Virtual General Counsel Lawyer

Entrepreneurs face diverse legal concerns in today’s fast-paced and intensely competitive business environment but may not have in-house counsel or the expertise to handle such matters. Factors affecting businesses may change daily or at a moment’s notice, while some matters may require weeks or months of strategic planning. Regardless of your organization’s stage in the business lifecycle, Fridman Law Firm’s virtual general counsel lawyers can help with strategy and execution.

Whether you are starting a company, buying or selling a business, or thinking about going public, it’s important to enlist the services of an experienced virtual general counsel lawyer every step of the way. At Fridman Law Firm, our proactive legal team strives to protect businesses from exposure to unexpected and unnecessary risks that may eventually become costly. Our lawyers engage with clients, taking time to understand their unique business challenges and advising them on prudent business and legal best practices.

Fridman Law Firm offers strategic advice for our clients’ business and corporate needs. With decades of experience across the spectrum of corporate transactions, our attorneys handle the day-to-day legal needs of businesses with a constant emphasis on results. We have distinguished ourselves as influential business lawyers who maintain a flexible business model that enables us to act as the “go-to” general counsel.

What Is General Counsel?

General counsel encompasses a wide range of legal services, from compliance to contract negotiations, reporting, and crisis management. Your virtual general counsel lawyer should provide legal guidance to help mitigate business risks and serve as the organization’s primary source of legal advice and legal representative when dealing with third parties.

Outsourcing general counsel services is a common practice, as it can save organizations money and provide access to experienced legal expertise without the need to hire a full-time in-house lawyer. Most businesses understand the need to have virtual general counsel lawyers represent them in drafting, evaluating, and negotiating contracts and providing general legal advice.

Types of General Counsel

There are generally two types of general counsel: in-house general counsel and outside general counsel. As the name suggests, an in-house counsel exclusively represents a company with offices within or inside its premises. For most startups or small to mid-sized businesses, having an in-house lawyer may or may not be financially possible or essential, depending on the company’s needs.

Outside counsel normally represents businesses, and their offices are separate from the entities they represent. An outside general counsel acts as a legal advisor and business partner who can give you insights about industry best practices and help you with legal issues such as intellectual property, employment matters, and contracts. One main advantage of outside counsel is that they provide businesses with fresh perspectives on legal issues.

While larger companies may have entire legal departments, small and mid-sized business owners often deal with their legal issues independently or hire outside general counsel to offer legal advice and representation.

What Does a General Counsel Do?

A virtual general counsel lawyer can handle a wide range of legal issues affecting businesses in all types of industries and sizes, from startups to large, publicly traded companies. Regardless of the size of your company and whether you have one employee or thousands, an experienced lawyer can be integral to growing and maintaining your business.

A general counsel can provide a range of legal services that include:

• Providing legal advice on various business matters, such as employment law, intellectual property, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and corporate governance.
• Conducting due diligence and negotiating the terms of equity or asset purchases.
• Enforcing agreements and contracts, including non-solicitation and non-compete agreements.
• Working closely with the management to identify and mitigate risks.
• Offering guidance on business entity formation and capital options.
• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, including business agreements, policies, and contracts.
• Helping business owners minimize taxes and maximize profits.
• Protecting trade secrets and intellectual property against misappropriation.
• Serving as a strategic advisor to the company’s management and board.
• Helping resolve conflicts between employees, customers, managers, directors, and owners.

General counsel services may also include advice on various types of financing options and sources, including:

• Venture capital firms
• Accelerators
• Crowdfunding
• Incubators
• Private equity
• Strategic partners
• Angel networks

This must be done in compliance with state and federal securities laws.

The Types of General Counsel Services We Offer

Fridman Law Firm provides various ongoing legal services, helping businesses with their day-to-day legal needs quickly and efficiently. We tailor our general counsel services according to each client’s goals. Our legal team also anticipates legal risks and develops strategies to mitigate them beforehand. As your virtual general counsel, our lawyers will coordinate and oversee the following areas:

• Counsel to founders
• Business financing
• General contract review
• Startup business advice
• Negotiations
• Drafting commercial contracts
• Corporate governance
• Day-to-day legal questions
• Employment and HR matters
• Cap table management
• Real estate transactions, including leasing, purchasing, and selling

Working with our virtual general counsel legal team means that your business can focus on its core functions, leaving legal matters for us to handle. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses and startups that need to focus on driving revenue and their bottom line.

Personalized Virtual General Counsel Services for Your Business

One of the most significant advantages of working with a virtual general counsel lawyer is the long-term relationship you create during interactions. Not only do they bring a wealth of industry knowledge and insight, but they also get to learn about your specific business, its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This relationship is critical to taking your organization through every phase of its evolution.

Rather than providing generic advice, an experienced virtual general counsel attorney can personalize their guidance to match your specific business needs and objectives. Developing such a relationship with your lawyer can save you time and money while helping you grow your business more efficiently.

At Fridman Law Firm, we offer virtual general counsel services to businesses of all sizes. Whether you are in tech or apparel, our firm is happy to guide you through legal and business issues quickly and effectively. Fridman Law Firm takes pride in being part of our clients’ growth and success.

If you are a business owner with no internal legal department or if you are in need of general counsel, consider hiring a law firm that can provide the legal support and protection you need. Contact the Fridman Law Firm or call 212-262-9823 today to schedule an appointment and discuss your matters directly with an experienced virtual general counsel lawyer.

Related Pages

• Cap Table Management
• Outside General Counsel
• Types of General Counsel

Frequently Asked Questions