Fractional General Counsel Services
Start-ups and emerging businesses face increasingly complex legal challenges that demand sophisticated counsel, yet rarely possess the resources for full-time general counsel. Our Fractional General Counsel services provide executive-level legal leadership tailored specifically for dynamic organizations navigating rapid growth and evolving regulatory landscapes.
The Full-Time General Counsel Reality Check
A seasoned General Counsel typically commands $250,000-$500,000+ annually, plus benefits, equity, and overhead costs. For most growing businesses, that's $350,000-$650,000 in total annual investment—before considering the 6-12 month search process and onboarding time.
As someone who has served as Chief Counsel at Letterkenny Army Depot, in-house litigation counsel at Farmers Insurance, and Counsel at Deloitte LLP, I've seen this equation from the inside. Most growing businesses don't need 40+ hours weekly of general counsel work. They need sophisticated legal guidance when they need it, from someone who understands how in-house counsel actually operates.
Fractional General Counsel provides executive-level legal leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire. Unlike traditional outside counsel who handle discrete matters, fractional GC integrates with your leadership team, understanding your business objectives and providing comprehensive legal guidance that scales with your growth.
The model works because most companies need sophisticated legal thinking more than they need constant legal presence. Whether you're facing a complex contract negotiation, employment issue, or regulatory compliance challenge, you need someone who has managed these issues from the executive level—not someone learning your business case by case.
What Fractional General Counsel Actually Provides
Strategic Legal Foundation Building
Building proper legal infrastructure from the start prevents costly problems later. This includes optimizing corporate structure, developing equity frameworks, establishing employment policies, creating contract templates, and implementing compliance systems. Having managed legal operations at a half-billion dollar manufacturing complex and Fortune 500 insurance company, I understand what robust legal infrastructure looks like and how to build it efficiently.
Daily Legal Operations Management
Most businesses face ongoing legal decisions that don't require litigation but do require sophisticated legal thinking. Contract reviews, employment matters, vendor agreements, corporate governance, and risk assessment all benefit from someone who has managed these issues at the executive level. My experience includes handling complex products liability cases, contract disputes, and regulatory matters across multiple industries.
Crisis Management and Legal Protection
When legal crises emerge—employment disputes, contract conflicts, regulatory inquiries—you need immediate access to sophisticated counsel who can assess the situation strategically. My background includes military prosecutor and defense experience, complex litigation management, and crisis response at major organizations.
The Economics: Why Fractional Makes Sense
Monthly Retainer Model
Fractional General Counsel services operate on a monthly retainer basis, typically $500-$1,000 per month for up to 10 hours of work, scaled based on your company's gross revenue. This provides predictable legal costs and priority access to sophisticated counsel.
What's Included:
Strategic legal guidance and decision support
Contract review and negotiation
Employment law matters and policy development
Corporate governance and compliance oversight
Risk assessment and mitigation planning
Coordination with specialized counsel when needed
What's Additional:
Active litigation management
Major transactional work (mergers, acquisitions)
Work exceeding the monthly 10-hour allocation (billed at negotiated hourly rates)
Cost Comparison
Full-time General Counsel: $350,000-$650,000 annually (salary + benefits + overhead + malpractice insurance coverage)
Fractional General Counsel: $6,000-$12,000 annually for monthly retainer, plus hourly for additional work
Savings: 80-95% cost reduction while maintaining access to executive-level legal expertise
Additional Benefits of Outside Counsel Structure
When you engage fractional GC services, you benefit from established professional liability insurance coverage. Unlike in-house counsel where the company typically bears malpractice risk and insurance costs, outside counsel carries comprehensive professional liability coverage, providing an additional layer of protection for your business decisions and legal guidance.
When Fractional General Counsel Makes Strategic Sense
Consider fractional GC services when your business:
Has outgrown basic legal services but doesn't justify full-time GC costs
Faces increasing regulatory complexity requiring sophisticated guidance
Needs strategic legal support for growth initiatives or investment rounds
Requires coordination of multiple legal service providers
Seeks executive-level legal judgment for strategic decisions
Prepares for significant business milestones or transactions
Most growing businesses fall into this category—they need sophisticated legal thinking but don't need full-time legal presence.
The Advantage of Experience-Based Counsel
Having served as in-house counsel at major organizations, I understand the practical challenges growing businesses face. I've managed legal budgets, coordinated with outside counsel, built legal processes from scratch, and provided strategic guidance to executive teams. This perspective allows me to provide not just legal analysis, but practical guidance on implementation, cost management, and strategic timing.
Startup Founder Experience
As a previous co-founder of Cyber Law Firm, PLLC and founder of Tese Law, I bring the unique perspective of someone who has been in the startup trenches myself. I understand the cash flow constraints, prioritization challenges, and resource allocation decisions that founders face daily. Most lawyers advising startups have never actually founded a company—they don't understand the practical reality of bootstrapping operations, managing burn rates, or making strategic decisions with limited resources.
This founder perspective enables me to provide legal guidance that accounts for business realities, not just legal perfection. I understand when "good enough" legal solutions make sense for early-stage companies and when it's worth investing in more sophisticated legal infrastructure.
My technical background as a former SQL database developer and military intelligence officer, combined with 23 years of military service including JAG experience, provides unique insight into complex investigations, data analysis, and strategic thinking that proves valuable across various legal challenges.
Getting Started
Every engagement begins with a comprehensive legal assessment, analyzing your current legal infrastructure, potential vulnerabilities, and growth trajectory. This enables development of a service model that delivers maximum value while supporting your strategic objectives and maintaining cost efficiency.
Nationwide Service Delivery
Fractional General Counsel services are available nationwide. I am currently licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. For clients in other states, I can provide services through registration as in-house counsel where required by state regulations, ensuring full compliance while delivering sophisticated legal guidance regardless of your location.
The goal extends beyond traditional legal counsel to become a trusted legal advisor who understands your business, anticipates challenges, and provides the sophisticated guidance essential for sustainable growth while effectively managing legal risks.
For more information about my background and experience as Chief Counsel, in-house litigation counsel, and military JAG attorney, visit the About page.