Contract advice

[Paul Sinnett]

Can anybody recommend a lawyer / advisor on contracts?

I'm currently working on my tax return, so firstly I need to figure out if my first agency contract was employment or self-employment. Secondly, I'd like to go through the contract to work out what terms I should accept and what I should reject when considering future contracts. I live in Croydon but anywhere in London would suit me just as well.

Also, what would be a reasonable fee for this type of consultation?

[lawspeed]

May I suggest ourselves...?

Our legal experts will examine either a current or proposed contract and give a completely independent appraisal, indicating potential risks, including indemnity provisions, intellectual property rights, restriction clauses and payment terms, and whether it will be deemed akin to a contract of employment or self-employment for the purposes of IR35.

'Dual-Purpose Review' - £360+vat

[Paul Sinnett]

Being as it's getting difficult to move around in London at the moment, maybe Brighton is a better idea anyway. I might take you up on that. I don't think £360 per contract is going to work for me though. With the short duration part-time contracts I'm looking at, that would eat up any savings I'd be making over IR35 anyway.

I guess I need a more general solution. Maybe I should take a preliminary discussion and go from there. How long does this take, and would I need to bring anything with me?

[lawspeed]

Preliminary Discussion / IR35 Status Review

All our services are usually provided remotely (through emailed written reports and/or telephone discussions).

The Dual-Purpose Review is designed to review the terms for commercial risk issues (e.g. payment terms, liabilities, onerous termination provisions etc) as well as IR35. If you are concerned by the £360+vat DPR rates then you could consider either:

1. Preliminary Discussion £30+vat - we shall give brief initial feedback on the actual nature of the work you are providing to see if this is capable of being structured outside IR35 (this is a brief email report or 10-15 minute telephone discussion following completion of a questionnaire). This does NOT include appraisal of the actual contract terms and is intended as a gateway service only.

2. IR35 Status Review £260+vat - formal legal opinion on the IR35 status of an engagement based on the contract terms themselves as well as actual working practices.