Professional Services Retainer Agreement Template for Australia

Create a bespoke document in minutes,  or upload and review your own.

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5

Let's create your Professional Services Retainer Agreement

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get your first 2 documents free

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Key Requirements PROMPT example:

Professional Services Retainer Agreement

"I need a Professional Services Retainer Agreement for my IT consulting firm to provide ongoing cybersecurity services to enterprise clients in Australia, with specific provisions for data protection and critical incident response times."

Document background
The Professional Services Retainer Agreement is designed for businesses in Australia seeking to establish long-term professional service arrangements with regular, predictable service delivery and fee structures. This agreement type is particularly useful when a client requires ongoing access to professional expertise or services on a regular basis, rather than engaging providers for one-off projects. The document addresses key commercial and legal requirements under Australian law, including service scope, performance standards, payment terms, and risk allocation. It's commonly used by consulting firms, legal practices, accounting firms, and other professional service providers who offer ongoing support or advisory services to their clients. The retainer model provides benefits such as priority access to services, predictable costs, and established service standards.
Suggested Sections

1. Parties: Identifies the service provider and client, including ABN/ACN and registered addresses

2. Background: Contextual information about the parties' relationship and purpose of the agreement

3. Definitions and Interpretation: Defines key terms and establishes rules for interpreting the agreement

4. Term and Appointment: Duration of the retainer and appointment of the service provider

5. Services: Description of core services covered under the retainer arrangement

6. Service Provider's Obligations: Key responsibilities and service standards of the provider

7. Client's Obligations: Client's responsibilities including provision of information and access

8. Fees and Payment Terms: Retainer fee structure, payment schedule, and additional charges

9. Personnel and Resources: Requirements for personnel delivering services and resource allocation

10. Intellectual Property: Ownership and usage rights of IP created during service delivery

11. Confidentiality: Protection and handling of confidential information

12. Privacy: Compliance with privacy laws and data handling requirements

13. Liability and Indemnity: Risk allocation between parties and liability limitations

14. Insurance: Required insurance coverage and minimum levels

15. Termination: Grounds for termination and consequences

16. Dispute Resolution: Process for resolving disputes between parties

17. General Provisions: Standard boilerplate clauses including notices, assignment, and governing law

Optional Sections

1. Service Levels: Specific performance metrics and service levels, used when quantifiable service standards are required

2. Change Control: Process for varying services or requirements, needed for complex or long-term engagements

3. Business Continuity: Disaster recovery and business continuity requirements, important for critical services

4. Compliance with Standards: Industry-specific standards or certifications, required for regulated industries

5. Security Requirements: Specific security protocols and requirements, necessary for services involving sensitive data

6. Transition Services: Provisions for handover at start or end of services, important for complex service arrangements

7. Anti-Bribery and Corruption: Compliance with anti-corruption laws, important for government or high-risk contracts

8. Force Majeure: Provisions for unforeseen circumstances, particularly relevant post-COVID

Suggested Schedules

1. Schedule 1 - Services Description: Detailed description of services, including scope and exclusions

2. Schedule 2 - Fee Schedule: Detailed breakdown of retainer fees, rates for additional services, and payment terms

3. Schedule 3 - Service Levels: Specific performance metrics, reporting requirements, and remedies

4. Schedule 4 - Key Personnel: Details of key team members and their roles

5. Schedule 5 - Approved Subcontractors: List of pre-approved subcontractors if applicable

6. Schedule 6 - Client Policies: Relevant client policies the service provider must comply with

7. Appendix A - Change Request Form: Template for requesting and documenting changes to services

8. Appendix B - Service Report Template: Standard format for service delivery reporting

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Relevant legal definitions
Clauses
Relevant Industries

Professional Services

Consulting

Information Technology

Legal Services

Accounting and Financial Services

Marketing and Advertising

Engineering

Management Consulting

Business Advisory

Healthcare Consulting

Environmental Consulting

Human Resources

Relevant Teams

Legal

Procurement

Finance

Operations

Commercial

Risk and Compliance

Business Development

Professional Services

Account Management

Project Management

Relevant Roles

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

General Counsel

Legal Counsel

Procurement Manager

Contract Manager

Commercial Manager

Operations Director

Business Development Manager

Managing Partner

Professional Services Director

Account Manager

Project Manager

Risk Manager

Compliance Officer

Finance Director

Industries
Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Pro Bono Retainer Agreement

An Australian legal agreement establishing the terms and conditions for providing pro bono legal services between a legal service provider and client.

find out more

General Counsel Retainer Agreement

An Australian legal agreement establishing the terms and conditions for ongoing general counsel services between a legal practitioner and a business entity.

find out more

Marketing Retainer Contract

An Australian-compliant agreement governing ongoing marketing services between a service provider and client, establishing terms, scope, and obligations.

find out more

Retainer Form

An Australian-law governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional services provision under a retainer arrangement.

find out more

Contractor Retainer Agreement

An Australian legal agreement establishing an ongoing retainer arrangement between a business and an independent contractor, compliant with Australian federal and state legislation.

find out more

Business Retainer Agreement

An Australian-law governed agreement establishing ongoing professional services relationship between provider and client, including service terms and retainer fee arrangements.

find out more

Mediation Retainer Agreement

An Australian-compliant agreement establishing the terms of engagement between a mediator and client(s) for mediation services.

find out more

Design Retainer Contract

An Australian law-governed contract establishing terms for ongoing design services provided under a retainer arrangement.

find out more

Limited Retainer Agreement

An Australian-compliant agreement defining a limited-scope legal services engagement between a legal practitioner and client, with specific inclusions and exclusions.

find out more

Hourly Retainer Agreement

An Australian-governed agreement establishing an hourly-based retainer arrangement for professional services with defined scope and payment terms.

find out more

Expert Retainer Agreement

An Australian-compliant agreement establishing terms for engaging expert consultants, including service scope, fees, and professional obligations.

find out more

Flat Fee Retainer Agreement

Australian Flat Fee Retainer Agreement template for establishing fixed-fee professional service arrangements, compliant with Australian federal and state regulations.

find out more

Retainer Letter

An Australian legal document establishing the terms of engagement between a law firm and client, outlining services, fees, and mutual obligations under Australian law.

find out more

Accounting Retainer Agreement

An Australian-law agreement establishing terms for ongoing accounting services between an accounting firm and client on a retainer basis.

find out more

Professional Services Retainer Agreement

An Australian-law governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional services delivery under a retainer arrangement.

find out more

Monthly Retainer Contract

An Australian-compliant contract establishing terms for ongoing monthly professional services with regular retainer payments.

find out more

Freelance Retainer Contract

An Australian contract establishing a retainer arrangement between a client and freelancer, defining ongoing services, payment terms, and mutual obligations.

find out more

Retainer Fee Agreement

An Australian-law governed agreement establishing recurring payment terms for ongoing professional services access.

find out more

Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal

By providing your email address you are consenting to our Privacy Notice.
Thank you for downloading our whitepaper. This should arrive in your inbox shortly. In the meantime, why not jump straight to a section that interests you here: https://www.genieai.co/our-research
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security

You retain IP ownership of your documents

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

Innovation in privacy:

Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London

Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts

Want to know more?

Visit our Trust Centre for more details and real-time security updates.