Defence and Security Legal Advisors
Protect the bid, contract and delivery plan before legal risk becomes operational risk.
Specialist legal advice from Proelium Law LLP for defence manufacturers, aerospace businesses, security companies and government contractors across the United Kingdom. Based in London and Hereford, we advise on procurement, contracts, export controls, regulatory compliance and complex legal risks.
Legal Support Across the Defence and Security Supply Chain
Defence contracts and security agreements carry procurement obligations, security requirements, export-control restrictions and flow-down clauses that rarely appear in standard commercial agreements. Geopolitical pressures, sanctions regimes and the Procurement Act 2023 add further complexity for businesses operating in the defence industry.
Proelium Law’s defence and procurement lawyers advise prime contractors, defence manufacturers, specialist SMEs and security businesses across the UK defence and security supply chain.
Our legal advisors bring legal, technical and operational perspective informed by direct experience of defence and national-security matters, counterintelligence work and high-risk environments.
Core Legal Services
Defence Procurement, Government Contracts & Commercial Law
Government Contracting
Specialist support from a procurement solicitor for businesses bidding for and managing government contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence and public sector bodies, covering public procurement processes, defence procurement law and international trade obligations from initial tender through to dispute resolution.
- Tender review, bid-stage assessment and Ministry of Defence standard terms including DEFCON conditions
- Single Source Contract Regulations and Qualifying Defence Contract obligations
- Procurement challenges, contract-award disputes and framework agreement advice
Contract Negotiations and Review
Drafting, negotiating and reviewing defence and security contracts across the supply chain, from prime-contractor terms to subcontracts and collaboration agreements.
- Contract negotiations and review at every stage of the procurement cycle
- Flow-down clauses, liability caps, indemnities and termination rights
- Joint ventures, consortium arrangements, subcontracting and change control
Intellectual Property and Technical Data
Protecting the technical knowledge that gives defence and security businesses their competitive edge, including ownership, licensing and confidentiality within contracts.
- Ownership and licensing of background and newly created intellectual property
- Technical-data rights, confidentiality obligations and information-sharing restrictions
- Protection of sensitive know-how, proprietary processes and technology-development arrangements
Export Controls & International Trade
Export Control Compliance
Legal advice on the contractual and operational dimensions of export-control obligations, including regulatory compliance risk and sanctions exposure.
- Classification, licensing, end-use and destination requirements for controlled goods and technology
- Export-control obligations embedded within supply contracts
- Sanctions regimes and their interaction with delivery, subcontracting and international collaboration
Export Licensing for Sensitive Equipment
Advice from an export licensing solicitor on licensing requirements for the export of military, controlled and sensitive equipment, including the contractual obligations that attach to licences.
- Licence applications, conditions and end-use undertakings
- Contractual support for shipments to conflict-affected or sanctioned locations
- Risks affecting delivery timelines and international collaboration agreements
Dual-Use Goods
Legal support for businesses manufacturing, supplying or exporting goods, software or technology with both civilian and military applications.
- Dual-use classification, licensing and end-use restrictions
- Export-control obligations and sanctions compliance for dual-use items
- Contractual risk management for dual-use supply chains
Security, International Operations & Legal Risk
Common Security and Defence Policy
Advice on CSDP obligations and the international legal frameworks that apply to businesses operating within or alongside EU and NATO defence and security structures.
- Common Security and Defence Policy obligations and related international frameworks
- Multi-jurisdictional compliance requirements for cross-border defence operations
- Legal risk management for businesses operating under international security agreements
Employment Obligations
Legal advice on employment obligations for defence and security businesses, including personnel deployed to high-risk or conflict-affected environments.
- Duty of care obligations for staff in high-risk jurisdictions and conflict zones
- Employment contracts, terms and conditions for specialist and operational personnel
- Personnel legal risk, vetting obligations and security clearance considerations
International and Multi-Jurisdictional Law
Legal support for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions, where defence, security and commercial obligations intersect with international law.
- Facility security clearance (List X), security clearance processes and classified environment obligations
- Cross-border legal and regulatory considerations affecting overseas defence and security operations
- Support in navigating international laws, multi-jurisdictional compliance and overseas operational requirements
Legal Support When It Matters Most
Many clients come to us at a specific moment: a tender is due, a contract has arrived, an export is planned or a compliance issue has surfaced.
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| A tender is due and the terms look unworkable | Review of compliance, liability and delivery obligations before submission |
| A prime has sent flow-down clauses you have not seen before | Analysis of what you are being asked to accept and what can be negotiated |
| Controlled goods, software or technical data need to move internationally | Export-control and contractual risk review before shipment or disclosure |
| A contract change, audit or delivery dispute has emerged | Practical legal support to protect your position |
| Staff are being deployed to a high-risk or conflict-affected location | Advice on duty of care, employment obligations and operational legal risk |
| You are entering the UK defence supply chain for the first time | Guidance on procurement, security, contractual and regulatory expectations |
| Your business is being acquired or you are investing in a sensitive-sector company | Advice on National Security and Investment Act 2021 notification obligations and transaction risk |
Who We Advise
Proelium Law advises defence manufacturers, private security companies, government contractors, intelligence organisations and exporters of dual-use goods.
Our legal advisors combine sector expertise with direct experience of defence, national security and complex operational environments, providing practical advice on procurement, contracts, export controls and operational risk.
Defence Manufacturing
Legal advice for defence manufacturers and engineering businesses across the UK supply chain, covering procurement, supply contracts, technical data, IP protection and export controls.
Government and Defence Contractors
Support for prime contractors and supply-chain suppliers on tender review, framework agreements, DEFCON conditions, flow-down clauses, Single Source Contract Regulations and contract compliance.
Companies Exporting Dual-Use Goods
Advice for businesses manufacturing, supplying or exporting goods, software or technology with civilian and military applications, including export licensing, sanctions compliance and dual-use classification.
Private Security Companies
Commercial contracts, operating requirements, duty of care, employment obligations and international legal risk for private security businesses operating in the UK and overseas.
Executive Protection Agencies
Legal support for executive protection and close-protection businesses on contracts, personnel deployment, duty of care obligations and operational legal risk in high-risk jurisdictions.
Risk Management Companies
Operational legal risk, data handling, surveillance, security compliance and cross-border issues for risk management businesses operating domestically and internationally.
Intelligence Organisations
Legal advice for intelligence and investigations organisations on data, surveillance, OSINT, security obligations, contractual risk and multi-jurisdictional compliance.
Security Agencies
Support for security agencies on commercial contracts, security licensing, personnel vetting, facility security clearance (List X), employment and regulatory compliance.
Why Proelium Law
Specialist, not generalist
Proelium Law is an independent law firm focused on the defence and security sector: aerospace and defence, defence manufacturing, private security and government contracting. Our defence and security lawyers bring specialist sector expertise that general commercial law firms cannot replicate.
Operational as well as legal perspective
Proelium Law combines legal expertise with first-hand experience in defence, national security, counterintelligence and high-risk environments. That background directly informs practical advice for businesses where legal and operational risk overlap.
Full scope, single point of contact
Procurement, contracts, export controls, IP, security compliance, employment and operational risk: clients do not need to go to separate firms for different aspects of the same engagement.
Practical next steps, not legal analysis alone
The aim is to give clients a workable position and a clear course of action, not a list of risks without resolution.
Transparent pricing
We discuss and agree on fee arrangements at the outset, with full transparency on scope and cost. Further information is available on our Fees page.
How It Works
1. Tell Us What You Are Dealing With
Contact us with your tender, contract, export-control question, operational issue or compliance concern. We will identify the relevant legal issue and confirm the appropriate next step.
2. Receive Focused Legal Advice
We review the commercial, regulatory and operational context and provide practical advice. Where the issue is urgent, we will say so and respond accordingly.
3. Ongoing Support Where Needed
For continuing procurement, contract, compliance or operational requirements, we can provide ongoing legal support. Fee arrangements are agreed transparently at the outset.
Speak to Proelium Law
Before you submit the bid, sign the contract or move controlled goods, ensure you understand the legal risk.
Speak to a defence procurement lawyer or legal advisor about your matter today.
To learn more about our legal services in defence and security, kindly reach out by completing the form. Alternatively, you can contact our office at +44 (0) 20 3875 7422 or leave us a message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We can review tender documentation, supply contracts, framework agreements and subcontracts before submission or signature. Our review focuses on compliance obligations, liability terms, flow-down clauses and delivery risk, identifying issues while there is still time to negotiate or seek clarification.
Yes. Flow-down obligations can cover security, quality, audit, reporting, intellectual property, export controls and delivery requirements. We can assess what you are being asked to accept, what is negotiable and where the risk lies for your business.
Yes. If controlled goods, dual-use items, software or technical data need to move and there is uncertainty about licensing, end-use or contractual obligations, we can advise on the legal and contractual position before goods or information are transferred.
Yes. We advise defence and security businesses on facility security clearance (List X) obligations, security clearance processes and the classified environment requirements that apply within defence contracts. This includes advice on what is required, how obligations are structured within supply agreements and the legal implications of changes to clearance status.
For tender or contract reviews, send us the relevant documentation. For export-control queries, share details of the goods, destination, end-user and any existing contractual obligations. For operational matters, a brief description of the situation and the jurisdiction involved is a good starting point. We will confirm what else we need after the initial contact.
Yes. Businesses entering the UK defence sector for the first time face procurement, security, contractual and regulatory compliance requirements that differ significantly from standard commercial practice. We provide independent legal advice to help new entrants understand what is expected, identify the risks early and engage with the supply chain on the right terms.