What a legal retainer is
A legal retainer (iguala jurídica in Spanish) is a contract under which a lawyer gives continuous advice to the company in exchange for a periodic fee. It is a service contract under Spanish law, where one party undertakes to provide a service to the other for a fixed price (article 1544 of the Civil Code), completed by the terms agreed in the engagement letter.
Its value is continuity. A lawyer who knows the articles of association, the standard contracts and the way the company works answers in hours, not weeks, and spots risks that an outside professional, called only when there is a dispute, cannot see.
What it covers for a company
- Queries by phone, video call and email, with an agreed response time
- Review of contracts with clients and suppliers before signing
- Corporate calendar: shareholder meetings, preparation and filing of annual accounts, books
- Out-of-court claims for unpaid invoices, with late-payment interest calculated
- Follow-up of requirements from the authorities and electronic notifications
- Advice on directors decisions and personal liability
- Review of data protection and e-commerce compliance
- Coordination with your accountant
What is outside the monthly fee
Court and contentious administrative proceedings, appeals and one-off operations, such as the sale of a business or a restructuring, are not part of the monthly fee. They are quoted before starting, with a known fee, and retainer clients get preferential terms.
This separation avoids surprises on both sides. The company pays a stable fee for the predictable and decides with full information when an extraordinary matter appears.
How the fee is set
The fee depends on three variables: the size and complexity of the company, the areas included and the estimated volume of queries. After a first meeting with no commitment, we send a written proposal with the scope, the fee, the response times and the terms for excluded work.
Why a retainer rather than hiring per matter
Hiring per matter means explaining the company from scratch every time and concentrates the cost in the moment of greatest tension. A retainer moves the effort to prevention, where a contract reviewed in time or a demand properly answered avoids far greater costs. The monthly cost is also predictable and deductible as a business expense.
Areas we cover
- Corporate and company law
- Debt recovery and unpaid invoices
- Commercial contracts
- Leases and real estate law
- Tourism law and holiday rentals
- Tax advice and disputes
- Data protection and compliance
- White-collar crime
- Insolvency and second chance
- Fuel and service stations
Frequently asked questions
What size of company benefits from a retainer?
Any company that signs contracts regularly, has clients who pay late or must meet corporate obligations. For a one-off need, a single engagement can be more suitable.
Can the retainer be in English?
Yes. Advice is given in English or Spanish as you prefer. Documents filed in Spain are prepared in Spanish and explained to you.