GENERAL COUNSEL WORK
"A good lawyer knows the law; a great lawyer knows the judge; the best lawyer knows the business." ~Anonymous
What Exactly is Outside General Counsel Work?
Outside general counsel (OGC) work is the practice of serving as a company's primary legal advisor and strategic partner on an ongoing basis—without the overhead of a full-time employee. As an outside general counsel, I become deeply familiar with your business, understand your goals, and provide proactive legal guidance that keeps you moving forward while managing risk intelligently. I serve as your go-to legal counsel for both day-to-day questions and long-term strategic planning.
Unlike traditional transactional lawyers who handle one-off projects, an OGC acts as your consistent legal resource who knows your company's history, challenges, and objectives. Whether you're a growing startup that needs regular legal support but can't justify a full-time hire, or an established company looking for senior-level counsel on a fractional basis, outside general counsel services provide the expertise you need, when you need it, at a fraction of the cost of in-house staff.
As your outside general counsel, I can advise and represent you in connection with all aspects of running and growing your business, including the following:
Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Board meeting preparation and attendance
- Corporate minutes and resolutions
- Bylaws and operating agreement updates
- Annual compliance filings
- Corporate record maintenance
- Regulatory compliance monitoring
- Policy development and implementation
Contract Management
- Drafting and negotiating commercial agreements
- Vendor and supplier contracts
- Customer agreements and terms of service
- Service agreements and SOWs
- Contract review and risk assessment
- Template development and standardization
- Contract lifecycle management
Risk Management & Dispute Prevention
- Legal issue spotting and preventative counseling
- Business transaction structuring
- Liability limitation strategies
- Insurance coverage review
- Pre-litigation dispute resolution
- Demand letter review and response
- Strategic litigation management
Strategic Business Advice
- Business expansion planning
- Entity structure optimization
- Financing transaction support
- Merger and acquisition guidance
- Partnership and joint venture structuring
- Exit strategy planning
- General business counsel and problem-solving
Intellectual Property Protection
- Trademark strategy and filing
- Copyright registration
- Trade secret protection
- IP assignment agreements
- Licensing agreement negotiation
- Domain name disputes
- Brand protection strategies
Ongoing Legal Support
- Unlimited email and phone access for quick questions
- Regular strategic planning sessions
- Legal budget planning and management
- Coordination with specialized outside counsel when needed
- Priority scheduling for urgent matters
- Proactive legal updates relevant to your business
Flexible Engagement Models
Every business has different legal needs and budget considerations. Outside general counsel services can be structured in several ways:
Subscription Services – Monthly retainer with reserved capacity for predictable budgeting and priority access. Click here to learn about Subscription billing models.
Concierge Legal Services – Annual or semi-annual arrangements for businesses with significant but unpredictable legal needs, providing virtually unlimited access to counsel. Click here to learn about Concierge Services.
Hourly Arrangements – Traditional hourly billing for businesses that need ongoing counsel but prefer flexibility in engagement scope.
Hybrid Models – Combining monthly retainers for routine matters with project-based pricing for larger transactions.
WHY OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL MAKES SENSE
Cost Efficiency – Get senior-level legal expertise without the six-figure salary, benefits, and overhead of a full-time hire.
Business Understanding – Unlike lawyers you hire project-by-project, your OGC knows your business history, understands your challenges, and aligns with your goals.
Proactive Rather Than Reactive – Prevent legal problems before they become expensive disputes or compliance failures.
Strategic Partnership – Get counsel who thinks like a business partner, balancing legal risk with practical growth strategies.
Scalable Support – Adjust the level of service as your business grows or your needs change.
YOUR LEGAL COMPLIANCE RESOURCE
I would love the chance to get to know you and your business, for you to consider me a professional resource to help you maintain corporate formalities and compliance obligations, so you can focus on growth and executing on your business strategies. Make an appointment now for a free consultation.
START THE CONVERSATION
I would love to discuss how outside general counsel services can support your business objectives while keeping legal costs predictable and manageable. Whether you're looking for a fractional general counsel relationship, ongoing strategic advice, or just someone to call when legal questions arise, let's explore how we can work together.