Effective written communications for in-house counsel: how to choose the medium, present advice clearly, tailor to recipients, and avoid risks around over-copying, confidentiality and legal professional privilege
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Practice notes
Across the organisation, legal guidance is commonly conveyed in writing, particularly within hybrid, rapid-working settings where written channels serve as the principal means. Weak communication may cause confusion, delays, or even create exposure to legal risk. Crisp, succinct and intentional writing fosters trust and makes it more probable that your guidance will be followed and acted upon accordingly. This Practice Note offers advice on communicating effectively in writing, with hands-on pointers on structure and the most suitable ways to send communications successfully.
Choosing the right method of written communication
A range of written channels is open to us, such as emails, instant messages, reports, briefing notes, slide decks, spreadsheets, too. Although each of these has a role, the predominant written format used is email. It is simple, it is direct, you can file it, and copy multiple recipients easily. For lawyers, who are task- and output-focused, it satisfies many practical requirements at once. Yet whenever you draft an email, you should pause and consider: ‘is this the most effective route to convey my message?’ right now. Do this not only when starting an email thread, but also when you find yourself midway through an existing chain initiated...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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