DedicatedCounsel. Always On Call.
Your dedicated business attorney on retainer. Contract review, corporate governance, compliance, and strategic counsel — without the cost of an in-house hire.
Outside GC vs. Alternatives
BigLaw
$500-1,000+/hr- Engage for specific projects
- Re-explain business each time
- Junior associate does the work
- Optimized for billable hours
- Minimum engagement sizes
Outside GC
Predictable Monthly- Ongoing relationship & context
- Knows the business already
- Senior attorney direct access
- Aligned incentives (fixed fees)
- Right-sized for your stage
In-House GC
$250K+/year- Full-time dedicated resource
- Deep business integration
- Available all the time
- High fixed overhead cost
- May still need outside help
What Outside GC Covers
Contract Review
Customer agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs, and partnership deals. Quick turnaround with business context.
Employment Matters
Offer letters, contractor agreements, equity compensation, handbooks, and separation agreements.
Corporate Governance
Board meetings, stockholder matters, equity issuances, and corporate record maintenance.
Compliance Guidance
Privacy policies, terms of service, regulatory questions, and staying ahead of requirements.
Transaction Support
Financing rounds, partnership deals, and M&A preparation. Strategic guidance on deal terms.
Strategic Counsel
Sounding board for decisions with legal implications. Quick calls when perspective is needed.
Signs Your Company Needs Outside GC
Not every company needs ongoing legal support. Here's how to know if OGC makes sense:
- Closing deals regularly — Multiple contracts per month means review time adds up
- Hiring employees — Each new hire creates legal obligations
- Raised (or raising) capital — Investors expect proper governance
- Growing into enterprise sales — Procurement teams require negotiated contracts
- Legal questions keep coming up — And explaining the business from scratch each time is frustrating
- Been burned before — Contracts that weren't understood, disputes that weren't anticipated
May not need OGC: Pre-product companies without commercial deals. One-off legal needs. Companies with in-house counsel handling day-to-day work.
A Month in the Life: Series A SaaS Company
Week 1: Enterprise Deal
Week 2: Growth Operations
Week 3: Governance + Partnerships
Week 4: Strategic + HR
How Outside GC Engagements Begin
Initial Consultation
Discuss the business, current legal needs, and what's coming up.
Proposal
Clear proposal outlining scope, availability, and fees. No surprises.
Onboarding
Review existing contracts and corporate documents. Learn the business.
Ongoing Support
Contract reviews, legal questions, and strategic guidance as needed.
Why Senior Solo Practitioners Beat BigLaw for GC Work
Large firms have their place—major M&A, contested litigation, complex securities work. But for day-to-day GC support, a senior solo practitioner often provides better service.
The BigLaw Model
- Work gets staffed to junior associates
- Partner oversight adds cost, not always value
- Minimum engagement sizes
- One of many clients on a big roster
The Solo OGC Model
- Direct access to a senior attorney every time
- Business learned once, remembered always
- Flat or predictable fees align incentives
- Priority client, not small account
- When you call, you get the attorney
Outside GC FAQ
Get answers to common questions about our legal services.
With a law firm, engagement is typically for specific projects—starting fresh each time. With outside GC, there's ongoing access to an attorney who already knows the business—the contracts, risk tolerance, and growth stage. Context is established once and provides informed guidance without re-education every time something comes up.
Retainers are customized but typically include: contract review and negotiation, employment documents (offer letters, contractor agreements, separations), corporate governance matters, compliance guidance, and strategic counsel. Scope is defined clearly upfront. Work outside the scope is quoted separately before proceeding.
OGC clients get priority response with direct phone and email access. Urgent matters are addressed promptly, and routine matters are handled in the order received. No ticketing system -- just a direct line to your attorney.
Yes. Many OGC clients have counsel attend board meetings—either in person or virtually—to provide legal guidance, present on specific topics, or be available for questions. This is typically included in comprehensive retainers or quoted separately for lighter arrangements.
Relationships with specialists in litigation, IP prosecution (patents/trademarks), immigration, tax, and other areas mean coordination with trusted specialists when needed. Continuity is maintained—no need to find and vet outside counsel independently.
Still have questions?
Contact UsProject-Based Alternatives
SaaS & Software Contracts
For companies that primarily need contract support without full OGC scope, project-based engagement may be a better fit.
Startup Financing
Preparing to raise a round? Financing work can be standalone or part of an OGC relationship.
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63 Wall St 1B, Madison, CT 06443
Serving clients in CT, NY, MA
Ongoing Legal Support That Scales With You
Schedule a consultation to discuss how outside GC can support business growth. No obligation—just a conversation about whether it makes sense for your stage.