Business readiness
Preparing your business for a legal strategy meeting
A decision-focused framework for bringing commercial objectives, relationships, timelines, and key materials into a productive first discussion.
A first legal strategy meeting is most useful when counsel can see the commercial objective, the relationships around it, what has changed, and the decision the business needs to make. Preparation need not be elaborate; it should make the important information easier to understand.
Start with the commercial objective
State the decision or outcome the business is working toward. It may concern a transaction, a relationship, a governance issue, an operating constraint, or a dispute, but the objective should be visible before the detail takes over.
Note the commercial pressures that shape the discussion, such as timing, continuity, investment, key relationships, or reputation. These do not replace the legal analysis; they explain the environment in which the advice must work.
Build a short decision chronology
Set out the main events in date order, including who was involved, what was agreed, and when the position changed. A chronology is a working aid rather than an argument; keep it factual and distinguish confirmed dates from estimates.
- 01The original commercial relationship or transaction
- 02Material decisions, changes, notices, and correspondence
- 03Current commitments, dependencies, and stated milestones
- 04The organisations and decision-makers involved
Organise the key materials
Bring the materials that create the relationship or record the issue. Complete, readable versions of core agreements, amendments, governance records, notices, and material correspondence are more useful than a large unstructured archive.
Prepare a short question list focused on options, missing information, responsibilities, scope, communication, and the decisions expected from leadership. Counsel may need more context before addressing any point in detail.
Protect sensitive information
Use the firm’s agreed channel for documents and ask before sending unusually sensitive material. A website form should contain only enough information to route the enquiry.
Submitting an enquiry does not itself confirm that a lawyer can act. Avoid assuming that time limits are protected until engagement and responsibility have been expressly confirmed.
A visible commercial objective, a clear chronology, and an organised core set of materials can make the first strategy meeting more focused—and help identify what the business still needs to understand before deciding.