Retained Lawyer Advice

for Commercial, Employment and Corporate Matters

Ongoing legal support that grows with your business

Retained lawyers give your business quick and consistent access to legal advice across commercial, employment and corporate issues, without the unpredictability of hourly billing or the hassle of onboarding processes. With mlpflex, you get a named lawyer as a primary contact who understands your organisation, handles problems early and supports day-to-day decisions as they arise.

mlplaw provides retained support for businesses across the UK, offering the benefits of hiring in-house, without the cost. As experienced Altrincham solicitors who are recognised in the Legal 500, our lawyers give clear, practical guidance shaped around real commercial pressures.

Request a consultation with one of our mlpflex experts
to explore how we can support your business.

Request a consultation

Why choose a retained lawyer?

Businesses often prefer a retainer because it provides ongoing access to advice from someone who already knows their goals and day-to-day challenges.
Instead of waiting until a problem disrupts operations, you have support available whenever questions arise.
A retainer works because most legal questions don’t justify a full instruction, but ignoring them creates costly problems later.

 

A retained lawyer can help your business:

  • Prevent issues instead of reacting to them
  • Move faster with commercial decisions
  • Keep contracts and internal documents up to date
  • Remain compliant with UK regulations and laws
  • Maintain a steady point of contact for legal queries
  • Budget with confidence

 

This is ideal for businesses without in-house legal teams, as well as organisations that need regular guidance but are not ready to recruit internally.

 

How a retained lawyer works with your business

Our retained service is designed to be straightforward, accessible and practical.

mlplaw is recognised in the Legal 500 for our commercial expertise and client service. Our retained lawyer model reflects that standard through clear guidance, fast responses and practical advice rooted in real business pressures.

  • A consistent point of contact

    You work with a named lawyer who understands your business, industry and priorities. This familiarity helps you get clear answers quickly.

  • Support whenever you need it

    From contract queries to staff issues or commercial negotiations, you can contact your lawyer as soon as matters arise.

  • Guidance across all areas of your business

    Your retained lawyer can help with day-to-day matters as well as higher-level work such as brand protection, disputes or preparing for investment.

  • Predictable and transparent costs

    An annual retainer gives you reliable budgeting, removing the uncertainty of task-by-task billing.

What a retained lawyer can help with

Your retained lawyer can support your business across a wide range of areas, and this flexible model helps keep your operations organised, protected, and legally compliant.

Commercial and operational support

  • Drafting and reviewing contracts
  • Supply, agency and distribution agreements
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements

Corporate and Business Law

  • Shareholder agreements
  • Director responsibilities
  • Governance and structure
  • Guidance during investment rounds or acquisition planning

Dispute avoidance and resolution

  • Early risk reviews
  • Contract disputes
  • Negotiation and settlement discussions
  • Advice on debt recovery and managing claims

Employment and HR guidance

  • Employment contracts and handbooks
  • Policies and internal documents
  • Disciplinary, grievance, capability and redundancy matters
  • TUPE processes

Technology and software contracts

  • Software as a Service (SaaS) agreements
  • Data processing terms and compliance
  • Service level arrangements
  • Online platform documentation
  • Subscription and digital product agreements

Intellectual Property and brand support

  • Trademark assistance
  • Brand-use agreements
  • Licensing arrangements

mlpflex, your flexible legal retainer

mlpflex is our tailored legal support package that provides businesses mlpflex is our tailored legal support package that provides businesses with a bank of dedicated legal hours to use throughout the year.

mlpflex gives you:

  • Significantly reduced hourly rates
  • A clear annual allocation of legal hours, with the opportunity to ‘bolt-on’ additional hours at the same discounted hourly rate
  • Support across all business services, including Employment, Commercial, Corporate, Property, Intellectual Property and pre-issue litigation
  • Predictable budgeting with one monthly fee
  • Direct access to lawyers who understand your business
  • Clear and decisive guidance
  • A long-term relationship built around your business goals

Who benefits from a retained lawyer?

Businesses that deal with frequent contract changes, HR decisions, compliance checks or commercial negotiations benefit most from a retainer.

 

A retained lawyer is suitable for:

  • Start-ups seeking regular guidance with predictable costs
  • Growing companies preparing for investment or expansion
  • Organisations dealing with frequent HR issues
  • Businesses managing multiple commercial agreements
  • Companies without internal legal teams
  • Businesses preparing for sale or acquisition
Our team includes commercial solicitors, employment specialists and Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers, giving you full support for both routine matters and high-value decisions.

FAQs about Retained Lawyer Services

  1. What is a retained lawyer?

    A retained lawyer provides ongoing legal support for a fixed fee, giving your business reliable access to advice throughout the year.

  2. How is a retainer different from pay-as-you-go legal services?

    A retainer offers predictable costs and continuous support rather than billing for each individual task.

  3. What legal areas can be covered by a retainer?

    Commercial contracts, employment matters, pre-issue disputes, intellectual property, corporate advice and compliance support can all be included.

  4. Is a retainer suitable for small businesses?

    Yes, many small businesses benefit from a retainer as it provides dependable support without the cost of hiring in-house.

  5. Can a retained lawyer assist with urgent issues?

    Yes, you can contact your lawyer immediately when a problem arises.

  6. Does a retainer provide access to different specialists?

    Yes, you will have access to wider teams, including commercial, employment, corporate and IP specialists.

  7. How do I know how much support I will need?

    We assess your business activity and suggest a practical level of support. mlpflex offers a simple bank of annual hours and if you run out of hours, additional hours can be added with the same discounted hourly rate. The service is entirely personalised so we can accommodate whatever level of support you are looking for.

  8. Can a retainer include support for technology contracts?

    Yes, this can include SaaS agreements, digital platform terms and data related arrangements.

Speak to us to see
how we can help

0161 926 9969

Speak with us today

If your business would benefit from steady legal support, clearer budgeting and a long-term relationship with lawyers who understand your goals, our retained lawyer service can help.

Whatever your business needs are, we offer practical and reliable guidance whenever you need it. 


    Request a consultation

    Simply complete the form and a member of our team will be in touch