Fractional General Counsel
We act as your senior legal & regulatory partner, available when you need us, without the overhead cost.
Your Fractional General Counsel Partner
Click Legal is a specialist Australian law firm. We lift your legal & regulatory burden so you can focus on running the business. As your fractional general counsel, we step in where a full‑time GC would usually sit, without the permanent headcount.
We support you through every stage of growth: guiding commercial decisions, navigating ASIC & AUSTRAC expectations, overseeing contracts, governance & risk, and helping you launch new products with confidence. You get senior, business‑first legal advice on a flexible, fixed‑fee basis.
What We Do As Your Fractional General Counsel
As your fractional general counsel, we provide ongoing legal & compliance support tailored to your business model, sector & risk profile. We combine day‑to‑day commercial advice with specialist financial services, credit & AML/CTF expertise so your legal, regulatory & governance settings stay aligned as you grow.
01. Regulatory Compliance & Licensing
We help you stay on top of AFSL, ACL & AML/CTF obligations so your operations align with ASIC & AUSTRAC expectations in practice, not just on paper, by:
- designing & refreshing compliance policies, procedures, registers & monitoring plans;
- reviewing how your frameworks are actually used day‑to‑day across teams;
preparing you for regulator queries, reviews or remediation expectations in a structured, well‑documented way.
02. Commercial Contracts & Agreements
We draft, review & negotiate your key commercial contracts so deals move forward without exposing you to hidden legal or regulatory risk, including:
- supplier, customer & distribution agreements, platform / SaaS terms, NDAs & engagement letters;
- aligning contract terms with AFSL/ACL, AML/CTF & other regulatory settings that apply to your business;
- keeping documents practical & readable so your team can understand, use & explain them confidently.
03. Corporate Governance & Board Support
We support your board & leadership team with governance frameworks that stand up to scrutiny, by:
- preparing board & committee charters, board packs, agendas & minutes;
- advising on directors’ duties, conflicts of interest & decision‑making in regulated environments;
- structuring governance around AFSL/ACL, AML/CTF & other regimes so responsibilities are clear and issues are escalated early.
04. Risk Management & Strategy
We work with you to identify legal & regulatory risks in your business model, products, contracts & operations, then design practical controls to manage them, such as:
- building & maintaining risk registers tied to your key activities & projects;
- setting up incident, breach & complaints processes with clear escalation pathways;
- developing remediation plans & review cycles so issues are addressed before they escalate.
05. Embedded Fractional Officer Roles
We step into formal officer roles so you get senior oversight without the overhead of a full‑time executive hire, by:
- acting as your named Compliance Officer, AML/CTF Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer or Complaints Officer where appropriate;
- integrating these officer roles into your broader fractional general counsel plan so boards, risk & management receive a joined‑up view;
- setting clear scope, calendars & reporting lines so regulators can see how responsibilities are discharged in practice.
06. AUSTRAC Reporting Obligations Review
We review your AUSTRAC reporting obligations end‑to‑end so your reporting matches your AML/CTF program & business model, including:
- mapping your designated services, customers & channels to specific AUSTRAC reporting obligations;
- reviewing threshold transaction, suspicious matter & ongoing customer due diligence processes for gaps;
- recommending targeted improvements so you are regulator‑ready for new products, services or AUSTRAC engagement.
Fractional Officer Roles When You Need Them
Many fractional general counsel clients only need senior legal & regulatory support. But once you have real licences, AML/CTF obligations, privacy exposure or complaint volumes, leaving “officer” responsibilities spread across the team becomes a risk. In those cases our senior lawyers can be recorded as your formal officer on a fractional basis, added into a tailored Fractional General Counsel subscription with the exact role, scope & fee agreed up front.
Compliance Officer
Formal licence & conduct oversight so your compliance calendar, registers & reporting have a single senior owner.
AML/CTF Compliance Officer
Formal AML/CTF program leadership so risk assessments, monitoring & AUSTRAC reporting are owned by a named expert.
Privacy Officer
Formal privacy leadership so data use, DPIAs & breach response are coordinated under one accountable lead.
Complaints Officer
Formal complaints & IDR oversight so issues, AFCA outcomes & board reporting are handled in a governed, repeatable way.
Who We Advise
We serve organisations operating in regulated, compliance‑heavy environments in & around financial services. If you have ongoing legal & regulatory work, active boards or investors to report to, and recurring questions that need senior judgment, a full‑time in‑house GC may feel premature – but ad‑hoc external advice is no longer enough.
Our fractional general counsel service is designed for businesses that want a consistent legal & regulatory partner on call: someone who understands your products, licences & risk profile, works alongside your team & stays with you as you grow.
Clients we act for include:
Product providers
Advice providers
Credit providers
AFSL wholesale
Payments businesses
Carbon markets & renewables
Fintechs
Crypto, digital currency & virtual asset providers
Our Clients Include
Discuss Your Fractional General Counsel Needs
Our senior lawyers will contact you to discuss your needs & outline clear next steps.
FRACTIONAL GENERAL COUNSEL
Three plans, built around your business.
In-house legal strength without the overhead of a full-time hire. Every deliverable is set out below, so you always know exactly what is in scope.
Fractional General Counsel Plans
General Counsel
Legal Partner
Embedded Legal
Best suited to
You need a lawyer who knows your business
You need a lawyer who does the work
You need a legal
function
Named Fractional General Counsel
General legal enquiries
10 per month
15 per month
25 per month
Tailored documents drafted, simple
1 per month
3 per month
5 per month
Legal documents reviewed and redlined
2 per month,
to 20 pages
4 per month,
to 30 pages
8 per month,
to 50 pages
We negotiate with the other side
Written comments only
Yes, we negotiate
Yes, we negotiate and attend
Your core document
suite built
-
Contract and obligations register
-
Maintained monthly
Maintained monthly
Monthly legal report to your board
-
Legal in the room at your board meeting
-
-
1 per month
Embedded day on your team
-
-
1 day per week
Your access
Email,
monthly call
Email,
fortnightly call
Email, weekly call,
direct line
Click Legal Portal
Full access
Full access
Full access
Compass by Click Legal
Full access
Full access
Full access
Minimum term
6 months
6 months
6 months
The Detail
All Click Legal fractional officer roles (General Counsel, AML/CTF Compliance Officer, Complaints Officer, Privacy Officer) carry a 6-month minimum term because these are regulated, accountable functions, not short-term project work. The term allows proper onboarding into the client’s risk profile, systems and existing regulatory history, ensures continuity through at least one compliance or reporting cycle, and reflects the standard regulators expect for accountable persons named in governance documentation. It also reflects standard market practice for fractional and embedded advisory engagements more broadly.
A general legal enquiry is a question answered by email or on a call, without a document being reviewed or research being required.
Tailored documents are simple agreements drafted to your business. Complex documents, anything above your monthly numbers, litigation, transactions and licensing are quoted separately as a fixed fee.
Your contract and obligations register is maintained from the documents you give us, so anything signed without telling us will not appear.
Compliance, governance and AML/CTF sit outside these plans and are available as separate Fractional Compliance Officer and Fractional AML/CTF Compliance Officer plans.
All fees are quoted in Australian dollars per month and exclude GST.
Our plans are flexible
These plans are a starting point, not a straitjacket. No business uses exactly four reviews and three documents every month, and we do not expect yours to.
If a month runs heavier than usual, we tell you before we start the work and either carry it into the following month or quote it as a fixed fee. Nothing is done quietly and charged to you later.
If your needs sit somewhere between two plans, we will build the plan around what you actually need rather than pushing you up a tier.
At the end of each six-month term we sit down and review how the plan has worked, and adjust it with you, up or down. Most clients move once, and usually upwards, because the work found them rather than the other way around.
The Detail
All Click Legal fractional officer roles (General Counsel, AML/CTF Compliance Officer, Complaints Officer, Privacy Officer) carry a 6-month minimum term because these are regulated, accountable functions, not short-term project work. The term allows proper onboarding into the client’s risk profile, systems and existing regulatory history, ensures continuity through at least one compliance or reporting cycle, and reflects the standard regulators expect for accountable persons named in governance documentation. It also reflects standard market practice for fractional and embedded advisory engagements more broadly.
A general legal enquiry is a question answered by email or on a call, without a document being reviewed or research being required.
Tailored documents are simple agreements drafted to your business. Complex documents, anything above your monthly numbers, litigation, transactions and licensing are quoted separately as a fixed fee.
Your contract and obligations register is maintained from the documents you give us, so anything signed without telling us will not appear.
Compliance, governance and AML/CTF sit outside these plans and are available as separate Fractional Compliance Officer and Fractional AML/CTF Compliance Officer plans.
All fees are quoted in Australian dollars per month and exclude GST.
Our plans are flexible
These plans are a starting point, not a straitjacket. No business uses exactly four reviews and three documents every month, and we do not expect yours to.
If a month runs heavier than usual, we tell you before we start the work and either carry it into the following month or quote it as a fixed fee. Nothing is done quietly and charged to you later.
If your needs sit somewhere between two plans, we will build the plan around what you actually need rather than pushing you up a tier.
At the end of each six-month term we sit down and review how the plan has worked, and adjust it with you, up or down. Most clients move once, and usually upwards, because the work found them rather than the other way around.
Featured By Digital Reference (2025)
“Best Fractional General Counsel Services In Australia”
Featuring Click Legal founder, Hannah Deuk, as a “Founder To Watch In 2025”.
What Our Clients Say About Working With Us
GUY RAVEN
Head of Surveillance Advisory, Westpac
“Hannah demonstrated exceptional leadership and regulatory expertise. She played a pivotal role in developing the control room and establishing a strong regulatory compliance framework…Beyond her deep technical knowledge, Hannah is an outstanding mentor, approachable, and insightful.”
JASON WATTS
Managing Director, Neu Capital
“Hannah blends rare regulatory expertise with sharp business acumen. As her Manager at Barclays, I watched her master APRA/ASIC frameworks and turn them into clear, actionable strategies… She’s the kind of professional who simplifies complexity, and her integrity is unmatched.”
STUART HILL
Program Manager/Operations Manager
“Hannah has exceptional depth of knowledge and expertise in building robust legal, risk, and compliance frameworks….. Beyond her technical expertise, Hannah is a strategic thinker and a genuinely kind, friendly person who always supports and helps others.”
JASON LOWRY
Co-Founder, LPG
“Could not recommend Click Legal more highly! Must have for start ups and small business owners looking to trust someone to help set up your business right!”
JASON GOLD
Managing Director, IT Pro Tech
“At IT Pro Tech, we partner with businesses who share our commitment to integrity. Click Legal stands out in the legal space for exactly that. Hannah and the team impressed us with their deep understanding of compliance-heavy sectors and their ability to offer clear, practical legal advice without overcomplicating the process.”
ANTONELLA SPATOLA
Founder, True To You Charity
“Hannah at Click Legal has supported the board in establishing our documentation and legal framework to start on a solid footing. We appreciate her authentic interest in the charity’s mission… We appreciate how she explains complex concepts in simple terms, avoiding legal jargon.”
SHARON YANG
Head of Investment & Capital Mgmt
“Hannah and Click Legal have provided reliable legal advice to us. It has been integral in helping us meet all our AFSL obligations with confidence. I highly recommend their services to any business needing compliance support.”
Freshta Mayar
Google Verified Review
“A fantastic team, very easy to work with and provide great service and advice. Hannah and her team are absolute superstars – commercial, knowledgeable and efficient.”
Shu Jen & James Benson
Asset Management
“Handled the legal admin we avoided—contracts, policies, the lot—so we could focus on growing the business.”
David Parker
Founder of Innovate Solutions Pty Ltd
“After experiencing poor advice from other lawyers, I was fortunate to connect with Hannah. She stands out with her expertise, intelligence, and entrepreneurial mindset. Hannah’s ability to navigate complex legal matters and provide actionable guidance for startups and scaling businesses is unmatched. Highly recommend her services.”
Emma Reid
Freelancer Graphic Designer
Eran Ben-Shahar
CTO, Product, Strategy, Technology | SSPG Founder
Hillier Deniz
CEO, Paragon Funds Management
Erin Sutton
Business Unit Leader
Andrew Lane
Founder Shoplab
“Startups, meet your legal dream team Click Legal. They speak your language, understand scaling businesses, and deliver founder-friendly advice that fits your growth.”
Sunita
Verified Review
COO
International Digital Asset Exchange
“Thank you for your incredible patience and dedication throughout this entire process. The level of care & attention to every detail has been truly outstanding, and Click Legal has been deeply responsive – even late at night & over weekends.”
Discuss Your Fractional General Counsel Needs
Our senior lawyers will contact you to discuss your needs & outline clear next steps.
How The Process Works
Step 1
Scoping & Goals Session
We review your structure, licences & governance to understand your operations & identify exactly where your legal risks sit.
Step 2
Designing Your Plan
We tailor a plan covering the specific regulatory & commercial areas you need managed, ensuring our support is fully aligned with your business.
Step 3
Onboarding & Embedding
We access your systems & join key meetings to implement quick-win changes that deliver immediate value to your operations.
Step 4
Monthly Operations
We handle your agreed mix of advisory, contract & compliance work, acting as your dedicated senior legal partner.
Step 5
Review & Adjust
We revisit your scope regularly to ensure our guidance stays aligned as your products or the regulatory landscape change.
Why Choose Click Legal As Your Fractional General Counsel
Dedicated Legal & Regulatory Partner
We act as your ongoing fractional general counsel to navigate complex regulatory landscapes like ASIC & AUSTRAC so you can focus on running the business.
Hands‑On Support
We handle practical tasks like commercial contracts, incidents & governance meetings so you get hands-on support rather than just distant legal advice.
Senior Expertise Without Overhead
You access senior legal expertise on a cost-effective subscription model without the heavy overhead of a full-time executive hire.
Embedded Capability
We embed in your team to step into acting roles like Compliance Officer & ensure your operation remains compliant without a permanent headcount.
Meet Your Legal Team
Discuss Your Fractional General Counsel Needs
Our senior lawyers will contact you to discuss your needs & outline clear next steps.
How fractional general counsel works
Fractional vs Traditional Models
Traditional firms often charge by the hour for reactive advice. A fractional partner integrates deeply to understand your specific business risks.
This approach shifts focus from handling isolated disputes to building long-term resilience. Our lawyers help you navigate complex issues with commercial context.
When To Engage Support
Legal risks often increase as you scale or enter regulated markets. A full-time general counsel may not yet be commercially viable.
This creates a dangerous gap where complex decisions lack senior oversight. We help bridge this gap with flexible & senior legal guidance.
Strategic vs Operational Focus
Operational tasks include reviewing contracts & managing daily compliance. Strategic advice aligns legal frameworks with your long-term business goals.
Balancing these functions is critical for sustainable growth in financial services. Senior counsel helps balance immediate needs with future regulatory safety.
Fractional General Counsel Insights
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Ready-to-Use Legal & Compliance Templates
Lawyer‑drafted legal templates in downloadable Word format.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fractional General Counsel
What is a Fractional General Counsel?
A Fractional General Counsel provides senior legal & compliance support to your business on a flexible, part-time basis. This allows you to access expert strategic advice & risk management without the cost of a full-time executive hire.
How does the subscription model work?
We agree on a fixed monthly fee based on a set scope of legal & regulatory work tailored to your needs. This gives you budget certainty & ensures you have dedicated legal support without surprise hourly bills.
Can you act as our Compliance Officer?
Yes, our senior lawyers can step into acting roles such as Compliance Officer or Privacy Officer to provide formal oversight. We embed in your team to manage your regulatory obligations & governance frameworks directly.
Do you work onsite or remotely?
We generally work remotely using your systems but can attend key meetings or work onsite when required. This flexibility ensures we integrate seamlessly with your operations while keeping overheads low.
How is this different from a standard retainer?
Unlike a standard retainer that just pre-purchases hours, we act as a strategic partner who understands your business inside out. We proactively manage risks & commercial contracts rather than just waiting for instructions.
What happens if we have a surge in work?
If you face a sudden spike in volume or a major transaction, we can adjust your plan or scope the additional work as a separate project. We review your needs regularly to ensure your level of support remains aligned with your business activity.
Do you handle one‑off projects as well?
Yes, we can assist with discrete projects such as product launches, AFSL applications, or independent reviews outside of a subscription. Speak with our team to determine the most cost-effective way to engage us.
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