Businesses face legal challenges for a variety of reasons and at unpredictable times. The depth of these challenges are best addressed by having outside counsel available to utilize when needed.
Compliance with ever-evolving regulatory environments, contract negotiation, and diffusing legal issues before they become too substantial to ignore are only some of the responsibilities that a business must be mindful of on a daily basis.
Lazzaro Law provides outside counsel services which are grounded in superior quality, sound judgment, and proactive communication.
Preemptive Risk Minimization
The most effective legal strategy is one that prevents problems before they arise. As your outside general counsel, we work proactively alongside your business to identify and address legal risks before they become costly disputes or liabilities.
Many businesses are reactive in nature – that is, they wait until a problem has already surfaced to seek legal guidance – by which point options are often limited and expenses are already mounting. A preemptive approach turns that model on its head. By embedding legal thinking into your day-to-day business operations, contract relationships, and strategic decisions, we help you spot vulnerabilities early, structure transactions thoughtfully, and build a foundation that protects your business at every stage of growth.
This can take many forms – from reviewing and strengthening your standard contracts and vendor agreements, to assessing your exposure in ongoing business relationships, to ensuring that your corporate governance practices are sound and your internal policies are legally compliant. It also means staying ahead of changes in the law that may affect your industry or operations, so that your business is never caught off guard.
The goal is simple: to help you avoid the courtroom altogether. And when disputes do arise despite best possible efforts, a business that has invested in proactive legal counsel is far better positioned to defend itself, enforce its rights, and achieve a favorable resolution.
Could Your Business Benefit By The Availability of Outside General Counsel?
A key benefit to having outside general counsel available to your business is the breadth of services the attorney can provide. Without needing to hire legal counsel as an employee of your business, outside general counsel provides businesses like yours with legal services on an as-needed basis.
Risk management across the entire business landscape as well as day-to-day operational issues such as contract negotiation would all fall under the responsibility of an outside general counsel. While the need to utilize the services of general counsel may not arise every week – or even every month – having dependable, trustworthy outside counsel on demand helps your business meet challenges efficiently when they do arise.
In What Scenarios Is Outside General Counsel Most Useful?
A small business or startup can especially benefit from the experience and know-how of an outside general counsel. When a company is in its infancy and just beginning to grow, it is quite possible that the business lacks the need or budget for a full-time general counsel. Instead, many small businesses opt to hire an outside general counsel on an as-needed basis to tackle problems which arise from time to time. This makes sense from both an operational and financial standpoint.
Once a business grows sufficiently so as to no longer be classified as a small business, the needs of the company may likely change. Outside general counsel provides representation for companies in their growth stage by standing ready to assist with any legal opportunities or challenges which may arise.
Every so often a company may find itself with a project or other special circumstance which requires legal assistance. Examples include a merger, acquisition, joint venture, or the business moving into a new area of operation. While these businesses may not have a need for general counsel services on an ongoing basis, there may certainly be a need for guidance in relation to this specific project. Outside general counsel fulfills that need in immediate, specific advice for a one-time-only assignment.
Outside General Counsel as Legal Advocate and Advisor
One of the positive attributes of hiring outside general counsel is the ability to rely upon that firm for multiple purposes. Outside general counsel does not only provide advice on legal matters. Rather, an outside general counsel with experience, creativity, and a client-focused approach can act as a strategic advisor on how to help a business grow.
The business world is complex and requires advocacy in a number of areas – including when and how best to grow a company’s operations. Outside general counsel who has served companies in a variety of environments and situations can help your business succeed in operating more efficiently and building sustainably.
Working with outside general counsel means taking advantage of their experience in specific areas of business operations. Lazzaro Law’s experience across a broad range of civil matters will allow your company to identify core issues of virtually any legal issue at hand at the earliest possible juncture, so that you and your company remain protected in the best way possible.
The Complimentary Role of Outside General Counsel
For those companies who already have an in-house legal team, the role of outside general counsel is not to compete with or overshadow the established legal department. Instead, outside counsel acts as a complimentary piece to the group of attorneys already on-staff. Working in a close, collaborative environment, the specialized approach and thorough knowledge of an experienced outside legal counsel can be invaluable in assisting and supporting an in-house legal team by providing, among other things, an objective – yet protective – perspective on any given legal issue presented.
As-Needed Legal Services for Growing Companies
For many small and medium-sized businesses, the idea of having general counsel on hand to support their legal needs may feel like an impossibility. The importance, however, comes into play when evaluating the potential detriment in dealing with an issue after-the-fact, in reactionary fashion – when counsel could have subdued the situation in its infancy. Further, outside general counsel allows growing companies to meet their specific legal needs without having to concern themselves with paying a salary or managing employee benefits. Instead, an as-needed outside counsel can be used as a Swiss Army Knife – utilized whenever and wherever the needs of business are at that moment.
Contact Lazzaro Law to Discover the Benefits of Outside General Counsel
Lazzaro Law offers conscientious, strategic outside general counsel services for your company’s benefit. We pride ourselves in our work – and allowing it to speak for itself. Contact our office today for a free consultation.