Outside General Counsel: Fractional Legal Leadership for Growing Businesses
You need a general counsel who knows your business. You do not need a $300,000 salary on your payroll. We provide the strategic legal leadership of an in-house attorney at a fraction of the cost.
What Our Outside GC Service Covers Your Business the Right Way
An outside general counsel engagement covers the full scope of legal work a growing business generates — not just isolated transactions or disputes. Our outside general counsel service includes:
- Contract Review & Drafting — Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating the commercial contracts, vendor agreements, and customer terms your business generates on an ongoing basis.
- Employment Law Compliance — Employee handbooks, employment agreements, termination guidance, wage and hour compliance, and HR policy development.
- Regulatory Compliance — Identifying and managing regulatory requirements specific to your industry, including licensing, reporting, and compliance program development.
- Corporate Governance — Board resolutions, annual minutes, equity transactions, entity maintenance, and corporate record-keeping.
- Risk Management — Insurance review, liability assessment, vendor risk evaluation, and dispute prevention strategies.
- Strategic Legal Advice — Participating in leadership discussions, evaluating business opportunities from a legal perspective, and providing the judgment calls that prevent problems before they arise.
- Litigation Management — When disputes arise, managing outside litigation counsel or handling disputes directly through our litigation team.
The scope scales with your needs. Some clients use us for ten hours a month; others rely on us for forty. The engagement flexes as your business grows.
Our M&A Process: Built for Speed and Precision
1. Deal Strategy & Valuation
We start with your goals — exit, acquisition, or expansion — and align deal structure with your tax and long-term strategy.
2. Letter of Intent (LOI)
We draft or refine the LOI to lock in key deal terms before due diligence begins.
3. Due Diligence Review
We audit the target company’s contracts, liabilities, IP, and financials to expose hidden risks early.
4. Negotiation & Documentation
Our team drafts or redlines definitive agreements that secure your interests — from purchase agreements to transition plans.
5. Closing & Integration
We oversee closing logistics and ensure post-closing obligations are clear, enforceable, and advantageous
Our Howard East Law Firm Attorney's Recognition
Our founding attorney, Tom Howard, has been recognized by both Leading Lawyers & Super Lawyers, quoted in the Wall Street Journal & Top 200 Lawyer. He is a member of the NORML Legal Committee & a Certified Ganjier.
Why Business Owners Choose Howard East
Full-Service Coverage From One Firm
Unlike solo fractional GC providers, Howard East has depth across corporate law, employment law, commercial contracts, real estate, IP, and litigation. You get a full legal department's capabilities through a single outside general counsel relationship.
Business Judgment, Not Just Legal Opinions
We participate in your business decisions — not just your legal problems. Our attorneys understand that legal advice without business context is rarely useful, and we give you the practical judgment that helps you move faster.
Cost-Efficient Legal Leadership
A full-time general counsel costs $200,000-$350,000 in salary plus benefits. Our outside general counsel service provides equivalent strategic legal leadership at a fraction of that cost — and you only pay for the hours you use.
Seamless Escalation
When a matter escalates beyond routine counsel — a significant transaction, a litigation threat, or a regulatory investigation — you do not need to find a new firm. Our transactional and litigation teams handle the escalation with full knowledge of your business.
Where We Serve as Outside General Counsel
Illinois
Handle buy/sell transactions across corporations, LLCs, and partnerships Navigate Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues in licensed industries Structure transactions for tax efficiency and post-closing protection Negotiate LOIs, purchase agreements, and non-competes tailored to Illinois law
Missouri:
Represent business owners in sales, mergers, and buyouts Manage multi-entity reorganizations and asset transfers Counsel clients on Missouri employment and non-solicitation laws Coordinate closings with lenders, accountants, and regulatory agencies
New York
Guide cross-border and multi-state transactions Draft and negotiate stock and asset purchase agreements Advise on securities compliance and due diligence for private offerings Manage regulatory and licensing transitions in highly regulated industries
Contact Experienced Lawyers Now
Let’s Talk About Your Deal
- Get strategic legal leadership without the cost of a full-time general counsel
- Clear your contract backlog with consistent, knowledgeable review
- Prevent employment and compliance problems before they become disputes
- Build a legal infrastructure that scales with your business growth
- Negotiate earn-outs and seller financing that protect their future
- Handle post-closing disputes discreetly and efficiently
FAQ: Mergers & Acquisitions Law
What is outside general counsel?
Outside general counsel is a law firm that functions as your company’s in-house legal department on a fractional or part-time basis. Instead of hiring a full-time general counsel, you retain an outside GC firm on a monthly retainer to handle the ongoing legal work your business generates — contract review, employment guidance, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and strategic legal advice. The outside general counsel learns your business deeply and provides the same continuity as an in-house attorney.
How much does outside general counsel cost compared to hiring in-house?
A full-time in-house general counsel typically costs $200,000 to $350,000 annually in salary plus benefits, office space, and management overhead. Outside general counsel arrangements typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 per month depending on the volume of legal work and scope of coverage. For most businesses generating moderate legal volume, outside general counsel costs 30-50% less than a full-time hire while providing access to a full team of attorneys across multiple practice areas.
How does an outside GC engagement work day-to-day?
In practice, an outside general counsel engagement works much like having an in-house attorney: your team sends contracts for review, calls with employment questions, and consults on business decisions with legal implications. We respond within agreed timeframes, attend scheduled leadership meetings, and proactively flag legal issues we identify. The communication channel is direct — typically email, phone, and scheduled check-ins — without the formality of a traditional law firm engagement.
What size company benefits most from outside general counsel?
Outside general counsel works best for companies with 10 to 200 employees that generate regular legal work — contracts, employment issues, regulatory questions, and governance needs — but do not have enough volume to justify a full-time in-house hire. Startups scaling past their founding stage, professional services firms, healthcare practices, technology companies, and multi-location businesses are the most common outside GC clients. Companies below this range can usually handle legal needs on a project basis; companies above it often benefit from a combination of in-house counsel and outside GC support.
Can we switch from outside general counsel to in-house later?
Absolutely. Many of our outside general counsel clients eventually hire in-house counsel as they grow. When that happens, we help transition the legal function — documenting processes, transferring institutional knowledge, and continuing to support the in-house attorney on specialized matters. The goal is building your legal capability, whether that means remaining your outside GC or helping you bring the function in-house when the time is right.