Lizzie Cook

My Story:

After six years in a large City law firm, I spent over a decade in Head of Legal and General Counsel roles in-house at UK and international retail brands. More recently, I’ve specialised in technology law, supporting Microsoft Partners as retained counsel in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment. Along the way, I’ve learned that great legal support isn’t just about the “right answer” — it’s about finding the workable one, balancing risk with commercial reality.

I believe the best legal advice starts with properly understanding the business behind it — how it makes money, what it’s trying to achieve, and where the real pinch-points are. When you can see the bigger picture, you can spot risk early, keep things moving, and help teams make confident decisions.

Key Expertise:

Commercial contracts and solutions, Technology and SaaS, Licensing and IP, Multi-level distribution, Outsourcing and supplier arrangements, Customer terms and go-to-market support, Data Protection and Information Governance, In-house legal strategy and day-to-day advisory.

How I Help Clients:

I work as an extension to my clients’ teams — practical, responsive and solutions-focused. I build relationships quickly, translate legal risk into clear options, and help businesses move forward at pace, whether that’s negotiating key customer and supplier contracts, supporting product and partnership launches, or putting the right frameworks in place so growth doesn’t create unnecessary friction later on.

Because I’ve spent so long in-house, I’m used to juggling priorities, working with non-legal stakeholders, and landing advice in a way that supports real-world decision-making — commercially grounded, proportionate, and easy to action.

Why Mercurae:

I’m dedicated to a different approach to legal services: ongoing support that integrates seamlessly into day-to-day operations, with certainty on costs, efficiency and value. And using technology to deliver legal work in an efficient, collaborative way.  That’s exactly what Mercurae is built for — long-term partnerships, embedded support, and a genuinely commercial mindset that helps clients make the best decisions for their business.

Outside Work:

Life is a joyful logistical adventure: balancing work with four children and my husband’s role in the UK Foreign Office. Diplomatic life has so far included lively (and never dull) postings in Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Ghana and Peru — which has made us all pretty good at adapting quickly and finding the best coffee in any new city.