Service 09

Commercial Contract Advisory

Alongside its public law and safeguarding practice, Elizabeth Okinda Consult advises on commercial contracts — reviewing and drafting agreements, advising on rights and exposure under an existing contract, and supporting clients through a contractual dispute short of litigation. This draws on over a decade's experience negotiating, interpreting and disputing contracts within local authority legal services, and is offered as a non-reserved legal service under the SRA's freelance solicitor framework.

In Scope

  • —Review and risk analysis of commercial contracts and terms — service agreements, supplier and procurement-related contracts, data processing agreements, consultancy and collaboration agreements.
  • —Drafting and negotiation support for new contracts and variations.
  • —Advice on rights, obligations and risk exposure under an existing agreement, including termination, breach and remedy options.
  • —Contractual dispute advisory and pre-action correspondence, working to resolve the matter without court proceedings wherever possible, in accordance with the applicable pre-action protocol.
  • —Strategic and drafting support to an instructed litigator once proceedings become necessary, provided on a consultancy basis.

Out of Scope

  • —Conduct of litigation — issuing, filing or serving court proceedings, or acting as solicitor on the record. This practice provides non-reserved legal services only (SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, regulation 10.2(a)).
  • —Advocacy or representation at any court hearing.
  • —Contracts for the sale, transfer or charge of land (reserved instrument activities) — referred to a conveyancing practice.
  • —Holding or handling client money.
  • —Advice on the tax, accountancy or commercial/financial merits of a transaction, beyond what is incidental to the legal advice given.
  • —Where a matter requires any of the above, referral to an appropriately authorised firm will be discussed at the outset — see the Compliance page for the practice's full regulatory scope.

Typical Deliverables & Engagement

  • A business or charity needing a fixed-fee review of a supplier or service contract before signature.
  • A local authority or partner agency needing an independent review of a commercial or partnership agreement.
  • A client in a contractual dispute needing advice on merits and a pre-action letter, without committing to litigation costs at the outset.
  • An instructed firm needing drafting or strategic support on the contractual dimension of a wider matter.

Make an Enquiry

All instructions are accepted personally by Elizabeth Okinda. Initial enquiries are reviewed within two working days.

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