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Initial consultations typically run between 45 and 60 minutes. The purpose of this first meeting is not to pitch a service — it is to understand your business, your challenges, and your objectives well enough to determine whether Keystone is genuinely the right firm to help you. We will ask more questions than we answer, and we will always give you our honest assessment.

Keystone engagements are scoped and priced individually, based on the nature of the work, the time commitment required, and the value at stake. We typically work on a fixed-fee basis for defined project engagements, and on a retainer basis for ongoing advisory relationships. We do not charge by the hour for strategic work — we prefer fixed fees that align our incentives with yours. We will always provide a clear written scope and fee proposal before any work commences.

Yes. While our primary base is Sydney, Keystone's consultants regularly travel to work with clients across Australia. We have completed significant engagements in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and regional centres. For clients where on-site presence is required but travel is impractical, we design hybrid engagement models that combine periodic site visits with structured remote advisory. We do not believe geography should be a barrier to accessing quality counsel.

Confidentiality is foundational to everything we do. Every engagement commences with the execution of a formal Non-Disclosure Agreement. All members of the Keystone team — including support staff — are bound by strict contractual confidentiality obligations. We do not use client names or business details in any marketing or business development materials without express written consent. In 25 years of practice, we have never had a confidentiality breach.

Keystone's clients range from privately-owned businesses with revenues of $10 million to ASX-listed corporations with revenues exceeding $500 million. The common thread is not size — it is that clients are making decisions of genuine consequence and want senior advisory support. Our minimum engagement threshold is typically $20,000, reflecting the cost of the level of expertise we bring to every engagement. We are not the right firm for start-ups or very early-stage businesses.

Both. Approximately 40% of Keystone's revenue comes from ongoing advisory retainers — typically monthly arrangements where a principal consultant serves as a trusted advisor to a board, executive team, or business owner on an ongoing basis. This model is particularly valued by business owners who want access to senior strategic counsel without the cost of a full-time executive appointment. Retainer engagements are structured around your needs and can be scaled up or down as circumstances change.