Legal Opinion Lawyers
We prepare written legal opinions you can rely on for a decision or submit to a counterparty.
Overview
A written legal opinion is not an extended phone consultation. It is a document that defines the question precisely, sets out the legal basis, and reaches an express conclusion with a stated degree of confidence. Companies need one before a significant decision — a transaction, entering a market, a potential dispute — when "it seems permitted" is not enough.
We issue legal opinions on corporate, contractual, regulatory and compliance matters. Each opinion states its scope, the assumptions it rests on and the documents reviewed, then reaches a conclusion usable before a board, an investor or a lender.
A good opinion is as clear about what cannot be stated with certainty as about what can. An opinion that appears decisive on every point means either the question was simple or its author concealed the area of uncertainty — which is the most dangerous thing to conceal.
The legal framework
An opinion is built on the statutes in force and the regulations and practice attached to them:
- The statutes relevant to the question and their implementing regulations
- Circulars and decisions issued by the competent authorities
- Settled practice at the authorities on procedural questions
- Published judicial principles where relevant
- International conventions in force in cross-border questions
- The limits of the opinion and the assumptions it rests on
Situations we handle
Before an acquisition
An opinion on the validity of the structure or the liabilities transferring, delivered to the board before it decides.
Entering a regulated activity
Does it need a licence, and from which authority? A written opinion prevents building a product on a wrong assumption.
A lender's requirement
Financiers require a legal opinion on borrower capacity and the enforceability of security before drawdown.
Assessing a potential dispute
An opinion on the strength of the legal position before deciding to litigate or settle — with probabilities, not impressions.
An internal compliance question
An opinion documenting that the decision rested on a legal basis, which protects directors later.
Costly mistakes we see
- 1
Asking a vague question
An undefined question produces a general opinion that cannot support a decision. Precision in the question is half the opinion.
- 2
Withholding documents from counsel
The opinion is built on what was provided. A withheld document voids it and leaves the company without real cover.
- 3
Relying on an old opinion
Laws change. An opinion issued before a statutory amendment can be entirely wrong today despite having been right then.
- 4
Confusing an opinion with a guarantee
An opinion is a reasoned professional assessment, not a guaranteed outcome. Anyone promising a guarantee is selling reassurance, not an opinion.
How the procedure runs, step by step
A legal opinion is a document decisions are made on, so it must answer clearly rather than survey the possibilities. We write it for a management team to read, not a lawyer.
- 1
Define the question precisely
We restate the question until it is answerable: what decision is required, and what are the alternatives? A general question produces a general opinion that helps nobody decide.
- 2
Assemble the facts and documents
We build the opinion on documented facts and state our assumptions expressly. An opinion built on incomplete facts loses its value the moment another document appears.
- 3
Research the statutes and precedent
We work from the statutory texts, regulations, circulars and published judicial principles. Citing the article and the source lets you verify rather than take it on trust.
- 4
Write conclusion-first
We open with the conclusion and recommendation, then the analysis, then risks and alternatives. Management reads the first page; the analysis behind it is for the record and for review.
- 5
State the risks and the degree of certainty
We distinguish what is settled by statute from what is open to interpretation, and grade the risk on each route. An opinion that blurs certainty and probability misleads the decision.
Documents we will ask you for
- A written description of the question and the decision needed
- The relevant contracts and documents
- Correspondence establishing the context
- Any earlier opinion or advice on the matter
- Decisions or correspondence from a regulator, if any
- The timetable for the decision
Fees and timelines
Legal opinions are priced at a fixed fee according to the scope of the question and the volume of documents to review. We agree the scope and the precise question in writing before starting, because it is the breadth of the question that drives cost, not the page count.
On timing: an opinion on a defined question takes three to seven working days. Complex questions or those requiring extensive document review take two to four weeks. We hold to the delivery date, because an opinion is usually tied to a deferred decision.
Common questions
When do we need a written legal opinion?
Before any significant decision that is hard to reverse: a transaction, entering a regulated market, a restructuring, or a decision to litigate. A written opinion also documents that the decision rested on a legal basis, which protects directors if questioned.
What is the difference between an opinion and advice?
Advice is a quick practical answer; an opinion is a reasoned document stating scope, assumptions, legal basis and conclusion. An opinion can be relied on before a board or a lender; advice cannot.
How long does an opinion take?
Three to seven working days for defined questions, and two to four weeks for complex or document-heavy ones. We fix the date when the scope is agreed.
Is an opinion binding on the authorities?
No. An opinion is a professional assessment rather than a decision of a competent authority. But it documents the basis on which a decision was taken and is used before boards, lenders and investors.
What if the law changes after the opinion?
The opinion loses force to that extent. That is why every opinion states its date and the statutes it rests on, and we recommend revisiting it after any material amendment in its subject matter.
Do you issue opinions for lenders?
Yes, the opinions required in financing transactions on borrower capacity, enforceability of security and validity of resolutions, in the form lenders normally require.
Can an opinion be relied on in court?
An opinion is not evidence in itself, but it explains the legal basis of a position and informs the pleadings. The judge applies the law and is not bound by any adviser's opinion.
What do we need to give you?
The question in the most precise wording possible, and all relevant documents without selection. The opinion rests on what is provided, and any withheld document weakens it and leaves the company without real cover.
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