Running a business in Kent or the wider South East brings the same challenges every SME owner knows – clients who do not pay, staff issues that escalate, contracts that were never quite right, and not enough hours to deal with any of it properly. What many small businesses in this region have lacked is practical legal support that is straightforward, affordable and actually focused on how businesses operate day to day.
McKenzie Legal & HR has been working with businesses across Kent and the South East from our Broadstairs office since 2017. We know the region, we know the sectors that drive it, and we understand the pressures that come with running an independent business in a competitive local market.
We work with businesses across Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate, Canterbury, Maidstone, Ashford, Folkestone, Dover, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Faversham and throughout East and West Kent and the wider South East. We quote a fixed fee where the scope allows it. Where it does not, such as debt matters that move into negotiation or extended correspondence, we will tell you that upfront and agree how we work before anything starts
Our original office has been open since 2017. Most of our clients never need to visit; we work by phone, video and email. If you need to meet in person, please get in touch, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
64 High Street, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1JT
Kent has a strong and varied SME base – we work with a wide range of sectors but have extensive experience with construction and trades businesses, hospitality and catering operators, care providers, professional services firms and independent retailers. The coastal towns in particular have a high concentration of independent businesses in hospitality, food and drink, and trades, many of whom are operating without proper contracts, outdated terms and conditions, or employment documents that no longer reflect current law.
We are not a traditional law firm, and we do not operate like one. We give you straight advice, tell you what things will cost before we start, and do not charge you for initial conversations that go nowhere. If we cannot help, we will say so and point you in the right direction.
Subcontractor agreements, consultancy contracts, supplier terms, partnership agreements and bespoke commercial contracts. If money or services are changing hands, there should be a properly drafted contract behind it. For trades and construction businesses across Kent in particular, the right contract upfront is almost always cheaper than dealing with a dispute further down the line.
Whether you sell products, deliver services or operate online, your terms and conditions are your first line of protection when something goes wrong. Most SME T&Cs we review are either missing, out of date or copied from somewhere else and not fit for purpose.
A properly drafted letter before action resolves most payment disputes without the need for court. Where it does not, we help you prepare your claim. Initial instructions are at a fixed fee; where matters move into negotiation or extended correspondence, we agree a basis for continuing before we do so.
We draft and review employment contracts, staff handbooks, policies and procedures. Employment law changes regularly, and most small businesses in Kent are operating on documents that no longer reflect current requirements. We also provide guidance when staff situations arise — if something happens with a member of staff and you are not sure where you stand, we can advise on your position and options.
If a contract has broken down or a commercial relationship has gone wrong, we help you understand where you stand and what your realistic options are before you commit to a course of action.
If you want ongoing legal and HR document support rather than one-off help, our monthly support plans start at £495 per month. Most clients who move onto a plan tell us it is the most useful thing they have done for their business.
We quote fees before we start work. For most services – contracts, T&Cs, employment documents, letters before action — that means a fixed fee agreed upfront. For matters where the scope is harder to predict, we will agree on a basis with you before we proceed. Either way, you will not receive a bill for work you did not agree to. If you are interested in ongoing support, details of our monthly plans are on our Support Plans page.
Kent has no shortage of solicitors. Most of them are excellent. What they are not always set up for is the independent business owner who needs a contract turned around quickly, wants an honest view on whether a debt is worth pursuing, or needs their employment documents updated without a large firm’s fees attached to it.
We have been filling that gap in Kent since 2017. Direct, practical advice from someone who understands what running a small business actually involves, without the overhead of a traditional firm
We regularly support businesses in Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate, Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Faversham, Maidstone, Ashford, Folkestone, Dover, Hythe, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Gravesend and throughout East Kent, West Kent and the wider South East.
Not a problem. We work with businesses across England and Wales. If you are based outside the areas listed above, get in touch anyway – geography is rarely a barrier to us helping you.
Call us on 01843 808021, email info@mckenzielegalandhr.co.uk, or use our contact form, and we will come back to you the same day, where possible
No, we charge £50 for a 30-minute or £75 for a 45-minute telephone consultation – this fee is deducted from your first invoice if we are instructed within 7 days of the call.
No. Almost all of our work is done remotely. If you need to meet in person, please get in touch, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Yes. We work across England and Wales. Our Broadstairs office covers this region, but location is not a barrier.
We quote before we start. Most services — contracts, T&Cs, employment documents, letters before action — are at a fixed fee. Where a matter is harder to scope, we agree on a basis with you upfront. Reviews start from £75, contracts from £395, T&Cs from £795, and monthly support plans from £495.
For most standard work, two to five working days from instruction. If something is urgent, tell us, and we will do what we can.
No. McKenzie Legal & HR is an unregulated legal services provider. We are not solicitors, and we are not regulated by the SRA. This allows us to offer more flexible, cost-effective support for the services we provide.
