A Business Owner’s Guide to Equipment Leasing
Leasing equipment offers businesses a flexible way to manage costs and stay current with evolving technology. This article breaks down the types of equipment leases,…
Growing companies reach a point where legal questions come up every week: a customer contract to review, a vendor relationship going sideways, a new hire who needs an agreement, an investor asking about governance.
A full-time in-house general counsel is often more than the company needs. As outside general counsel, we learn the business, keep its documents in order and handle those questions as they arise.
Because we are a full-service business firm, the same relationship covers the larger moments too: an acquisition, a new round of investment or a dispute that needs a litigator.
What Outside Counsel Covers
Commercial Contracts
Customer, vendor, service, licensing and distribution agreements, drafted and reviewed as they come in.
Corporate Governance
Written consents, ownership changes, officer appointments and the annual housekeeping that keeps a company in good order.
Employment Documents
Offer letters, employment and contractor agreements, and confidentiality and restrictive covenant terms.
Growth and Acquisitions
Buying a competitor, opening a location, bringing on investors or restructuring ownership.
Early Dispute Strategy
Demand letters and early advice when a disagreement starts, with our litigation team ready if it grows.
Standard Forms
Form sales terms, purchase order terms, NDAs and other templates the team can reuse on routine deals.
Who We Work With
Our outside general counsel clients range from founder-led companies to the U.S. subsidiaries of international companies, in industries including hospitality, healthcare, technology, construction, education, real estate development, manufacturing and consulting.
The Contracts Behind the Business
Much of a general counsel's work is contracts. Our contract drafting and review practice covers the agreements companies sign most often, including service and vendor agreements, sales, licensing and distribution contracts and employment and independent contractor agreements.
Keeping the Company in Order
Outside counsel also covers the work that keeps a company's foundation sound: corporate governance and annual compliance, nondisclosure agreements before sensitive conversations, joint venture agreements with other businesses, and, for owners buying into a franchise system, franchise disclosure document review.
How Outside Counsel Works
Learning the Business
We review the company's formation documents, key contracts and open issues.
Setting Priorities
We agree on what needs attention first and what can wait.
Ongoing Requests
The team sends questions and documents as they come up, and we handle them as part of the relationship.
Regular Check-Ins
Periodic reviews keep contracts, governance and filings current.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question that isn't answered here? Call us at (817) 631-8842 or send a message.
Ask a QuestionHow is outside general counsel different from hiring a lawyer for one project?
A project engagement covers one matter, such as a contract or a dispute. As outside general counsel, we stay involved over time, so we already know the company, its contracts and its people when the next question comes up.
Is outside general counsel the same as fractional general counsel?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Both describe an attorney or firm that handles a company's ongoing legal needs part-time, in place of a full-time in-house hire.
How are outside general counsel services billed?
It depends on the company and the expected volume of work. We discuss billing during the initial consultation.
What kinds of companies use outside general counsel?
Usually established companies that have grown past the point where the owners can handle legal questions themselves, but don't yet need a full-time in-house attorney. That includes family businesses, founder-led companies and U.S. subsidiaries of companies based abroad.
More in Business Counsel and Contracts
- Contract Drafting and ReviewDrafting, reviewing and negotiating the agreements a business signs.Learn More
- Service and Vendor AgreementsAgreements that set scope, payment and remedies with vendors and service providers.Learn More
- Sales, Licensing, and Distribution ContractsContracts for selling products, licensing IP and building distribution channels.Learn More
- Employment and Independent Contractor AgreementsEmployment, contractor, confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements.Learn More
- Nondisclosure AgreementsNDAs that define what stays confidential and what happens if it doesn't.Learn More
- Joint Venture AgreementsAgreements for businesses working together on a shared project or venture.Learn More
- Governance and ComplianceRecords, consents and state filings that keep a Texas company in good order.Learn More
- Franchise LawFDD review, franchise agreements, financing and resales for franchise owners.Learn More
- FDD ReviewA franchisee-side review of the FDD and franchise agreement before you sign.Learn More
Related Articles
FDD and Franchise Agreement: What You Need to Know as a Franchisee
Navigate franchise agreements with confidence. Learn what to review in Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and key provisions, from fees to noncompete clauses, to…
FTC’s “Click to Cancel” Rule: A Major Step Toward Consumer Protection
The FTC's "Click to Cancel" rule streamlines subscription cancellations, requiring businesses to make the process as simple as signing up. This update ensures…
Request a Consultation
Initial consultations are held by Zoom and typically last 20 to 30 minutes.