Legal Studio · YFE Studios
Launching Q2 2026 — Waitlist Open
Legal that serves the mission.
Justice-centred governance, contract systems, and legal clarity for organisations, growing businesses, and individual creatives doing real work.
3
Client Tiers
6+
Service Areas
Q2
2026 Launch
KES
Local Pricing
01
Justice-Centred
Legal structures that distribute power equitably — not replicate oppressive defaults.
02
Plain Language First
Every contract written so your whole team can actually understand it.
03
SME & Family Ready
Practical infrastructure scaled to growing businesses and family enterprises.
04
Creative Support
IP protection, freelance contracts, and sole trader frameworks built for creatives.
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Organisations · Governance & Compliance
SMEs & Family Business · Contracts & Structure
Creatives & Individuals · IP & Freelance Legal
Sliding scale pricing available
Legal infrastructure that frees you to do your best work.
3
Client Tiers
6+
Service Areas
∞
Long Partnership
Our Legal Philosophy
Legal infrastructure should
free you to do
your best work.
Most legal systems are designed for protection from — from liability, from exposure, from each other. We design for protection of — your mission, your people, the relationships that make transformation possible. Across organisations, businesses, and individuals alike.
I
Context First
Mission and culture shape structure — not the other way around.
II
Equity by Design
Power distributed fairly, from the start.
III
Accessible Language
If your team can’t read it, it doesn’t work for them.
IV
Built to Evolve
Systems designed to grow as you do.
V
Long Partnership
Ongoing support — not a handover and goodbye.
Legal Studio vs Traditional Legal Services
A different kind of legal partnership
Traditional lawyers give you documents. We give you systems, capacity, and understanding — built for the kind of work you’re doing.
Pricing model
Language
What you receive
Equity lens
Capacity building
Relationship
Geography
Traditional Law Firm
✕Hourly billing, unpredictable costs
✕Technical legal jargon throughout
✕Documents, not systems or understanding
✕Neutral or absent from power analysis
✕Dependency on external counsel continues
✕Transactional, project by project
✕Often western-centric frameworks
YFE Legal Studio
✓Fixed packages + sliding scale
✓Plain language, readable by all
✓Systems, training & embedded capacity
✓Justice-centred from the first conversation
✓You own and can use what we build
✓Long partnership, ongoing support
✓East Africa context, global adaptable
Organisational Services
Six areas of
legal infrastructure
Integrated legal work that runs through your organisation — not a separate function bolted on.
Organisational Governance
Governance structures that distribute power equitably, ensure accountability, and support sustainable decision-making aligned with your values.
Contract Systems
Contract templates, review processes, and agreement frameworks that protect your organisation while maintaining relationship integrity.
Compliance Integration
Integrate legal compliance into daily operations without bureaucratic burden — systems that work for people, not against them.
Legal Entity Design
Choose and establish the right legal structure — nonprofit, social enterprise, cooperative, or hybrid models.
Partnership Agreements
Partnership structures, MOUs, and collaboration agreements that clarify expectations and protect all parties.
Risk Management
Identify legal risks, build mitigation strategies, and create frameworks that protect without paranoia.
Organisational Investment
Packages & Pricing
KES
USD
KES pricing — local context. Toggle for USD at ~KES 130. Sliding scale for smaller organisations discussed in discovery call.
Audit · One-time
Legal Audit
4–6 weeks
KES 300K – 600KUSD 2,300 – 4,600
Full governance structure review, contract audit & 90-day roadmap.
- Full governance structure review
- Contract systems assessment
- Compliance gap analysis
- Risk identification & prioritisation
- Detailed recommendations report
- 90-day implementation roadmap
★ Flagship · 6 Months
Governance Redesign
6-month partnership
KES 900K – 1.5MUSD 6,900 – 11,500
Complete governance transformation with justice-centred frameworks.
- Everything in Legal Audit
- Full governance structure redesign
- Board policies (plain language)
- Power distribution analysis
- Accountability mechanisms design
- 6 months implementation support
Contracts · 3 Months
Contract Systems
3-month engagement
KES 450K – 750KUSD 3,500 – 5,800
Comprehensive contract template library and review processes.
- Contract template library (full set)
- Employment agreements
- Vendor & supplier contracts
- Partnership MOUs
- Contract management training
- 3 months implementation support
Retainer · Monthly
Ongoing Partnership
Min. 6 months
KES 200K/moUSD 1,540/mo
Sustained legal support — unlimited consultations, priority response, quarterly audits.
- Unlimited legal consultations
- Contract review and drafting
- Compliance monitoring
- Board meeting support
- Priority 24hr response
- Quarterly legal audits included
Pricing notes: All figures in KES. USD equivalents at ~KES 130. Sliding scale for smaller organisations discussed in first consultation. Payment structured across engagement.
SME & Family Business
Legal clarity
for growing
businesses
Small and medium businesses and family enterprises deserve the same quality of legal infrastructure as large organisations — sized to their reality, not a stripped-down version of corporate law.
🏗
Build before you need it
Legal problems are expensive. Right-sized infrastructure prevents disputes before they arise.
👪
Family business clarity
Clear shareholder agreements and succession plans protect relationships and the business.
📈
Investor and funder ready
Clean legal structure makes you attractive to investors, lenders, and grant makers.
⚡
Fast, practical, plain language
No jargon. No unnecessary complexity. Legal that your team can actually use.
SME & Family Business Packages
Right-sized
legal infrastructure
KES
USD
Starter · One-time
Business Foundations
Essential legal documents for businesses just getting started or formalising existing operations.
KES 80K – 150KUSD 615 – 1,150
4–6 weeks
- Business registration review & advice
- Standard employment contract template
- Basic supplier/vendor agreement
- Privacy policy & terms of service
- One-hour legal advisory session
- Document review (up to 5 agreements)
★ Most Popular · 8 Weeks
Growth Ready
Comprehensive legal infrastructure for SMEs scaling up, seeking investment, or formalising family business structures.
KES 250K – 450KUSD 1,923 – 3,462
6–8 weeks
- Everything in Business Foundations
- Shareholder / partnership agreement
- Full employment contract suite
- Supplier & client contract templates
- Director duties & governance memo
- IP ownership policies
- Dispute resolution procedures
- 2 advisory sessions included
Family Business · 3 Months
Family Governance
Bespoke legal frameworks for family-owned businesses navigating ownership, succession, and multi-generational planning.
KES 350K – 600KUSD 2,692 – 4,615
3 months
- Family constitution & governance charter
- Shareholder & ownership agreements
- Succession planning framework
- Employment of family members policy
- Dividend & profit distribution policy
- Dispute resolution (family context)
- 3 advisory sessions + review cycle
SME Add-ons
Available standalone or added to any package.
Contract Review Sprint
KES 30K
Review of up to 3 existing agreements with redline and plain-language summary.
Legal Health Check
KES 55K
Rapid 2-week audit of your business’s legal posture with prioritised action list.
HR Policy Bundle
KES 80K
Staff handbook, leave policy, disciplinary process, and grievance procedure.
Creatives & Individuals
Legal that respects
your creative work
Freelancers, independent creatives, sole traders, and individuals deserve clear, affordable legal protection — not watered-down templates from the internet.
✏
Freelance & consulting contracts
Client agreements that protect your work, time, and payment.
🔐
Intellectual property protection
Own what you create. Licence it on your terms.
🤝
Collaboration agreements
Work with others without leaving ownership ambiguous.
💼
Sole trader legal setup
Structure your practice correctly from the start.
Creative & Individual Packages
Protect your
creative practice
KES
USD
Essentials · 2 Weeks
Creative Essentials
Core legal documents every freelancer and creative professional needs to work safely and get paid fairly.
KES 25K – 45KUSD 192 – 346
1–2 weeks
- Freelance client agreement template
- Invoice terms & payment conditions
- IP ownership & licensing clause
- NDA template (creative context)
- 30-minute advisory session
- Plain-language guide to using each document
IP Protection · 4 Weeks
IP & Ownership
Protect and licence your intellectual property — from artwork and writing to music, software, and brand assets.
KES 60K – 110KUSD 462 – 846
3–4 weeks
- IP audit of existing creative work
- Copyright & licensing agreement suite
- Collaboration IP split agreement
- Work-for-hire vs. licensing framework
- Brand & trademark guidance memo
- Portfolio protection strategy
- 2 advisory sessions
Practice Setup · 6 Weeks
Independent Practice
Full legal setup for freelancers and sole traders building a sustainable independent practice.
KES 100K – 180KUSD 769 – 1,385
4–6 weeks
- Everything in Creative Essentials
- Business structure advice & registration
- Client onboarding contract suite
- Subcontractor agreement templates
- IP protection & licensing framework
- Rate-setting & payment terms guide
- 3 advisory sessions
Ongoing · Monthly
Creative Retainer
Monthly legal support for established creatives and freelancers who need a trusted advisor on call.
KES 18K/moUSD 138/mo
Min. 3 months
- 2 contract reviews per month
- Monthly 45-min advisory session
- Priority response (48hr)
- Template updates as law changes
- Email Q&A (unlimited)
- Quarterly practice review
Individual Add-ons
Single Contract Review
KES 12K
Plain-language review of one client agreement with negotiation notes.
NDA Drafting
KES 8K
Non-disclosure agreement tailored to your project or relationship.
Legal Advisory Hour
KES 15K
60-minute session on any legal question with written summary notes.
Voices from the Waitlist
What clients say
“
For the first time in 12 years, I understand every line of our governance documents. That’s not something I expected from a legal engagement. The plain language commitment is real.
“
My family business had informal agreements running everything. Three months later we have a proper shareholder structure, succession plan, and employment policies. It saved us from a crisis that was building for years.
“
I’d been burned twice by clients who didn’t pay and kept using my work. The Creative Essentials package gave me contracts that actually protect me — and the confidence to enforce them.
How It Works
Our five-step process
Every engagement begins with listening — not selling. We move at the pace your context requires.
1
Discovery Call
Free 45-minute consultation. No preparation needed.
2
Landscape Assessment
Audit of your current legal infrastructure.
3
Custom Design
We design your specific engagement roadmap.
4
Build & Implement
Hands-on build alongside your team.
5
Embed & Sustain
Capacity building and ongoing partnership.
Step One
Discovery Call
A free, no-obligation 45-minute conversation. We listen — to your history, challenges, and ambitions. At the end, you’ll know whether we’re the right fit.
- No preparation required from you
- Confidential — nothing leaves the room
- We’ll tell you honestly if we can help
45 minutes · Free · No obligation
Step Two
Landscape Assessment
We conduct a thorough review of your governance documents, contracts, compliance posture, and risk exposure — looking at what’s working, what’s missing, and what needs attention.
- Document and policy review
- Stakeholder interviews
- Compliance gap analysis
- Written assessment report with prioritised findings
2–4 weeks · Included in all packages
Step Three
Custom Design
No two organisations or individuals are the same, so no two engagements are identical. We design your specific roadmap — what to build, in what sequence, and why.
- Priority sequencing based on risk and impact
- Clear deliverables and milestones
- Investment confirmed before we proceed
1 week · Co-designed with you
Step Four
Build & Implement
This is the core work — drafting, facilitating, building — alongside you so you understand every choice we make.
- All documents in plain language, reviewed by you
- Iterative — multiple rounds of feedback
- Regular progress check-ins
2 weeks – 6 months · Package-dependent
Step Five
Embed & Sustain
We don’t hand over documents and disappear. We build your capacity to own, use, and evolve what we’ve built — and stay available as you grow.
- Training sessions for your team or just you
- 90-day post-handover support
- Option to continue as ongoing retainer
Ongoing · Capacity-building focus
Case Study
Governance transformed.
The Challenge
Regional Environmental
Justice Organisation
Justice Organisation
A 15-year-old organisation with outdated bylaws, unclear decision-making authority, board-staff tensions, and compliance gaps threatening their nonprofit status. Deep mission, fragile infrastructure.
The Work
6-Month Governance
Partnership
Partnership
- New bylaws centred on equity and transparency
- Board policy manual (plain language throughout)
- Decision-making authority matrix
- Conflict resolution protocols
- Compliance systems integration
- Full team capacity building programme
0%
Compliance Achieved
0%
Board Satisfaction Increase
0%
Decision Clarity Improvement
Who We Serve
People & organisations
doing real work
We work with those who want legal infrastructure that reinforces — not undermines — what they’re building. Across every scale.
Nonprofits & NGOs
Mission-driven organisations needing governance that supports impact, accountability, and long-term growth.
Social Enterprises
Hybrid organisations balancing social mission with financial sustainability and legal clarity.
SMEs & Growing Businesses
Companies building legal infrastructure before problems emerge — not scrambling after them.
Family Businesses
Family-owned enterprises navigating ownership, succession, and multi-generational planning with care.
Creatives & Freelancers
Artists, writers, consultants, and independent professionals protecting their work and getting paid fairly.
Cooperatives
Member-owned organisations requiring democratic governance and shared ownership frameworks.
Common Questions
Frequently asked.
The things most people want to know before they reach out. More questions? Reach us through the waitlist form.
Do I need to be in Kenya to work with Legal Studio?
No — we work across Africa and beyond. Our KES pricing reflects our primary East African context, but we adapt frameworks to relevant jurisdictions wherever you are. Most work is conducted remotely.
I’m a freelancer — is this too expensive for me?
We’ve designed the Creative tier specifically to be accessible. Creative Essentials starts at KES 25,000 (approx. USD 192), and individual add-ons like a single contract review start at KES 8,000. We also offer a sliding scale discussed openly in your first call.
How is this different from hiring a lawyer?
Traditional legal services give you documents. We give you systems, capacity, and understanding. Every engagement builds your ability to use and maintain what we create together — so you’re not dependent on external counsel for every decision.
What does “justice-centred” mean in practice?
It means we actively interrogate legal structures for who they serve and who they exclude. This shows up in governance design (who holds decision-making authority and why), contract language (who bears risk), and how accountability is distributed.
We’re a family business — is there a package for us?
Yes. The Family Governance package is designed specifically for family-owned businesses navigating ownership, succession, and multi-generational planning. It includes a family constitution, shareholder agreements, and succession framework.
How long does a typical engagement take?
Creative packages run 1–6 weeks. SME packages 4 weeks to 3 months. Organisational packages 4 weeks to 6 months. Retainers are ongoing. All timelines adjust to your capacity and context complexity.
Can we start before the Q2 2026 launch?
Join the waitlist and indicate your package interest. Some waitlist members may begin discovery calls before the formal launch. Priority is given to organisations and individuals with the most urgent legal infrastructure needs.
Join the Legal Studio Waitlist
Be first
when we launch.
We launch Q2 2026. Waitlist members get early access, first-consultation priority, and launch pricing locked before public release.
Early access
Priority consultation
Launch pricing locked
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