In-House Legal
Expertise, Crafted for
the Drinks Industry

Distilling 20 years of business law expertise
into in-house legal support for whisky distilleries,
drinks brands and those in the alcohol industry.

Industry Expertise
Trusted Advice
In-depth Partnership
Cost Certainty

Legal Counsel That Knows Your Industry

Whether you’re scaling a craft distillery, managing an established brand, navigating distribution deals, or preparing for investment, the legal landscape in the alcohol industry is uniquely demanding, and requires counsel that truly knows it.

Red Letter Law brings deep, hands-on experience advising whisky distilleries, drinks brands and cask investment companies delivering senior in-house legal counsel on a flexible, retained basis. A trusted adviser who knows your business, anticipates your needs, and provides the strategic support of a full-time General Counsel, without the overhead.

Big Firm Expertise.
One Trusted Adviser.

Red Letter Law was founded in 2018 by Rona Dennison-Sharp, a corporate lawyer with over 20 years’ experience across two of Scotland’s leading law firms and several in-house roles. With deep expertise advising whisky distilleries, spirits brands and drinks businesses, Rona brings a level of industry knowledge that generalist firms simply can’t match.

As your Fractional General Counsel, you will receive:

  • Drinks industry expertise from day one
  • Senior legal support on a retained basis, with no surprise fees
  • Always Rona — not a junior associate you’ve never met

“Red Letter Law were recommended to us to help with our seed fund round and from the very start, Rona had a great grasp of what we were trying to achieve and how we wanted to do it. Everything happened smoothly and efficiently and nothing was too much to ask even with investors in various time zones”

Dane Ralston
Managing Director, iOpt Assets

"Following advice from a contact who is heavily involved in M&A, we appointed Rona from Red Letter Law. It was clear from day one that Rona was an expert in her field with thorough attention to detail and responsiveness to our needs. Furthermore, when the banks and other solicitors seemed to throw obstacles in the way at the eleventh hour, Rona managed to get us over the line on time. I can highly recommend."

Martin Heneaghan
Managing Director, CSM Facilities Management

“The quality of advice and service provided by Red Letter Law has been outstanding. The responsiveness and turnaround speed have made Red Letter Law an invaluable asset to our business. We have complete confidence that all areas are covered, with a transparent fee structure that give us clarity and control over budgeting and cash flow – no surprises. Rona is exceptionally knowledgeable, approachable, and proactive. Whenever a new matter arises, we know we can rely on her for timely, practical support as a trusted member of our team.”

Esther Binnie
Group Finance Director, Innis & Gunn

"When our firm was set up in 2017, I had very limited experience of the legal complexities and ramifications of an LLP. Rona’s knowledge and manner were invaluable during this period and her ability to understand and articulate our needs in our LLP agreement were excellent.”

Jon Bowes
CEO, Lockhart Capital Management LLP

“Rona was an invaluable resource to us at Glen Grant and Campari UK. She is an excellent lawyer and a drinks sector expert. She is commercially-minded and speaks plain English, not legal jargon. Above all, she is a pleasure to deal with.”

Pietro Mattioni
Former Managing Director, Campari UK

FAQ

Red Letter Law’s Fractional General Counsel service is designed for drinks businesses; from craft distilleries and independent spirits brands to cask investment companies; who need senior legal support without the cost of a full-time hire.

A Fractional GC only needs one engagement letter and wont over-run on fees! A Fractional GC works on a monthly retainer-basis, giving you certainty of cost and gives you the continuity of one person who gets to know your team and your business.

We can agree a monthly retainer tailored to your approximate time requirements, be that two days per week, two days per month or somewhere in between. This can be on a fixed term or ongoing basis.

We can do both! Ideally we would spend some time with you on site, either regularly or occasionally, so as to become fully part of your team.

Contact Us

Every drinks business is different, and so is the legal support it needs. Get in touch to arrange a no-obligation conversation with Rona and find out how a Fractional General Counsel could work for your business.

Red Letter Law
The Stamp Office
10-14 Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3EG
T: 07712 052 834

Contact Information

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Commercial Law
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Project Management of Transactions
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