Independent General Counsel Services

The main difference between in-house counsel vs. independent general counsel is that an independent general counsel is classified as an independent contractor and not an employee of the company. Therefore, the company will not need to cover employment taxes, benefits and overhead in addition to a monthly salary.  Thus, a company can afford to have a part-time general counsel on call, without the high cost of a full-time employee. Further, the Independent General Counsel may or may not work at the company’s site. This flexibility allows companies to choose an arrangement that works best for their needs, budget and space.

Some companies may need an attorney for one day a week, or one day a month. They might need an attorney for a couple of days each week. The legal needs of the company dictate the time a part time general counsel spends working for the company, which in turn determines the price charged for services. Depending on the company’s needs, independent in-house counsel may charge a discounted monthly fee or hourly rates that are much lower than those of comparable outside counsel. 

The Benefits of an Independent General Counsel are many:

• the ability to operate at a senior level in the company’s organization with a close understanding of the company’s policies, strategies and objectives;

• a close understanding of the company’s operating methods, processes, products, suppliers and customers;

• avoid overhead and employment costs associated with fully staffed in-house counsel and corporate law departments;

• existing in-house counsel may not have the expertise in certain practice area, or the time to dedicate to certain issues, and may benefit from a flexible outside attorney;

• the ability to manage legal risk, to analyze the company’s existing policies, procedures, systems and strategies and in order to identify legal issues, and to develop plans and programs to manage and, if possible, to avoid legal problems that arise;

• development of updated, legally compliant standard form of contracts which take into account unique business objectives and strategies;

• timely access to an attorney for time-sensitive matters;

• flexible cost plans that allow companies to budget for general counsel legal services;

• potential for discounted legal services from the same provider for services outside of the plan;

• the timely delivery of work of high technical quality that also provides practical solutions which meet the company’s business goals;

• it allows owners and managers to focus on operations instead of legal and compliance issues;

• someone to coordinate and manage outsourced legal services, if necessary;

• the ability to work closely and co-operatively with company employees, suppliers and customers, as may be required;

• the ability to add value to the efforts of internal clients, whether this is by saving money, avoiding losses, solving problems, achieving their business objectives, by using knowledge and skills to improve the way the company manages its legal risks and pursues its legal rights and opportunities;

• business owner or corporate executive may need an independent legal review of specific issues by an attorney with no stake in the outcome who can be relied on to provide confidential counsel; and

• the ability to manage external legal services for extraordinary legal issues that arise (e.g., litigation) in a cost-effective way that achieves optimum benefits for the company.

Consistent access to legal counsel enables our clients to grow their businesses and focus on seizing opportunity, not just limiting legal liability. Concierge general counsel clients receive quick access to legal counsel, and rest easy knowing that valuable legal expertise is always close at hand. We tailor this service to the unique legal needs of each business. Ready to learn more? Contact us today to discuss your company’s needs.