Consultant Commercial Lawyer and Fractional General Counsel

Supporting innovative and mission-driven organisations

Overview

My name is Chris Morgan, I am based in Cambridge (UK), and I have over 15 years of experience working as a commercial lawyer, both in law firms and ‘in-house’ in industry, for companies large and small. I have particular expertise in technology, intellectual property, and commercial contracts, but also broad experience of a range of related legal fields.

I set up my consultancy business to provide flexible and cost-effective legal services to UK-based start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, charities, and larger organisations. I provide high-quality, law firm partner-level service at less expense than engaging a law firm - and I do so in a way that is pragmatic, clear, and tailored very uniquely for you and your organisation. I work with small and scaling businesses who do not have in-house lawyers, and I also support in-house legal teams on anything from strategic to practical legal matters.

My core services are to provide:

  • Ad hoc support on an hourly rate or fixed-fee basis. (For examples of work I can undertake on a fixed-fee basis, please visit this page.)

  • Regular support on a retainer at a discounted rate, for organisations wishing to engage me for a regular amount of time each week.

My approach is very much to work as an extra member of your team, an ‘external in-house lawyer’, able to get stuck in and work with you to achieve your organisation’s goals. My aim is to work in a way that is pragmatic, straightforward, and effective, providing practical and strategic benefits, in a way that is utterly transparent on costs and highly flexible. 

My expertise

My main areas of expertise and the key areas where I can provide assistance are as follows:

Legal strategy ⚖️

I support c-suite and leadership teams, boards, and in-house legal leaders and teams, on strategic matters relating to legal, IP, compliance, risk, and governance issues. For example, I can advise on matters relating to international expansion, to external legal spend management, to the use of legal tech to drive efficiency.

Contracts 📝

I can provide advice and support on customer, supplier, and/or collaboration agreements - including software licensing, IT hardware and/or services provision, outsourcing agreements, and SaaS / PaaS / IaaS / XaaS contracts, technology licensing, data processing agreements, and commercial contracts generally (e.g., marketing, general procurement, collaboration, introducer / agency / distribution agreements, and confidentiality agreements). I can review and advise on third-party terms, including preparing risk reviews and mark-ups, be involved in negotiations or negotiate on your behalf, and prepare new template contracts or provisions for use by your organisation. If you need anything from a quick ‘red flag’ risk review of a proposed new contract, to a detailed review and assistance with negotiation, I can help.

Intellectual property 💡

From brand protection and trade mark registration, to protecting confidential know-how and trade secrets, to patent licensing and technology licence agreements, I can help with both strategic and day-to-day matters relating to intellectual property.

Governance and regulatory compliance ⚖️

I can prepare new policies for your business, whether relating to ESG or other legal or compliance matters. I have particular expertise in data protection, but I can also assist with other compliance and risk management issues affecting your organisation.

Training 👨‍🏫

I can provide tailored training sessions in relevant legal, IP, governance, and compliance matters, whether to individuals or teams of in-house lawyers, non-lawyers, or leadership teams. For instance, I can provide data protection training to the sales team, IP training to the R&D team, or contracts training to the procurement team.

‘Phone a legal friend’ ☎️

I can support sole in-house lawyers, the heads of in-house legal teams, and indeed all members of in-house legal teams, and/or c-suite and leadership teams, on any matters where my skills and experience may be useful. From legal and IP strategy discussions, to being a second pair of eyes on complex contract drafting, to to working through different ideas or approaches to solve a particular legal issue, to risk and governance matters, I can act as an adviser or ‘virtual colleague’ on a range of issues. This could be as a ‘fractional General Counsel’ if you are a small start-up or scale-up, or as an extra member of your in-house legal team if you have one.

Other support I provide

Coaching, mentoring, and training services 🤝

If you are interested in the training, coaching, or mentoring that I can provide on an individual or small group basis, please visit my techgc.co.uk Academy page.

Reference and training materials 📚

See the ‘Reference materials’ dropdown menu above for materials on subjects from contract drafting and contract review to GenAI prompt engineering for legal practice.

News update:

September 2025. I was delighted to be invited to speak at BizzFest, Essex’s brand-new, festival-style experience for founders, start-ups, scale-ups, and business leaders “who want to grow, connect, and thrive.”

I was a member of a panel to discuss how lawyers, as strategic partners, can drive innovation and competitive advantage. Let me know if you would like to have a chat with me on this topic, which is very close to my heart!

Client testimonials

“I have the privilege of working with Chris Morgan as fractional General Counsel for Aegiq, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. Chris brings exceptional professionalism, expertise, and responsiveness to every engagement, making a real impact on our legal operations and business strategy. From day one, Chris demonstrated deep knowledge across technology and commercial contracts - areas critical to our growth. His ability to quickly grasp complex issues and provide clear, pragmatic advice is invaluable. What stands out most is his remarkable turnaround time for reviewing legal documents. In a fast-paced environment where timing is everything, Chris consistently delivers thorough reviews and actionable feedback without compromising quality. This efficiency gives our team confidence and allows us to move forward on key deals without delay. Beyond speed, Chris’s feedback is comprehensive and insightful. He doesn’t just identify risks; he explains their implications in plain language and offers practical solutions tailored to our objectives. His advice is never generic - it is strategic, commercially minded, and aligned with our mission. Chris approaches every challenge with clarity and precision. Another quality that sets Chris apart is his collaborative style. He truly operates as an extension of our team, making himself available for quick consultations and strategic discussions whenever needed. His “external in-house lawyer” approach means we have partner-level expertise without the overhead of a traditional law firm engagement. This flexibility and transparency are a breath of fresh air for a scaling company like ours. In short, Chris combines speed, depth of knowledge, and practical judgment in a way that is rare to find. He is not only a trusted legal adviser but also a strategic partner who understands the realities of growing businesses. If you are looking for fractional legal counsel who can deliver high-quality work efficiently and help you navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence, Chris Morgan is the person you want on your side.” (Andrii Iamshanov, Co-founder, Aegiq)

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“Working with Chris at TechGC has been an absolute game-changer. As sole legal counsel, having access to such a knowledgeable, proactive, and supportive resource has made a world of difference. Chris consistently anticipates needs, offers clear and practical guidance, and goes above and beyond expectations. Not only does he have fantastic legal expertise, but also a collaborative spirit that makes even the most complex matters feel manageable.”  (Sole legal counsel at a SaaS/AI scale-up)

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“Had the pleasure of working with Chris for several years during his time at Pragmatic, Chris is an experienced, competent legal professional. Always willing to go the extra mile to meet pressured deadlines to ensure a successful outcome. Chris has a wealth of legal knowledge and very creative to accommodate challenging commercial contracts. It’s my pleasure to recommend Chris, a super asset to any business.” (Paul Garner-Evans, Commercial Director, Pragmatic Semiconductor)

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“I've worked with Chris as my group's Legal Counsel at Arm for many years, during which we built a partnership based on trust, mutual understanding and a culture/track record of excellence. We experimented with many new business models and achieved a lot together. I am highly appreciative of Chris' knowledge, skills, sound counsel and friendship. He is a great asset for any organization.” (Khaled Benkrid, Senior Director, Arm)

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“Chris Morgan has experience of large IT projects and software licensing matters. Clients describe him as "pragmatic and technology-minded.” (Chambers & Partners legal directory, 2015)

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“Chris Morgan advises on hosting, software development and licensing, maintenance and support agreements, as well as data protection and e-commerce matters. He is "approachable, knows and understands my industry," and offers "clear, focused and expert advice," according to clients.” (Chambers & Partners legal directory, 2014)

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For more details about my experience and further recommendations that I have received, and to connect with me, please visit my LinkedIn page.