HiveRisk
HiveRisk is a UK-based compliance consultancy providing independent AML audits, outsourced compliance team functions, counter-fraud, source-of-funds, and COLP/COFA support services to law firms of all sizes, structured around project fees and tiered monthly retainers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPreston, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HiveRisk does
HiveRisk is a UK-based compliance consultancy founded in 2017, registered as HiveRisk Limited in England and Wales (company number 10568011), with its registered office in Preston and operations centred on Manchester. The firm provides specialist risk and compliance services exclusively to the UK legal sector, with its core proposition being expert human consultancy rather than technology platforms—HiveRisk explicitly does not offer proprietary software. Service lines include independent AML audits (Regulation 21), outsourced Compliance Team as a Service, complex source-of-funds investigations, COLP and COFA support, counter-fraud services, rapid regulator readiness, core compliance training, and international financial crime support for global law firms.
The business model is hybrid. Project-based engagements range from £950 to £15,000 per assignment depending on scope, while ongoing compliance support is delivered through a structured 1-2-3 Programme of Diagnostic, Repair, and Maintenance, with tiered monthly retainers at £1,500–£2,500 (Lite), £2,500–£3,500 (Enhanced), and £3,500–£6,500 (Embedded). The firm claims clients can save up to £100,000 annually versus building an in-house compliance function (citing in-house salary burdens reaching £200,000 for a Head of Risk & Compliance, Compliance Manager, and two analysts). Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led: prospective clients book free scoping calls through a CRM booking widget, with engagement ranging from one-off audits to multi-year retainer relationships. Marketing relies heavily on thought leadership via the "What's the Buzz?" podcast, HiveWire Monthly newsletter, YouTube webinars, blog content, and HiveRisk-co-founded industry events (The Lawyers Retreat in Ibiza, The Great Big Legal Offsite).
The firm is bootstrapped and founder-controlled under CEO Kate Burt, supported by Managing Director Justine Westwell and Commercial Director Peter Hibbit, with a team of approximately 19 staff. Named customers span mid-market UK firms (Trethowans, Greenwoods, Aaron & Partners, Vincent's Solicitors) and enterprise accounts (Harrison-Drury, an unnamed Top 10 UK / Top 60 Global firm). Recent strategic moves include the HiveMind Circle community platform launch, expansion into international financial crime support, tiered retainer packaging, and Signature Awards recognition in 2026. The firm operates as a single-vertical UK legal sector specialist with no disclosed external funding and no proprietary technology stack.
HiveRisk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HiveRisk
- Legal name
- HiveRisk Limited
- Website
- https://hiverisk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HiveRisk is a UK-based compliance consultancy providing independent AML audits, outsourced compliance team functions, counter-fraud, source-of-funds, and COLP/COFA support services to law firms of all sizes, structured around project fees and tiered monthly retainers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HiveRisk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Compliance Consulting
- NAICS
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Investigation and Security Services (5616)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Crime, AML/CFT & Sanctions Compliance (BPAHAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fraud Risk & Financial Crime Controls Advisory (BPAKADAL), Risk, Compliance & Internal Controls Consulting (BPAHACAJ)
Keywords
Where HiveRisk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
HiveRisk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Retainers: Ongoing compliance support through tiered retainer agreements (Lite, Enhanced, Embedded tiers) providing regular advisory, monitoring, and support services to law firms on a recurring monthly basis.
- Professional Services - Project-Based: One-time engagements including Independent AML Audits (Regulation 21), Compliance Gap Analysis, Fraud Risk Reviews, Policy Remediation, and Training programmes. Pricing varies by scope and complexity.
- Compliance Team as a Service: Outsourced compliance team function providing resource enhancement without traditional hiring costs. Firms can save up to £100,000 annually compared to building in-house compliance teams.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Lite Tier - Structured oversight with executive-level support |
| Subscription | Monthly | Enhanced Tier - Firmwide compliance support with proactive monitoring |
| Subscription | Monthly | Embedded Tier - Dedicated compliance function aligned to leadership |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Policies, Controls & Procedures Remediation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Process Redesign & Implementation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Training & Behavioural Embedding |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
HiveRisk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HiveRisk is a UK-based consultancy providing expert risk and compliance services to law firms. Its core offerings include independent AML audits under Regulation 21, outsourced compliance team support (Compliance Team as a Service), complex source-of-funds investigations, scenario-based compliance training, COLP/COFA support, rapid regulator readiness, counter-fraud services, and international financial crime support for global law firms. These services are packaged through the 123 Programme — a Diagnostic, Repair, and Maintenance framework delivered via Lite, Enhanced, and Embedded retainer tiers.
Product overview
HiveRisk is a law firm compliance consultancy providing a portfolio of risk and compliance services rather than a software product. The core offering includes Independent AML Audits (Regulation 21), Compliance Team as a Service, Complex Source of Funds investigations, Core Compliance Training, COLP/COFA Support Services, Rapid Regulator Readiness, Counter Fraud Services, and International Financial Crime Support for global law firms. These are structured through the 123 Programme (a three-stage approach: Diagnostic, Repair & Implementation, Maintenance) with tiered retainer options. Additional offerings include the HiveMind Circle professional community platform, the What's the Buzz Podcast, and on-demand webinars.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Firms can save up to £100,000 annually compared to traditional in-house compliance team costs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HiveRisk
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HiveRisk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HiveRisk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- First AMLcoreFirst AML is a RegTech platform featured in HiveRisk's 'What's the Buzz?' podcast discussing AML technology, false positives/negatives in screening, and the role of RegTech in law firm compliance. The partnership involves joint content creation exploring the intersection of compliance consultancy and RegTech solutions.
- WealthbriteminorWealthbrite (Carla Hoppe) appeared on the 'What's the Buzz?' podcast discussing personal finance and professional risk from a compliance perspective.
- The Dark Money Files LtdminorRay Blake of The Dark Money Files podcast appeared on the 'What's the Buzz?' podcast discussing Companies House risks for law firms.
- ForsyteminorCo-founder Jane Pritchard of Forsyte appeared on the podcast discussing AI, risk policy, and the art of the possible in law firms.
- ThirdfortminorThirdfort (Harriet Holmes) appeared on the podcast discussing AML risks in local communities. Joint content exploration of financial crime topics.
- ComplianceGuardcoreJason McKinney, Director at ComplianceGuard, is a featured team member on the HiveRisk team page and co-presenter on FCA transition webinars. ComplianceGuard is a RegTech/compliance technology provider that works with HiveRisk to deliver comprehensive AML solutions.
- The Lawyers RetreatcoreHiveRisk is co-founder/co-organiser of The Lawyers Retreat, an exclusive management, strategy and networking event for UK law firm leaders held 5th-8th May 2026 in Ibiza, Spain. Focus areas include succession planning, strategy, scaling, and leadership development.
- Legally Speaking Podcast / Great Big Legal OffsitecoreHiveRisk participates in The Great Big Legal Offsite (GLO) Year 3 (July 2026) as a key partner. Kate Burt and team record live podcast episodes at the event. The event brings together law firm leaders for discussions on strategy and leadership.
- The HiveMind CirclecoreHiveMind Circle brings together trusted independent specialists and forward-thinking organisations to solve governance, compliance, technology, and innovation challenges. Members gain access to expert directory, community collaboration, learning hub, resource library, and events/roundtables.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HiveRisk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Dow Jones Risk & Compliance: Global provider of risk data, sanctions/PEP screening and compliance research used by financial services and law firms for KYC/AML due diligence. Broad incumbent whose services overlap with HiveRisk's complex source-of-funds and financial crime investigations.
- ComplyAdvantage: Global AML/KYC and financial crime data platform serving banks, fintechs and increasingly legal sector clients. Broad incumbent providing technology infrastructure that HiveRisk's advisory and audit services sit alongside or compete against.
- Refinitiv (LSEG) Risk & Compliance: Part of London Stock Exchange Group, providing enterprise-scale KYC, AML and World-Check screening used by financial institutions and large law firms. Indirect competitor and infrastructure provider whose tooling overlaps with HiveRisk's source-of-funds and AML advisory scope.
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions: Large global risk data and compliance technology provider serving financial services and legal sector with KYC/AML screening and due diligence tools. A broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities to a much wider client base, where HiveRisk competes on specialism and legal sector depth.
- Grant Thornton UK Risk & Compliance Advisory: Big-6 UK advisory firm offering risk, regulatory and compliance advisory to financial services and professional services clients, including AML/financial crime programmes. Broad incumbent serving similar compliance needs but with much larger scale, generalist positioning rather than law-firm specialism.
Emerging players
- First AML: RegTech platform providing AML source-of-funds and client onboarding automation, often used by law firms. Adjacent rather than directly competing — HiveRisk partners with First AML on content and could be displaced by it on the source-of-funds verification workstream over time.
- Thirdfort: UK legaltech/RegTech offering AML, KYC and source-of-funds checks purpose-built for law firms. Emerging player whose automation directly competes with HiveRisk's manual complex source-of-funds service line.
- ComplianceGuard: UK compliance technology provider co-presenting with HiveRisk on FCA transition webinars and whose Director (Jason McKinney) is featured on the HiveRisk team. Adjacent technology provider overlapping with HiveRisk's AML controls and FCA readiness workstreams.
Direct peers
- Thistle Initiatives: UK regulatory and compliance consultancy serving law firms and professional services firms with AML, SRA authorisation and ongoing compliance support. Direct competitor in the same niche, offering comparable retainer and project-based services to UK mid-market and Top 100 firms.
- Legal Risk LLP: UK-based law firm risk and compliance consultancy providing SRA/AML advisory, training and outsourced compliance services to legal sector clients. Closest direct peer given near-identical target market (UK law firms), service portfolio (AML audits, COLP/COFA support, training) and regulatory specialism.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HiveRisk social profiles
Digital presenceHiveRisk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HiveRisk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
HiveRisk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HiveRisk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HiveRisk
What does HiveRisk do?
HiveRisk is a UK-based consultancy providing expert risk and compliance services to law firms. Its core offerings include independent AML audits under Regulation 21, outsourced compliance team support (Compliance Team as a Service), complex source-of-funds investigations, scenario-based compliance training, COLP/COFA support, rapid regulator readiness, counter-fraud services, and international financial crime support for global law firms. These services are packaged through the 123 Programme — a Diagnostic, Repair, and Maintenance framework delivered via Lite, Enhanced, and Embedded retainer tiers.
Is HiveRisk a public or private company?
HiveRisk is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HiveRisk founded?
HiveRisk was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HiveRisk based?
HiveRisk is headquartered in Preston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does HiveRisk make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Services - Retainers are the primary driver. The others are professional Services - Project-Based and compliance Team as a Service.
Who are HiveRisk's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, ComplyAdvantage, Refinitiv (LSEG) Risk & Compliance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Grant Thornton UK Risk & Compliance Advisory. Emerging players are First AML, Thirdfort and ComplianceGuard. Direct peers are Thistle Initiatives and Legal Risk LLP.
Does HiveRisk have an API?
No public API is recorded for HiveRisk.
What industry is HiveRisk in?
HiveRisk's product category is Legal Compliance Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAFAE, Financial Crime, AML/CFT & Sanctions Compliance, with a secondary code of BPAKADAL, Fraud Risk & Financial Crime Controls Advisory. Its NAICS code is 541 and its SIC code is 8700.