Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What legal and accounting services do members recommend for small drinks businesses?
Members consistently recommend a handful of specialist providers that offer good value for small businesses needing employment contracts, tax advice, and corporate structuring. **Legal services:** - **Seed Legals** — Multiple members praised this service; used for employment contracts, share transfers, director's agreements, and fundraising documentation. Members offer referral introductions. - **iLaw (Justin Ellis)** — Highly recommended by at least one member who cannot recommend enough and will introduce interested parties. **Accounting services:** - **Donald Reid Group** — Several members use this firm. - **Specialist F&B/hospitality accountants** — At least one member uses a newer accountancy firm that specialises in hospitality, food & beverage, and e-commerce, described as well-priced after trying several solutions. **Employment law:** - Members have access to personal introductions to employment lawyers; if you need specific employment law support, ask in the group for a direct introduction. The consensus is to ask for private introductions rather than cold-contact these firms, as several members have referral relationships and may offer deals. Seed Legals appears most frequently recommended across multiple use cases.
Who provides IP evaluation expertise for spirits and drinks brands, and what are the typical costs and availability of assessments?
Members recommend contacting **Stratagem IP** for IP evaluation services in the drinks sector. The firm offers free initial assessments, though the full service is described as expensive. Contact Abigail Woolhouse at abigail.woolhouse@stratagemipm.co.uk to enquire about availability and scope.
What legal support do members recommend for reviewing and negotiating co-packing contracts?
Members recommend using specialist lawyers experienced with drinks-industry contracts. The go-to recommendation is **Justin Ellis at ilaw.co.uk** — described as "very good egg" by a member actively using them for co-packing agreement review. Members are happy to make introductions to their contacts if needed. No pricing or lead-time specifics were discussed in the excerpts.