Know Where Your Business Stands.
A structured review of your company records, ownership, contracts, people practices and licences. We read the documents, visit the workplace and speak with your team, then give you a clear, ranked list of what is protected, what is exposed and what to fix first.
- Conducted by attorneys-at-law
- Desk review and on-site visit
- Scope agreed in writing first
- Good standing, Companies Office of JamaicaClear
- Articles and share registerClear
- !4 of 10 employment contracts outdatedMedium
- !Sexual harassment policy not issuedHigh
- Trade licence, Kingston siteClear
- !Supplier contract auto-renewsLow
Staff aware of the grievance procedure
4 of 6 staff interviewedThe Paperwork
What is written down: registrations, agreements, contracts, policies and licences.
The People
What your managers and staff actually know about the rules that apply to them.
The Practice
What happens on an ordinary working day, seen first-hand at your premises.
Choose the Review That Fits Your Business
Three starting points, sized to your team and the way you operate. Each plan is a defined scope. We confirm the final scope with you before any work begins.
On Paper and On the Ground
A policy that sits in a drawer protects no one. We review your documents, then come in to see whether they are working.
Scoping Call
We learn how you operate and agree scope, timing and fee in writing.
Document Checklist
You share what you have from a tailored list. Gaps are findings, not homework.
Desk Review
Our attorneys review records, contracts, policies and licences.
On-Site Visit
We walk the premises, speak in confidence with managers and staff, and check procedures against daily practice.
Risk Register
Each issue rated High, Medium or Low, with the step that fixes it.
Findings Meeting
We agree priorities. You decide what to fix, when, and with whom.
A Clear Picture and a Plan
Findings you can act on, ranked by what matters most to the business.
- Written Findings ReportPlain-language findings, organised by area of the business.
- Legal Risk RegisterEach issue rated, with a recommended action and timeframe.
- Remediation RoadmapWhat to fix first, what can wait, and what it will take.
- Findings MeetingA walkthrough with owners, managers or the board.
| Area | Finding | Risk | Recommended Action | By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People | Sexual harassment policy adopted but never issued to staff | High | Issue policy, brief staff, keep sign-off records | 30 days |
| Corporate | Annual returns two years outstanding | Medium | File returns and restore good standing | 60 days |
| Data | Customer data collected with no privacy notice | Medium | Publish notice, map data held | 60 days |
| Contracts | Key supplier contract renews automatically | Low | Diary notice date, renegotiate terms | 90 days |
Not Sure Which Audit You Need?
Every business has a different risk profile. Tell us about your operations, and we will help determine the appropriate scope of review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a legal audit?
A legal audit is a structured review of your business's legal position: how it is registered and owned, the contracts it relies on, how it employs people, the licences it holds and the regulations that apply to it.
Most owners know financial audits. A legal audit does the same for legal risk, so problems are found and fixed before they become disputes, penalties or lost deals. Ours also looks at practice, because a sound policy only helps if people follow it.
Which businesses should consider a legal audit?
- Businesses preparing to borrow, take on investors, sell or merge
- Growing businesses that have added staff, sites or new lines of work
- Family businesses planning for succession
- Businesses in regulated sectors, or newly in scope of data protection or AML rules
- Any business that has not reviewed its paperwork since it was registered
Why do I need an audit?
Legal problems are usually cheaper to fix early. An expired licence, an outdated employment contract or a missing policy is simple to correct today and costly once there is a complaint, a claim or a regulator involved.
Banks, investors and buyers will also ask these questions during due diligence. An audit means you already know the answers and have the documents ready.
What does the process look like?
We start with a scoping conversation and confirm scope in an engagement letter. You then share documents from a tailored checklist and our attorneys complete a desk review.
Next, we come into the business. We walk through the premises, hold short, confidential conversations with managers and selected staff, and check that written procedures match what happens day to day. In our findings we report patterns, not individual comments.
Finally, you receive a findings report and risk register, and we meet to walk through the results and agree priorities.
Will the site visit disrupt our operations?
We schedule visits around your trading hours and keep staff conversations short, typically 15 to 20 minutes each. For multi-site businesses we agree in advance which locations we visit.
What documents will you need from us?
You will receive a checklist tailored to your plan and industry. It commonly includes:
- Certificate of incorporation or business name registration, Articles of Incorporation and recent annual returns
- Share register, shareholders' or partnership agreements and any succession documents
- Employment contracts, staff handbook and workplace policies
- Key client and supplier contracts, leases and titles
- Trade licences, permits and any sector licences
- Loan facilities, security documents and insurance policies
- Privacy notices and website terms
If something does not exist or cannot be found, tell us. That is useful information in itself.
How long does an audit take?
From the time we receive your documents, Legal Essentials typically takes about two weeks, Business Protection about three weeks, and a Comprehensive Legal Audit four to six weeks. Your timeline is confirmed in the engagement letter.
What happens after the audit?
You receive your findings report, risk register and remediation roadmap, and we meet to discuss them. From there you decide what to address and in what order. Many businesses choose to repeat the audit every year or two, or after a major change such as new investment or a new site.
Can we have a monthly audit instead of a one-time review?
Yes. Some businesses prefer ongoing support to a single review. With a monthly arrangement, we review agreed areas of the business on a rolling basis, check new contracts and policies as they come in, keep track of renewal and filing dates, and return to your premises at agreed intervals.
The scope and monthly fee are agreed with you in writing. Many clients begin with a one-time audit to set a baseline, then move to monthly support. Tell us in the enquiry form or at your consultation if this suits you better.
Does the audit include implementing the recommendations?
No. The audit identifies and prioritises the issues. You are free to address them with your own team or advisers. If you would like Vanguard Law to help with some or all of the work, we can discuss it and provide a separate quote for the items you choose.
How is the final fee determined?
Legal Essentials (JM$150,000) and Business Protection (JM$300,000) are fixed fees for the scope described. The Comprehensive Legal Audit starts from JM$550,000, and the final fee is confirmed after a scoping conversation, based on:
- The number of staff, sites and entities
- Your industry and regulatory profile
- The volume of documents to review
- Your timeline
Government, registry and filing fees are separate. Your fee is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Is the audit confidential?
Yes. The audit is carried out by attorneys-at-law, and your information is held in confidence. Legal advice given to you is protected by legal professional privilege. Staff conversations are handled discreetly, and we are happy to sign a confidentiality agreement before you share any documents.