Think of us as your in-house attorney, at a fraction of the price. You get consistent, strategic legal guidance from a team that knows your business, without the overhead of a full-time hire. We’re there when you need us, aligned with your goals, and ready to scale with you.
Scalable Legal Leadership: Fractional General Counsel Services for Growing Companies
High-growth businesses face legal challenges long before they can justify hiring in-house counsel. That’s where Next Era Legal comes in. We provide fractional general counsel services to support fast-moving companies that need consistent legal strategy, risk management, and transactional guidance, without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Our attorneys embed with your leadership team, offering experienced, business-savvy counsel that adapts as you scale. With offices in Chicago, San Diego, Detroit, and Los Angeles, we serve companies nationwide that want more than just legal advice; they want legal partnership.
Why Founders and Leadership Teams Choose Fractional GC Services
Startups and emerging companies often operate in a legal gray zone, too complex for template contracts, too early for full-time legal staff. A fractional general counsel fills that gap, offering reliable legal support on a flexible basis.
At Next Era Legal, we work with clients who say:
- “We need legal review for every deal, but we can’t justify an in-house GC.”
- “I need a lawyer who understands our business, not someone who starts from scratch every time.”
- “We’re growing fast and need legal systems that can scale.”
- “Our investors are asking for legal clean-up before the next round.”
We don’t just provide legal answers, we become part of your decision-making process.
What Does a Fractional General Counsel Do?
Core Services We Provide
- Day-to-day legal decision support
- Contract review, drafting, and negotiation
- Employment and HR compliance advice
- IP, brand, and licensing strategy
- Regulatory navigation and risk assessment
- Pre-litigation dispute resolution
- Corporate governance and board guidance
- Strategic legal input during fundraising, M&A, or restructuring
Our fractional general counsel service is built around continuity. Unlike project-based outside counsel, we’re always up to speed, so you don’t waste time re-explaining your business every time a legal issue pops up.
A Legal Partner That Grows With You
One of the biggest benefits of a fractional GC is flexibility. Whether you’re a bootstrapped startup, post-seed venture, or fast-growing middle-market company, our model is designed to meet you where you are.
Early-Stage Companies
We help you build a foundation that won’t need to be redone later.
- Founder agreements and equity structuring
- Entity formation and state compliance
- Early-stage fundraising prep
- Hiring and contractor agreements
- Customer and vendor contract templates
Growth-Stage Startups
As your team and deal volume increase, so does legal complexity.
- Term sheets and investor relations
- IP protection and licensing
- HR documentation and compliance audits
- Negotiation support for key deals
- Commercial lease review and real estate guidance
Established Businesses
We provide long-term legal leadership without the cost of a full-time GC.
- Board meeting prep and governance
- Cross-functional legal guidance for finance, HR, and operations
- Strategic legal planning for scale, sale, or succession
- Risk mitigation planning and contract lifecycle management
Why Next Era Legal?
We’re not your typical outside law firm. We specialize in working with growth-minded companies that want legal strategy, not just document review.
Here’s What Sets Our Fractional GC Model Apart:
- Business-First Thinking – We understand how legal decisions connect to financial outcomes and operational tradeoffs.
- Consistent Support – You’ll work with the same lead attorney, not a rotating cast of associates.
- Transparent Pricing – Choose a fixed monthly plan or flexible hourly support based on your needs.
- Fast Response Times – We integrate with your team so legal isn’t a bottleneck.
- Multi-Jurisdictional Experience – With offices in four major markets, we understand local nuance in addition to federal and industry-specific regulations.
We’re not just your lawyer, we’re part of your leadership team.
What to Expect from Our Fractional GC Engagement
We build custom legal programs based on your goals, team size, and growth plans.
Step 1: Strategic Intake
We begin with a deep dive into your business structure, legal history, and priorities. This allows us to identify risks, opportunities, and ongoing needs before issues arise.
Step 2: Legal Infrastructure Audit
We review your:
- Operating and shareholder agreements
- Contracts and templates
- Employment documentation
- Compliance and data policies
- IP portfolio and brand assets
- You get a clear map of where you’re strong and where gaps need to be closed.
To get started, please complete this quick quiz to help us assess how legally ready your business is to grow, raise capital, and avoid risk.
Step 3: Ongoing Legal Partnership
Depending on your chosen support level, we:
- Join weekly or monthly strategy calls
- Review or negotiate contracts in real-time
- Advise on employment and HR issues
- Coordinate with accountants, insurers, and outside vendors
- Serve as your point of contact for board and investor legal questions
You gain a long-term legal presence without the overhead.
Step 4: Special Projects and Transactions
As needed, we scale our support to handle:
- Capital raises and convertible instruments
- Joint ventures, licensing, and distribution agreements
- Franchising and expansion strategy
- Acquisitions and exits
You don’t have to go find a new law firm when your needs evolve; we’re already in the loop.
How We Fit In With Your Team
We don’t sit on the sidelines. Our clients often loop us into:
- Slack channels
- Internal team meetings
- Sales and vendor calls
- HR onboarding
- Finance and investor reporting prep
Your legal support should never feel outsourced. With our fractional GC model, it doesn’t.
Industries We Support
Our legal team brings experience across a wide range of industries. Some of the sectors we frequently advise include:
- SaaS and tech platforms
- Consumer goods and DTC brands
- Professional services and consultancies
- Healthcare and wellness startups
- Franchise systems and multilocation operators
- Real estate development and investment firms
- Hospitality
- Cafes and restaurants
- Home service businesses (HVAC, Plumbing, etc)
We understand how different industries require different risk tolerances, timelines, and legal touchpoints. We customize accordingly.
Local Support, National Reach
With offices in Chicago, San Diego, Detroit, and Los Angeles, we offer localized insights backed by national reach. Whether you’re negotiating a lease in California, forming a new entity in Delaware, or preparing to expand into the Midwest, we’re equipped to guide you.
Chicago
Our Chicago-based attorneys serve professional services firms, fintech startups, and manufacturers looking for scalable legal oversight.
San Diego
We advise Southern California companies in biotech, e-commerce, and wellness on risk mitigation, growth strategy, and vendor contracting.
Detroit
From industrial operations to technology startups, our Detroit team helps Michigan-based businesses develop legal systems to grow and protect value.
Los Angeles
Creative entrepreneurs, digital platforms, and multi-entity operators trust our LA team to keep their legal operations running smoothly.
When to Hire a Fractional General Counsel
If your business has ever faced legal fire drills, rushed redlines, or last-minute document scrambles, you’re probably ready for a fractional GC. Consider hiring us if:
- You’re reviewing contracts weekly without in-house help
- Your team is growing and you need compliant employment structures
- You’re negotiating funding or term sheets
- Legal questions are slowing down deals
- You want to avoid repeat outside counsel costs for recurring legal work
- You’re preparing for diligence or a future exit
You don’t have to be a unicorn to need strategic legal advice. You just have to be growing.
Book a Legal Strategy Session
At Next Era Legal, our fractional general counsel services are built for agility, transparency, and scale. We’re here to help you move fast, without breaking your legal foundation.
Schedule a Legal Strategy Session
Let’s talk about your current legal systems and how we can support your next stage of growth.
Download Our Guide to Scaling Legal Operations
Get practical tips for startups and growth-stage companies looking to implement smart, efficient legal structures.
Offices in Chicago, San Diego, Detroit, and Los Angeles
Wherever you’re based, we bring leadership-level legal thinking to your business, on your terms.