Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd is an international commercial advisory business.
We advise businesses, founders, investors and management teams on commercial strategy, governance, compliance, operational structure, business documentation, fundraising readiness and cross-border growth.
Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd is not a law firm, chambers or regulated legal practice.
We are not authorised by the Bar Standards Board, Solicitors Regulation Authority or any equivalent foreign legal regulator.
We do not provide reserved legal services and do not conduct litigation, exercise rights of audience, carry out probate work, administer oaths, undertake reserved instrument activities or provide notarial services.
Where a matter requires regulated legal services, clients must instruct an appropriately authorised lawyer or regulated firm under a separate engagement.
Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 14813167.
Registered office:
3rd Floor
45 Albemarle Street
Mayfair
London
W1S 4JL
United Kingdom
Our New York and San Francisco addresses are used for meetings, correspondence and business development only. They are not regulated offices and do not create a legal practice in those jurisdictions.
Our services may include:
- commercial strategy;
- business structuring;
- governance and risk support;
- compliance project support;
- market-entry planning;
- fundraising readiness;
- investor materials;
- operational documentation;
- commercial negotiation support;
- transaction coordination;
- business research;
- cross-border project management; and
- introductions to independent professional advisers.
We do not advise on the law of any jurisdiction unless this is expressly permitted and agreed in writing.
We do not hold client money.
We do not act as a solicitor, barrister, attorney, advocate, notary or regulated legal representative.
Where we introduce a client to a lawyer, accountant, broker, consultant or other professional adviser, that adviser acts independently. Their services are governed by their own engagement terms.
These terms govern all work carried out by Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.
- Scope of services
1.1 We provide commercial advisory and consultancy services.
1.2 The precise scope of each engagement will be set out in writing.
1.3 Our work is limited to the agreed scope.
1.4 We may refuse work that falls outside our business model or requires regulatory authorisation.
1.5 We do not provide reserved legal services.
1.6 We do not conduct litigation or represent clients before courts, tribunals or regulators.
1.7 We do not accept service of legal proceedings on behalf of clients.
1.8 We do not provide tax, investment, accounting or immigration advice unless expressly agreed and lawfully permitted.
1.9 Clients remain responsible for obtaining independent regulated advice where required.
- Client responsibilities
2.1 You must provide complete, accurate and timely information.
2.2 You must notify us of any material change affecting the engagement.
2.3 We may rely on information supplied by you unless we know it is inaccurate.
2.4 You remain responsible for commercial decisions taken using our work.
2.5 You must not use our work for any unlawful purpose.
- Fees
3.1 Fees will be agreed in writing.
3.2 Fees may be fixed, hourly, milestone-based or otherwise agreed.
3.3 We may request payment in advance.
3.4 We may issue interim invoices.
3.5 Invoices are payable within the period stated.
3.6 We may pause work where payment is overdue.
3.7 You are responsible for agreed third-party costs.
- Confidentiality
4.1 We will keep your confidential information confidential.
4.2 We may disclose information where:
- required by law;
- required by a regulator or public authority;
- necessary to perform the engagement;
- necessary to protect our legal rights; or
- authorised by you.
4.3 These obligations continue after the engagement ends.
- Legal professional privilege
5.1 Communications with Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd may not attract legal professional privilege.
5.2 You should instruct a regulated lawyer where privilege is important.
5.3 Confidentiality and legal professional privilege are not the same.
- Data protection
6.1 We process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection law.
6.2 Further information appears in our Privacy Policy.
6.3 You must ensure that any personal data supplied to us has been collected lawfully.
- Independent advisers
7.1 We may introduce independent advisers.
7.2 Those advisers act under separate terms.
7.3 We are not responsible for their advice, conduct or fees.
7.4 No introduction creates a partnership, agency or joint venture.
- Conflicts
8.1 We may decline work where an actual or potential conflict exists.
8.2 We may act for other clients in the same sector where no conflict prevents us from doing so.
8.3 Information belonging to one client will not be disclosed to another without permission or lawful authority.
- Insurance and client money
9.1 Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd is not covered by the regulatory insurance arrangements applying to authorised law firms or barristers’ chambers.
9.2 Any insurance maintained by us is subject to its own terms, exclusions and limits.
9.3 We do not hold client money.
9.4 Clients are not protected by the SRA Compensation Fund, Bar Mutual arrangements or any equivalent legal-services compensation scheme.
- Intellectual property
10.1 We retain ownership of our templates, methods, know-how and pre-existing materials.
10.2 Unless agreed otherwise, you may use deliverables for your internal business purposes.
10.3 You may not resell, publish or commercially exploit our work without written permission.
- Reliance
11.1 Our work is prepared for the client and purpose stated.
11.2 No third party may rely on it without our written consent.
11.3 Advice may become outdated due to changes in law, regulation, markets or facts.
11.4 We are not required to update completed work unless separately instructed.
- Limitation of liability
12.1 Our liability will be limited to the amount stated in the engagement letter.
12.2 Where no amount is stated, our aggregate liability will not exceed the fees paid for the relevant engagement.
12.3 We are not liable for:
- indirect loss;
- loss of profit;
- loss of opportunity;
- loss of anticipated savings;
- reputational loss; or
- losses caused by inaccurate or incomplete client information.
12.4 Nothing excludes liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
- Termination
13.1 Either party may terminate an engagement by written notice.
13.2 We may terminate immediately where:
- fees remain unpaid;
- you provide misleading information;
- continuing would be unlawful;
- a conflict arises;
- trust has broken down; or
- the work requires authorisation we do not hold.
13.3 Fees and expenses incurred before termination remain payable.
- Complaints
14.1 Complaints should be sent to:
Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd
3rd Floor
45 Albemarle Street
Mayfair
London
W1S 4JL
United Kingdom
14.2 We will review complaints internally.
14.3 As we are not a regulated law firm, complaints may not fall within the jurisdiction of the Legal Ombudsman or a professional legal regulator.
14.4 This does not affect any legal rights you may have.
- Governing law
15.1 These terms are governed by English law.
15.2 The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.
- General
16.1 These terms and the engagement letter form the entire agreement.
16.2 Changes must be agreed in writing.
16.3 If any provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue.
16.4 No third party has rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
16.5 Delay in enforcing a right does not waive that right.
By instructing Westminster, Bharuya & Partners Ltd, you confirm that you have read and accepted these terms.