Fractional General Counsel for UK tech companies
For Series A to D companies with no in-house lawyer, or a CFO or COO carrying the legal load. Embedded 1 to 3 days a week, from £1,250 a day.
The in-house legal work, without the in-house hire
Your contracts, fundraise paperwork and governance handled by someone who has done the job inside a scaling company, and who also understands the operation those contracts affect. I sit with your team 1 to 3 days a week and report to your CFO or CEO.
The work a General Counsel does
Customer and enterprise contracts
MSAs, DPAs and order forms reviewed, negotiated and tracked, so deals are not waiting on legal.
Supplier and vendor agreements
The contracts you sign as a buyer, checked against what your business actually needs from the supplier.
Fundraise readiness
Data room, investor documents and cap table housekeeping, in order before the term sheet arrives.
Contractor and employment paperwork
Contractor agreements and standard employment paperwork, with an employment specialist brought in for advice or disputes.
Group-entity housekeeping
Subsidiaries and holding companies kept in order and ready for due diligence.
Managing external counsel
When a matter needs a law firm, I scope it, instruct them and manage the work, so you pay for what you need.
Board and governance paperwork
Board packs, minutes and resolutions, and the governance documents investors ask for.
Where you still need a law firm
- Litigation, conveyancing, probate or any other reserved legal activity.
- Regulated legal advice.
- Anything a law firm must do.
When a matter needs a regulated lawyer, I'll say so and help you instruct and manage one.
Embedded, part-time, easy to stop
1 to 3 days a week
Remote, with one office day a week if you want it.
Reports to your CFO or CEO
One person accountable for the legal workload, inside your leadership rhythm.
3-month minimum
Then 1 month's notice. No long lock-in.
From £1,250 a day
4 days a month
£5,000 a month
8 days a month
£10,000 a month
12 days a month
£15,000 a month
- £1,250 a day. Extra days at the same rate.
- 3-month minimum, then 1 month's notice.
- Invoiced monthly. All prices exclude VAT.
Done from the inside, not billed by the email
Mitch Edwards, founder. Operator across energy, media and FinTech. Joined a London FinTech as employee 19 and its first legal and commercial hire, and left as COO and General Counsel. That is where the numbers below came from.
New Zealand qualified lawyer, admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand (2015), not practising in the UK.
- £32.5m
- Capital raised across Series A+, Series B and venture debt
- 19 to 150+
- Headcount scaled through hypergrowth
- 100% YoY
- Revenue growth, three years running
- 24% cut
- Cost of goods sold, through vendor renegotiation
These are Mitch's own results from previous roles, not client outcomes delivered by The Edwards Practice. Client work is in the case studies.
What companies ask before booking
What does a fractional General Counsel do?
A fractional General Counsel does the in-house legal work of a growing company part-time: customer and supplier contracts, fundraise paperwork, governance and managing external lawyers. At The Edwards Practice that is 1 to 3 days a week, embedded with your team and reporting to the CFO or CEO.
How much does a fractional General Counsel cost in the UK?
The Edwards Practice charges £1,250 a day, on retainers of 4, 8 or 12 days a month (£5,000, £10,000 or £15,000 a month). There is a 3-month minimum, then 1 month's notice.
Is The Edwards Practice a law firm?
No. The Edwards Practice is a consultancy. It is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board and does not carry out reserved legal activities. Mitch Edwards is a New Zealand qualified lawyer, not practising in the UK.
When do I need a law firm instead?
For litigation, any reserved legal activity, or a matter that needs regulated legal advice. When that happens I will say so, then help you instruct the right firm and manage the work alongside your team.