Ongoing independent advice and challenge
Independent Counsel
Who can help me think this through?
I provide external judgement with investigation between conversations, written findings and continuity as the evidence and your circumstances change.
When this is useful.
You face a sequence of material decisions and need someone who can follow the detail, question the reasoning and return to unresolved issues.
When another approach may fit
This is not embedded management capacity or unlimited access. A single bounded assurance question may be better addressed through a review.
The decision this supports
A continuing, reasoned basis for decisions, with unresolved questions and changes in the evidence kept visible. The work cannot guarantee commercial success or remove uncertainty.
What I do and what you receive
- Agree a named sponsor, focus and boundaries for the relationship.
- Investigate agreed questions between discussions and test options and scenarios.
- Provide written findings and keep track of what would change the advice.
You provide an accountable sponsor, relevant records and access to the people needed for the agreed work. We agree exclusions, evidence access and who can use the findings before starting. Additional work needs an agreed change of scope.
An illustrative output
Illustrative output: a decision note setting out the advice, its evidence, uncertainties and the events that should trigger reconsideration.
Scope, timing and fees
A bounded monthly retainer is proposed.
Scoped proposal; fee agreed before work begins. Plus VAT where applicable.
The breadth of issues, investigation required, access arrangements and agreed responsiveness determine the fee. Timing depends on the agreed work, evidence access, stakeholder availability and dependencies. The proposal sets out inclusions, exclusions and arrangements for changes; no standard turnaround is promised.
How is this different from coaching?
The work includes examining documents, researching options and producing findings on business questions. It does not depend on conversations alone.
What if the evidence changes the scope?
I explain what has changed and its implications. We agree whether to revise the work, obtain further evidence or stop before making further commitments.
Read before deciding
When should a CEO or board appoint an independent adviser?Also consider Fractional Advisory: embedded senior capability.
Discuss your situation