Six Steps To Your Placed In-House Counsel
C&IDS offers one embedded in-house role, with the time commitment tailored to your business. The first three steps carry no charge and no obligation.
1
Discovery Call
A complimentary 30-minute call to understand your current projects and the decisions ahead.
2
Legal Risk Review
A complimentary 60-minute legal risk review, in person or by video, with no obligation.
3
Complimentary Training
An introductory training session for your team, at no cost — covering a topic relevant to your live contracts.
4
Tailored Proposal
A clear proposal setting out the scope, reporting line, monthly hours and fixed monthly fee.
5
Trial Month
A paid one-month trial at the standard rate, with continuation terms agreed before it begins.
6
Ongoing Placement
Your lawyer works inside your business for a fixed monthly fee, with weekly task sheets and quarterly reviews.
A Clear Role
An Agreed Monthly Cost
STANDARD RETAINER
$6,000 per month
25 hours
US$ 240/hr equiv.
Consistent senior support across live projects: contract review, claims strategy, early assessment and training for your team. Response by the next business day.
Best for: contractors, subcontractors and developers needing consistent senior legal support.
LIGHT RETAINER
$3,500 per month
10 hours
US$ 350/hr equiv.
Lighter or occasional support: contract review, periodic advice and on-call access. Response within two business days.
Best for: smaller contractors and subcontractors, or as a starting engagement before scaling up.
TAILORED PACKAGE
Custom
Scoped to your requirements
Other arrangements can be agreed depending on your specific requirements — higher-hour retainers, project-based instructions, or hybrid models.
Best for: larger programmes, active dispute pipelines or bespoke scopes of work.
One fixed monthly fee: a single fee covers the agreed lawyer hours, placement and payment administration. It is your only payment under the arrangement, with no markup on rates or hours. Remote working and technology help keep the model lean and the pricing competitive. Additional hours are arranged in advance, and your lawyer tells you early if the work is likely to exceed the month’s hours.
Commitment: the placement is open-ended, with a three-month minimum commitment, and either party may end it on three months’ written notice. Site visits and face-to-face meetings are available in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London and key African business hubs, at separately agreed pricing.
The Fractional Advantage
The fractional advantage comes down to three things: affordability that puts senior specialist counsel within reach, seniority that means specialist experience rather than associate-level cover, and flexibility that scales with your business rather than locking you into fixed overhead. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Title | Estimated Annual Cost | Seniority | Flexibility | C&IDS Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
C&IDS Placed Counsel (Standard Retainer) | US$72,000/year | Highest — senior specialist construction lawyers | Maximum — scale up or down monthly | The benchmark |
Full-Time In-House Counsel | US$280,000–420,000+/year | High — if hired well | None — permanent headcount | 75–80% cost saving vs. full-time hire |
Specialist Law Firm | US$180,000–350,000+/year | Variable — often associate-led | Low — unpredictable hourly billing | 60–70% cost saving vs. law firm rates |
HOW C&IDS CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS
Key Advantages Of Embedded In-House Construction Counsel:
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Fixed monthly fee for the agreed hours, with no markup on rates and no billing surprises
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Embedded experienced construction counsel working alongside your management, commercial and project teams
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Prepared for negotiation, adjudication or arbitration, with one lawyer holding the file from day one
