How it works

Instructing me takes one email. There is no client portal to register with, no account to open and no forms to complete. That is one of the practical advantages of instructing a solicitor directly rather than a firm.

The three steps

1. Email me. Send me what you need, with any documents, in whatever format you have them.
2. I confirm the scope and the fee. Usually the same working day, in writing. If a call would help before you decide, I will offer one at no charge. Once you confirm, I complete my checks and send my invoice.
3. I start work as soon as payment is received. I will be in touch if I need anything further, and I deliver on the stated turnaround, counted from the day I have everything I need.

What to put in the first email

You do not need to prepare a brief. The useful things are:

• Any relevant documents
• What the deal or the situation is, in two or three lines
• Your deadline, if you have one
• Anything you are particularly worried about

From that I can almost always tell you the fixed price and the delivery date straight away.

How I charge

Fixed fees, agreed in advance, on everything. No hourly rates, no six minute units and no invoice that arrives larger than expected.

Every published price is a single fixed fee. It does not change unless you ask for something outside the scope described on the service page, in which case I quote that separately before doing it.

Payment is in advance, by invoice, once the scope and the fee are agreed.

Scope, and why it matters

Every engagement has a written scope. It is not there to catch you out, it is there so that a fixed fee can genuinely be fixed. If the scope changes, I quote the change before doing it, so the decision is always yours.

What I focus on

I am authorised to provide all legal services, and I concentrate on the documents a business runs on: drafting, reviewing, advising on and negotiating commercial contracts and company documents. That is where my experience counts for most.

I do not act in disputes or take on court proceedings, and I do not hold client money.

Questions I am often asked

How quickly can you start?

On the turnaround published for the service: three working days for reviews and five for drafted documents, counted from the day I have what I need. If you need it sooner, add priority turnaround for £395: the next working day for a review, two working days for a drafted document.

Is the first conversation free?

Yes. Scoping the work and quoting the fee costs you nothing. If a call would help at that stage, I will offer one and there is no charge for it.

Do we need to meet in person?

Almost never. Most work is done by email and telephone, which is faster for you and cheaper. Meetings are by appointment and where a face to face meeting genuinely helps, particularly for shareholder discussions where getting everybody in a room is the point, we arrange it at a location convenient for both of us.

What if I am not happy with the advice?

Tell me. The follow-up round exists partly for this. If I have misunderstood the situation I will fix it at no cost.

Are you insured?

Yes. I hold professional indemnity insurance with a limit of £1,000,000 for each claim, with defence costs in addition. As an SRA-regulated freelance solicitor I am required to hold insurance that is adequate and appropriate for the work I do, and I do.

You should know that this cover is not on the SRA's minimum terms and conditions, which apply to authorised firms. Alternative arrangements are in place instead. Details are available on request.

Why is there no contact form?

Because email is faster for both of us and you can attach any relevant documents to it. There is nothing a form would capture that a short email does not.

What if I have questions after the work is done?

Ask them. If it is a point on the document I have just delivered, I will tell you whether it falls within the fee. For anything new, email me and I will tell you which fixed-fee service fits, or quote a fixed fee if none does.

About me

I am Geoffrey Caesar. I have worked on commercial contracts since 2001, first in industry and then in private practice, so I have sat on both sides of the table: as the in-house lawyer who has to live with the contract, and as the external adviser who drafts it.

• Solicitor of England and Wales, admitted 2008. SRA ID 483394.
• Practising as an SRA-regulated freelance solicitor under regulation 10.2(b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations. Practice SRA number 666497.
• Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and authorised to provide all legal services, including reserved legal activities.
• Called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 2005.
• Working on commercial contracts since 2001, in-house and in private practice.
• Acting for businesses across England and Wales.
• Professional indemnity insurance in place with a limit of £1,000,000 for each claim, with defence costs in addition. Details on request.
• I do not hold client money.

Two things you should know about instructing a freelance solicitor rather than a law firm. My professional indemnity insurance is not on the SRA's minimum terms and conditions; alternative arrangements are in place instead, and I will give you the details on request. And you can still apply to the SRA Compensation Fund for losses caused by dishonesty or a failure to account for money. Everything else, including the Code of Conduct, the SRA Principles and the Legal Ombudsman, applies to me exactly as it applies to any other solicitor.

Last reviewed: October 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.