General Counsel Services

What do all Fortune 500 companies share in common?

     Each of them employ an attorney who provides general legal counsel. A general counsel handles the legal issues that arise in connection with the running of the company's business. The general counsel stands in the breach to address any legal issue that comes up. Imagine what would happen to Microsoft or GM or Cisco if the management of those companies turned a blind eye to the first signs of a potential legal issue and ignored it. Frankly, the management would be replaced and the shareholders would be correct in doing so. Ignorance is not bliss.

     Not every business and company, however, has the financial ability to pay for a single lawyer to work full-time as general counsel - let alone to bear the cost of a fully staffed legal department.  This does not mean that legal issues - potentially fraught with consequences  - belong exclusively to those companies with the financial resources to pay for a full-time general counsel. Financial investment, employment, marketing, product development, supply and distribution relationships, and many others are potentially (and are indeed likely) to include legal issues that will impact the the long-term health of the business - whether immediately or down-the-road.

     The Law Office of Randy Merritt offers a cost-effective solution to a small to mid-sized business's need for general counsel. For a fixed monthly retainer, we will provide you with a set number of hours devoted to providing general counsel on whatever projects or needs that arise in connection with your business. Because every business is different, the specific details of each part-time general counsel relationship will vary and will be agreed upon in advance to ensure that you and your business know what to expect.