An ongoing arrangement works best when recurring work is visible. Bring the current list of issues, the business priorities and the people who will give instructions.
List the recurring work
Map the contracts, governance questions and business decisions that repeatedly require legal input. Identify what can be planned and what normally arrives with a short deadline.
Identify current dates and dependencies
Gather renewal dates, proposed transactions, known disputes and internal decision dates. Treat each external deadline as requiring express agreement about responsibility; placing it on a list does not mean a lawyer has accepted it.
Set priorities and instructions
Nominate who can give instructions and how commercial priorities will be agreed. Explain the business impact of each request so legal effort can be directed to the decisions that matter.
Agree capacity and separate projects
Set the expected work volume, included activities and communication arrangements. Larger transactions, litigation or specialist work should have a separate scope where they exceed the arrangement.
Review actions and responsibility
Keep a short record of open issues, decisions, owners and next steps. Include the accountant, company secretary or other advisers where relevant, with responsibility for each task clearly allocated.
A useful starting brief
- Recurring contract, governance and operational legal work.
- Open issues, known dates and immediate priorities.
- Expected work volumes and planned transactions.
- Instruction contacts, decision-makers and existing advisers.
Keep company responsibilities visible
ASIC’s officeholder guidance covers responsibilities including company records, financial records and required notifications. An ongoing legal arrangement should identify how those tasks are allocated and what remains with directors, the company secretary, accountants or other advisers. Engaging counsel is not a substitute for defining who is responsible for each action.
Sources checked 6 October 2026. Regulator and government guidance provides context; it is not advice on your matter.
This guide is a practical preparation aid. The applicable law, documents and facts need to be assessed for your circumstances. It does not determine the scope of an engagement.