My approach has always been to charge people when I'm able to add value to their business. If I see that I'm not going to be able to add value, or if someone just wants to get a sense of whether I'm a good fit for their business needs, I don't send a bill.

If you're interested in our services and think you might need a lawyer, but are concerned about what it will cost you, go ahead and reach out. We can set up a short consultation, virtually or in person, to determine whether there's something we're likely to be able to help with, and can talk about what costs are likely to be during that consultation.

Finding a lawyer you trust and are comfortable working with should be one of the first things you do when launching a new business. Depending on the circumstances, it's very possible that there won't be much for a lawyer to do early on - but establishing that relationship means that you'll know who to call when you have a question, or in the unfortunate circumstance that something goes wrong.

I've always believed firmly that a good legal relationship should help your business grow rather than being a burdensome expense or yet another task for you. By establishing trust and communication early on, you'll be more comfortable reaching out to ask about circumstances as they arise. And asking those questions at the right time can help you to avoid problems that would become overwhelming.

If you've managed to succeed for years without needing a lawyer, that's great!

However, you might not know whether that's because you're doing everything right or because you've gotten lucky. By spending a little bit of time evaluating your operations and risk areas, we can help you answer that question, and explain where you might have big risks lurking and what to do about them.

This depends on your circumstances. I can absolutely help a group - from two partners to any number of people - with legal issues relating to setting up a business: for example, selecting a legal entity type, establishing partnership or operating agreements, and so on. In that circumstance, I would represent the business itself, rather than individual owners. If a dispute later arises, I would still represent the business, and wouldn't be able to advise one individual on their rights regarding that dispute.

In other circumstances, someone going in to business with other people might want or need to have their own lawyer to represent their rights as the business is formed. In that circumstance, the business would likely have its own lawyer, while individual partners or owners might each have separate counsel.

If you're just starting a business, you can reach out to talk about the circumstances and we can guide you into making the best decision about representation for you at this time.

Great! We're happy to help with small or one-off items. In my experiences businesses do better once they've established a trusting relationship with a lawyer, which often begins because there's a single small item the business owner wants help with.

No, it doesn't. Some of our services, such as consulting or fractional executive services, are offered worldwide. In other cases and where you need legal services, we may be able to handle it by registering with the bar in your state to provide what are sometimes known as "multi-jurisdictional services" or through partnership with a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction. If you're interested in working with us, contact us to discuss your circumstances and we'll determine whether, and how, we're best able to help you.

For many businesses, especially those that intend to grow, having an experienced business attorney who is aware of the current status of the business, its operations, and it's strategic planning is a crucial aspect of smooth growth. This "General Counsel" role ensures that the attorney is aware of business operations sufficiently that they can identify arenas where there might be a compliance problem or a risk that should be addressed at the outset.

This differs from having a relationship with a business attorney who is "on call" for matters as they arise. For example, a business owner or executive team might think to send a new contract, a lease agreement, or a specific legal question to the lawyer they're used to working with. However, in this case it is up to the business leaders to identify legal problems or circumstances requiring legal review. Because most business owners, however savvy, have an imperfect understanding of what those problems or circumstances are, and because of the added friction of having to bring in the outside attorney (who might be busy or unavailable, since they're not typically aware of the businesses' status or needs), many potentially serious business issues are likely to be overlooked, which often leads to unnecessarily complex or expensive future problems.

The "Fractional General Counsel" role recognizes that the need for a deeply engaged business attorney to offer guidance on operations, compliance, and strategic plans often arises before a business becomes large enough to merit having a full-time general counsel role on salary. In retaining a fractional General Counsel, you commit to keeping them much more involved in business decision making and discussions than you would a "regular attorney": for example, you would routinely include them in board meetings, executive meetings, and other forums in which plans and decisions about the businesses' next steps are discussed or made. In light of this commitment, we can reach agreement on a reduced hourly rate, or a monthly/quarterly flat fee, to help the business manage their legal spend. As a result, your business has the benefit of continual expert legal guidance with deep knowledge of your specific business needs, while managing your legal spend effectively.