Consulting FirmsLegal Experts

If you work as a consultant or your business uses consultants, it is important to put the right legal framework in place for your relationship. Consultants can offer huge benefits to an organisation, bringing specialist skills and expertise without the need to take on a full-time employee. But it is crucial to ensure your business interests are adequately protected, that the relationship is clearly defined and that both parties understand exactly what is expected of them.

The role of consulting firms

Consultants fulfil the specialist needs of businesses in a wide variety of roles. They generally have a high level of expertise and will also bring a fresh perspective to a problem. A consultant may be asked to provide help in improving certain areas of a business, such as productivity or efficiency, or they may be needed to carry out complex work that no one else within the business is qualified to do. Areas in which consultants are frequently used include IT, finance, marketing, HR and engineering.

Engaging a consulting firm

For a successful partnership with a consultant or consultant firm, it is important to clearly define what you expect to be carried out. The agreement between you will contain details of this as well as basic issues such as the term of the contract, payment, IR-35 compliance and where the consultant will work.

Issues such as data protection, insurance cover and confidentiality should be included. It is also important to consider intellectual property and if this is likely to be created by the consultant. The agreement should deal clearly with ownership of any intellectual property so that disputes can be avoided.