Outside general counsel gives a growing business the legal support of an in-house lawyer — one who knows your operations and is there when you need them, on a predictable monthly retainer instead of the cost of a full-time hire.
The arrangement is well-suited for your business, which has grown well since the early days. Revenue is steady, the team is bigger, the contracts and legal issues are piling up, but there is still no need or interest in an in-house, on-staff attorney.
When legal issues arose in the past, you called a large firm in the West Chester or Philadelphia region. But perhaps you now have concerns about those billing rates, or you do not want to work with a team of paralegals, associates, and partners that is constantly changing. You would prefer to have one attorney who understands your business and has reserved monthly hours to cover your legal needs.
That is where Kimberton Law can help, serving as your outside general counsel on a monthly retainer.
What It Means to Have Outside General Counsel on Retainer
With Kimberton Law as your outside general counsel, you reserve a set number of hours and ongoing access each month for a predictable, flat fee. Instead of starting over every time a legal issue arises, you have a lawyer who already knows your operations, your contracts, and your team.
If your company is served with legal papers at 5:00 on a Friday afternoon, you can text Elias Kohn at 5:01. He already understands your business and can tell you what the papers mean and what to do next, instead of a stranger who needs the weekend to get up to speed.
And when a small issue comes up, you have a trusted advisor you can call to run a quick question by, without starting over with a new intake each time. Because the relationship is ongoing, your lawyer already knows your business, so you can get an answer tailored to how you operate. Over time, that is how a lawyer stops feeling like an outside vendor and becomes part of your team.
A retainer relationship covers the everyday legal needs a growing business runs into, including:
- Drafting and reviewing contracts with vendors, customers, and service providers
- Advising on employment matters, including hiring practices, offer letters, and separation agreements
- Reviewing and negotiating leases for commercial space
- Advising on business structure, ownership agreements, and succession planning
- Identifying regulatory compliance obligations relevant to the business’s industry
- Guiding disputes before they reach the point of litigation
- Advising and defending the company or its partners, members, or shareholders when personal injury claims arise, including matters involving company vehicle accidents or customer slip-and-fall incidents at a business location
Rather than calling a lawyer only when something has already gone wrong, businesses with outside general counsel have a resource to consult before signing, before hiring, and before a disagreement escalates.
For businesses in Phoenixville and the surrounding Chester County area, proximity also matters. A local attorney who understands the regional business environment, local courts, and the specific pressures facing businesses in the area is better positioned to give sound legal advice.
Working With Kimberton Law as Outside General Counsel
Kimberton Law offers outside general counsel retainers tailored to each business’s needs. Monthly arrangements can range from a few hours of legal support to broader ongoing commitments, depending on the volume and complexity of the company’s legal needs.
To discuss whether an outside general counsel retainer makes sense for your business, contact Kimberton Law at (484) 564-6529 or through the firm’s website to schedule a conversation.
