parallax background

Barratt Legal

Barratt Legal was established in August 2008 by UK qualified solicitor Richard Barratt. The proposition is simple. Having spent more than 25 years working in major City and international law firms, Richard’s aim is to offer top quality commercial legal advice at affordable fee levels in the areas of commercial law, corporate lawintellectual property, outsourcing, sports media and IT and technology.

The firm’s client base ranges from major multinationals to emerging growth and startup companies. Larger clients are able to receive the quality of advice they would expect from a senior lawyer at a top international law firm, at significantly lower fee rates. Smaller companies can access a level of specialist advice and experience that they would not normally be able to afford.

We have a flexible operating model. For some of our larger clients we provide overflow or additional resource to support the internal legal team, in addition to specialist assistance on transactions and projects. For smaller clients, investment in a full time internal legal function may not be cost-effective. We often act as quasi-general counsel to support our clients until the volume of legal work justifies an internal appointment. We then assist with the transition and continue to provide ongoing external legal support. Our knowledge of our clients’ business operations enables us to add value and to advise on legal agreements and issues in a proper commercial context. We understand that internal counsel will always be called upon by management to balance legal and commercial factors.

A great deal of our work is for international companies or relates to jurisdictions outside the UK. We are English lawyers but have acquired extensive deal experience over 35 years in many different parts of the world. A rigid English law, English language approach to contracts does not work in all cases. English law may not be recognised in some jurisdictions. English courts may not be the correct forum for resolving disputes. Arbitration or other dispute mechanisms may be more appropriate. We work with our clients and local lawyers as necessary with the aim to produce contracts that not only reflect the parties’ commercial intention but also reflect local legal and cultural differences and appropriate routes for enforcement. We are always mindful that any form of international litigation is likely to be costly and beyond the means of many small ventures. The best drawn up contract is only as good as the ability to enforce it. We therefore look for practical protections to sit alongside the contract terms.

Most law firms claim that they have a commercial approach, with many failing to live up to the claim. Barratt Legal’s clients know that they will receive practical, common sense, business focused legal advice, backed by considerable technical legal expertise, gained across a wide range of business sectors.

  • Corporate International Awards

    2024 Corporate INTL Magazine Global Award:

    Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England – 2024’

  • Second annual Management Consulting Awards, proudly hosted by Wealth & Finance International.

    Best Commerical & Corporate Law Firm 2023 - South East England

  • Corporate LiveWire

    Corporate LiveWire Gloal Awards 2023/24

    Winner: Corporate Law Firm of the Year 2023/24

  • Lawyer Network

    2023 Lawyer Network Annual Awards.

    Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England – 2023

  • British Legal Awards

    AI Legal Awards 2022

    Best Commercial Law Firm - South East England

  • Bark

    BARK.com.

    Certificate of Excellence 2021

  • Global Business Insight Awards

    2021 Global Business Insight Awards

    Winner in the category – Best Commercial Law Firm - East Sussex - 2021

  • Global Law Experts

    2020 Global Law Experts

    Winner in the category – Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England - 2020

  • SME News 2019

    SME News 2019

    Winner - Best Corporate Law Firm 2019

  • Global Law Experts

    2019 Global Law Experts

    WINNER – Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England – 2019

  • Global Law Experts

    2017 Global Law Experts

    Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England

  • Global Business Insight Awards

    Worldwide Business Review’s 2017

    Winner -  ‘Excellence in IP’ awards, 2017

  • Global Awards

    2017 Corporate INTL Global Awards

    Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England

  • 2016 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award Winner - ‘Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England’
  • Global Law Experts

    Winner  - Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England – 2015

  • Finance Monthly Law Awards 2015

    Shortlisted in the category of: Intellectual Property – UK

  • Global Awards

    2015 Corporate Intl Magazine Legal Award:

    Winner: Business Process Outsourcing Law Firm of the Year in England

  • Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2008

    Listed as Recognised, Outsourcing PLC 

  •  A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal profession (2008 and 2009) Richard was listed in the “Best of the UK” category for Outsourcing.  He received praise from clients for being someone who “plays a fabulous commercial role – he’s thoroughly reliable, works through the night with us and doesn’t miss deadlines”.

Barratt Legal’s clients know that they will receive practical, common sense, business advice, backed by considerable technical legal expertise, gained across a wide range of business sectors.