Fractional General Counsel

Introduction

A fractional general counsel provides senior legal leadership on a retained part-time basis, giving organisations access to strategic, commercial and regulatory support without the cost of a full-time hire. This model is suited to businesses operating in regulated, technology-driven and infrastructure-heavy sectors where legal issues are continuous, multi-disciplinary and operationally significant.

Bratby Law delivers embedded general counsel capability for operators, technology companies, platforms, investors and international groups. The service is led directly by Rob Bratby, drawing on more than thirty years’ experience across private practice, the UK telecoms regulator’s predecessor and senior in-house roles.

Who this is for

Fractional general counsel support is used by organisations that require senior legal, regulatory and governance input on a flexible or sustained basis. The examples below illustrate the typical profiles of businesses that instruct Bratby Law in this capacity.

CEOs and boards

CEOs, founders and boards requiring senior legal leadership without full-time headcount.

Tech scale-ups

Technology scale-ups managing SaaS, data, AI and commercial contracting demands of rapid growth.

Overseas businesses with UK operations

Overseas organisations with UK or European operations needing local legal presence, ensuring alignment with headquarters legal teams and regulatory expectations.

Joint ventures

Joint ventures and partnerships requiring independent governance and stakeholder management.

Businesses undergoing transformational change

Operators and communications providers undertaking transformational change, including M&A, restructuring, high-stakes disputes or significant regulatory events requiring coordinated senior legal oversight.

Businesses with short-term resource challenges

Organisations facing short-term resourcing gaps and requiring experienced senior legal leadership to maintain continuity across operational, commercial and regulatory work.

How it works

We operate as part of your internal team, providing a predictable and senior point of contact for legal, commercial and regulatory matters. Engagements typically include:

A retainer-based model with agreed monthly or quarterly time allocation.
Attendance at board, executive or project meetings where required.
Integration with internal workflows, product teams and operational processes.
Prioritisation, planning and coordination of legal work across the business.
Management of external counsel and specialist support.
Periodic reporting to senior leadership on risk, compliance and strategic legal issues.

The model is flexible and scales as business requirements change. It can also provide interim cover during recruitment, transactions or organisational change.

What we deliver

The service provides general counsel capability across regulatory, commercial and corporate matters, including:

Governance frameworks and board support.
Regulatory interpretation and compliance (telecoms, AI, data, security and related regimes).
Product, operational and commercial risk analysis.
Contracting and commercial negotiation across telecoms, technology, cloud and data.
AI and data governance frameworks, including accountability, oversight and assurance.
Support on transactions, due diligence and corporate initiatives.
Coordination of external advisers and specialist input.
Engagement with regulators, government and industry bodies where relevant.

Our approach is grounded in clear, practical advice aligned to commercial priorities, operational realities and senior-level decision-making.

Our end-to-end perspective

Our approach is shaped by a rare combination of regulatory, operator and private-practice experience:

The Regulator’s Perspective

Work at Oftel, the predecessor to Ofcom, provides first-hand experience of how UK communications regulation is developed, interpreted and enforced. This includes leadership of the project to liberalise the UK’s international telecoms infrastructure market (subsea cables and satellite), and a detailed understanding of regulatory intent and enforcement dynamics.

The Operator’s Perspective

Senior in-house roles at COLT and embedded general-counsel roles within operator-side businesses provide practical insight into how networks are built, where risks arise, how compliance is operationalised and how commercial and regulatory decisions are made inside carriers and infrastructure operators.

The Adviser’s Perspective

As a former partner and practice leader at international law firms in London and Singapore, Rob Bratby has advised operators, platforms, investors and global technology companies on major regulatory matters, market-shaping projects, cross-border transactions and multi-jurisdictional compliance programmes.

This combination enables advice that is legally rigorous, commercially aligned and technically grounded.

Core credentials

Our depth of experience is underpinned by:

Direct experience inside the UK communications regulator’s predecessor gives unique insight into the development and enforcement of regulatory frameworks.

Board-level and general-counsel roles provide understanding of operational risk, product development, network deployment, stakeholder management and regulatory implementation.

Leadership roles at international firms advising on major transactions, regulatory matters and infrastructure projects in Europe and Asia.

AI models run on data, and data runs on infrastructure.
Our deep knowledge of the physical, commercial and regulatory layers of telecoms networks provides a distinctive foundation for advising on AI regulation, governance, data protection, sovereignty and infrastructure risk. This perspective complements and often exceeds the approach taken by generalist “technology lawyers”.

Repeatedly recognised as a global expert and thought leader in data and privacy, supporting strong credibility in AI regulation and governance.

Scientific degree before law, with subsequent post-graduate intellectual property law qualifications. MBA and INSEAD international directors’ programme give unique skill-set.

Our Practice Areas

Other client engagement models

Independent directory rankings

Our specialist expertise is recognised in major independent legal directories:

Chambers & Partners: Rob Bratby is ranked in the UK Guide 2026 in the “Telecommunications” category: Chambers
The Legal 500: Rob Bratby is listed as a “Leading Partner – Telecoms” in London (TMT – IT & Telecoms): The Legal 500
Lexology: Rob Bratby is featured on Lexology’s expert profiles (Global Elite Thought Leader): Lexology

1 | bratby law | telecoms | ai | data — Fractional general counsel 5 | bratby law | telecoms | ai | data

2 | bratby law | telecoms | ai | data — Fractional general counsel 6 | bratby law | telecoms | ai | data

To discuss fractional general counsel support for your organisation, contact the firm to arrange a confidential conversation.

Book a call

Frequently asked questions

What is a fractional general counsel?

A fractional general counsel provides senior legal leadership on a retained or part-time basis. The role mirrors the function of an in-house general counsel but is delivered flexibly, ensuring organisations have access to strategic legal, regulatory and governance advice without maintaining full-time headcount.

How does a fractional general counsel differ from a traditional law firm?

A fractional general counsel operates as part of the management team, working continuously with the business and supporting decision-making, governance and operational delivery. A law firm typically provides matter-specific external advice. The fractional model therefore combines in-house proximity with specialist external expertise.

Which organisations benefit most from a fractional general counsel?

The model suits businesses that encounter ongoing legal and regulatory issues but do not require, or do not yet have, a full-time general counsel. This includes operators, technology companies, scale-ups, joint ventures and overseas groups needing a UK legal presence. It is also effective during periods of transformation, restructuring or regulatory scrutiny.

What responsibilities does a fractional general counsel typically take on?

Responsibilities commonly include governance and board support, regulatory interpretation, commercial contracting, product review, data and AI governance, operational legal risk oversight, and coordination of external advisers. The emphasis is on enabling senior decision-makers to navigate legal issues with clarity and predictability.

How flexible is the engagement model?

Engagements are tailored to business requirements, ranging from a fixed retainer for ongoing support to interim appointments during recruitment, transactions or organisational change. Time commitments can increase or reduce as operational demands shift.

Does a fractional general counsel replace external law firms?

No. A fractional general counsel determines when specialist external advice is required and manages that engagement. The model provides senior leadership and continuity, ensuring external support is used efficiently and aligned with business priorities.

What are the advantages of using a fractional general counsel?

Advantages include senior legal input at predictable cost, immediate access to regulatory and commercial expertise, improved coordination of legal work, and continuity across board, product and operational matters. It enables organisations to maintain high-quality legal oversight without building a full in-house team.

How quickly can support begin?

Engagements can typically begin at short notice. Following an initial assessment of requirements, support can start immediately or be aligned with a specific project timetable.

How is confidentiality managed?

Fractional general counsel engagements are conducted to the same professional standards as in-house and private practice roles. All work is performed under professional duties of confidentiality and, where required, under additional contractual confidentiality obligations.

How can Bratby Law be appointed as fractional general counsel?

You can contact the firm via the website to arrange a confidential discussion. We assess your operational and legal requirements and propose an engagement plan aligned with your governance, regulatory and commercial priorities.

Fractional General Counsel