Fractional general counsel

A lawyer in your corner, without the full-time cost.

Ongoing legal support on a simple monthly retainer: a dedicated lawyer who knows your business and is there for the questions and decisions that come up as you grow. The steady hand of in-house counsel, without the cost of a full-time hire.

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What this covers

One dedicated lawyer who works as an extension of your team, handling the day-to-day corporate and commercial work your business runs into, on a flat monthly retainer.

Why getting this right matters

Most growing businesses need legal input often enough to want a steady hand, but not enough to justify a full-time hire. Fractional general counsel fills that gap: a lawyer who knows your business and catches issues before they become expensive problems.

Included in your retainer

Your retainer covers the corporate and commercial work a growing business runs into day to day:

How we scope this engagement

A retainer covers a defined set of in-scope matters that we agree with you in writing at the outset, centered on the commercial work you need most: drafting and reviewing your agreements, the corporate and contract questions that come up alongside them, and the related day-to-day legal advice.

We set that scope down clearly and revisit it with you every month, so it keeps pace with where your business is.

Anything that falls outside it, we re-price and quote separately, or refer out.

How it works

01

We start with a conversation

Tell us about your business and the kinds of legal questions you keep running into. The first conversation is on us.

02

We scope a retainer that fits

We agree on what the retainer covers and a clear monthly fee before anything begins.

03

You have a lawyer in your corner

From then on, you have someone to ask who knows your business and is invested in where it’s going.

04

We revisit the scope every month

Each month we check that the retainer still fits, and re-draft and re-price it whenever your business calls for it.

Common questions

How is this different from hiring a lawyer only when I need one?

With one-off work you start a new bill each time and re-explain your business to whoever picks up. A fractional GC is one lawyer who already knows your company, available on a predictable monthly fee, so you get faster, more consistent help, and you never hold back a question because of the cost.

What does the monthly retainer cover?

A defined scope we agree in writing, centered on your day-to-day commercial and corporate work: reviewing and drafting agreements, the contract and corporate questions that come up alongside them, and ongoing advice. Anything outside that scope, we quote separately or refer out.

What if my needs change from month to month?

That’s expected. We revisit the scope every month and re-price it when your business calls for it, so you’re never paying for more, or getting less, than you need.

When do I need a fractional general counsel?

A fractional general counsel makes sense when legal questions are coming up regularly, but you’re not ready to hire a full-time in-house lawyer. If contracts, hiring, financing, compliance, customer issues, or day-to-day business decisions are starting to require ongoing legal input, fractional counsel gives you a lawyer who already knows your business and can step in as issues arise.

What if something comes up that’s outside the retainer?

We tell you up front, then handle it at a separate fixed fee or refer you to the right specialist. Nothing outside your agreed scope is quietly added to your monthly cost.

Want a lawyer in your corner?

Let’s talk about whether fractional general counsel is the right fit for your business. The first conversation is on us.

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The information above is general in nature and is not legal advice. Every situation and transaction is different, and advice tailored to your specific circumstances is required to address your particular needs. If you have questions, contact Align Counsel at info@aligncounsel.ca.