Webinar: The Top 5 Legal Risks Facing SME Business Leaders in 2025 by OrbitalX Webinars

About This Webinar

Despite avoiding recession, slow economic growth is creating significant legal risks for UK SMEs. A 2024 YouGov survey revealed that failing to manage legal issues costs SMEs £13.6 billion annually. Take late payments: last year alone, 50,000 businesses closed due to customers paying late, with 56 million hours of productivity lost.

In this webinar, we'll share the top five legal risks we've identified across the 100+ SMEs where our fractional General Counsel work—and how they're helping mitigate them:

- Liquidity risk (customers not paying)
- Supply chain & operations (suppliers not delivering)
- Demand & commercial performance (contracts stalling)
- People and leadership (employee issues)
- Governance and alignment (leadership disputes)

We'll also address why legal issues get neglected, including the communication barriers that concern 96% of SME leaders surveyed.

Webinar Length: 45 minutes

Agenda

How UK SMEs are (or aren't) managing rising legal risks
The top five legal risks clearly outlined to help you avoid surprises
Practical legal solutions available to your business

Nathalie Romain

Fractional General Counsel (GC), The Legal Director

With over 20 years of in-house experience across various sectors, Nathalie has worked in large FTSE-listed multinationals and smaller businesses, including as sole legal counsel. As a partner at a major UK & US law firm, she built a successful flexible resource service and led a high-performing team of in-house lawyers. She has also worked fractionally for clients in retail, manufacturing, engineering, and financial services.

Carrie-Jo Baker

Fractional CFO, CFO Centre UK

Carrie is a highly motivated CFO with over 20 years' experience working for listed, regulated, PE-backed and privately owned companies across Financial Services, Professional Services, SaaS and FinTech. She has hands-on experience supporting businesses with strategic and operational planning, and executing transformational change to improve decision-making, enhance margins and drive growth or exit opportunities.

Sarah Clark

CRO, The Legal Director

Sarah Clark is a seasoned legal and business leader with extensive experience driving transformation, governance, and growth across regulated industries. Currently Chief Revenue Officer at The Legal Director, she has held senior roles including Group Legal Director at First Central and General Counsel at DF Capital. A former criminal barrister and accredited mediator, Sarah is recognised for her expertise in strategic risk management, ESG, and ethical leadership. Named an inaugural O-Lister 2024 by O Shaped Lawyer, she combines legal insight with commercial acumen to help organisations scale effectively and navigate complex regulatory landscapes.

Kirstie Penk

COO and Co-Owner, The Legal Director

Kirstie Penk is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner of The Legal Director, a leading consultancy providing in-house legal expertise to high-growth businesses on a flexible, part-time basis. With over 15 years at the helm, she has been pivotal in shaping the firm’s commercial, pragmatic approach to delivering regulated legal support as part of clients’ leadership teams. Previously VP of Legal and HR at Madge Limited and Legal Counsel at Madge Networks, Kirstie brings extensive experience in legal strategy, operations, and governance, helping businesses achieve growth through practical, business-focused legal solutions.