed terms.
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