Legal Advice for Employers Engaging Consultants and Contractors
Specialist employment law solicitors advising employers in London and the South East on consultant and contractor agreements.
Protect your business when working consultants and contractors.
Bringing in consultants and contractors allows your business to access specialist expertise, respond to change and scale quickly – without the commitment of a permanent hire. But without the right legal agreements in place, you could be exposed to tax liabilities, employment status claims and reputational risk. IR35 or ‘off payroll working’ is a key part of that – mistakes can be costly.
At Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, our employment law solicitors support employers across London and the South East to engage consultants and contractors safely, strategically and in full compliance with the law.
It’s not enough to label someone a ‘consultant’ or ‘contractor’ – what matters is how the relationship works in practice. If a self-employed individual starts to look and feel like an employee, or a “worker”, they may claim legal rights such as holiday pay, sick leave or protection from unfair dismissal in the case of employees.
Our lawyers help you reduce that risk with clearly drafted, tailored agreements that reflect how the work will be delivered, while demonstrating a genuine independent relationship.
What is a consultancy/contractor agreement and why do you need one?
A consultancy or contractor agreement is a contract between your business and a self-employed individual or service company. It outlines the scope of work and commercial terms, while setting clear boundaries between your organisation and the contractor.
A well-drafted agreement typically includes:
- Scope of services and deliverables – To avoid confusion or misaligned expectations.
- Payment terms and invoicing arrangements – Setting out how and when the contractor will be paid.
- Confidentiality, data protection and intellectual property clauses – To protect your business interests.
- Termination and notice provisions – So both sides understand how the relationship may end.
- Confirmation of non-employed status and independence – Helping you establish a clear, arm’s-length engagement.
At Thomas Mansfield, we ensure your agreement does more than tick a box – it protects your business from day one and holds up in practice.
Call our employment law team on 020 4579 5997 or
Meet our employment law partners
Bespoke contracts that reflect how you operate.
We work with business owners, HR teams and legal departments to draft and review agreements that reflect the needs of your organisation, your sector and the people you’re engaging.
Our service includes:
- Contracts for all types of consultants and contractors.
- IR35 risk assessments and compliance advice.
- Terms for confidentiality, intellectual property and data security.
- Defined project scopes, milestones and termination triggers.
- Framework agreements for repeated or group-wide use.
- Advice on aligning contractor relationships with internal policies.
Whether you’re engaging a strategic adviser, a technical expert or a freelance creative, we’ll structure the relationship in a way that supports your commercial goals and minimises legal exposure.
IR35 and off payroll working – are you compliant?
IR35 is a term commonly used to refer to a collection of tax rules designed to stop businesses incorrectly deeming individuals they engage to be self-employed for tax purposes (‘off payroll’) when, in reality, they operate as employees or workers (‘payroll workers’). If your agreement or working practices don’t align with IR35, you could face backdated tax, interest, penalties and scrutiny from HMRC.
We help you stay compliant by carrying out IR35 status assessments – advising on the risks and drafting contract terms that support a genuine contractor relationship. Whether you’re engaging individuals directly or via a personal service company, our legal advice helps you protect your business and avoid costly mistakes.
Reduce risk and avoid status disputes
If HMRC or an employment tribunal believes your consultant is an employee or worker, you could face backdated PAYE, NI contributions, penalties – or costly legal claims.
As a firm recognised for its employment law expertise, we help you avoid common pitfalls, including:
- Exercising too much control or direction over the work.
- Failing to allow substitution or flexibility.
- Providing employment-style perks or integration with staff.
- Relying on generic, outdated contract templates.
Our solicitors regularly advise businesses across technology, financial services, media, professional services, healthcare and construction – tailoring documents and advice to industry-specific risks.
Engaging consultants or contractors? We’ll help you get the terms right.
Why employers choose Thomas Mansfield
- Specialist expertise – We advise on consultancy agreements, contractor terms and employment status, including IR35 and off-payroll working rules.
- Fast, commercial support – We offer prompt turnaround on contract reviews and bespoke drafting when time is tight.
- Strategic insight – We help clients shape compliant, flexible contractor arrangements that meet their business needs.
- Trusted by employers – Our clients include growing businesses, international groups and professional service firms.
- Clear, solutions-focused advice – We cut through complexity to offer practical legal input you can act on immediately.
- Flexible fee options – Fixed, capped and retainer-based arrangements to suit your contracting needs and volume.
We make it easy to get the right agreements in place
We take a commercial, responsive approach to supporting employers with consultant and contractor engagements – ensuring your documentation is fit for purpose, risk-aware and aligned with your goals.
- Get in touch – We start with a no-obligation call to understand your business, your engagement model and the agreements you have in place.
- We provide practical recommendations – You’ll receive clear, actionable advice on terms, status and compliance – with realistic timeframes and transparent costs.
- You get legal advice that works for your business – Whether you need a one-off review, new contract templates or ongoing support, we’ll tailor our input to your requirements.
Contact us today for fast, focused advice on contractor and consultancy arrangements.
Call our employment law team on 020 4579 5997 or
Contact us
Contacting the right person couldn’t be easier. Use our form or call us to speak to an experienced employment solicitor in confidence.
Please note we do not offer legal aid or no win no fee agreements.