- Consumer's Choice Award 2019
- Consumer's Choice Award 2020
- Consumer's Choice Award 2021
- Consumer's Choice Award 2022
- Consumer's Choice Award 2023
- Consumer's Choice Award 2024
Outside general counsel services provide strategic, ongoing legal support without the overhead of a full-time in-house team. In the Lower West Side, businesses rely on steady guidance on corporate governance, contract management, employment matters, and risk mitigation. A seasoned outside counsel offers proactive advice, helps set policy, reviews major agreements, and aligns legal work with business goals. This arrangement reduces surprise liabilities, speeds decision making, and keeps your leadership focused on growth, customer service, and competitive advantage.
Working with an outside general counsel means your legal function scales with your business. As you expand, you gain access to a trusted adviser who understands state and local regulations, contract negotiation, and dispute avoidance. The relationship emphasizes clear communication, documented processes, and predictable fees. The goal is a lasting partnership that supports operational agility while maintaining compliance with Illinois law and industry standards.
Choosing this approach delivers more than protection from risk. Companies in the Lower West Side benefit from rapid access to senior judgment, streamlined contract review, and governance guidance that aligns with business strategy. A reliable outside general counsel helps minimize surprises in negotiations, improves drafting, and fosters disciplined decision making, all while offering predictable costs and scalable support that grows with your company.
This firm brings breadth of practice across corporate law, contract management, employment matters, and compliance programs. Our team understands the Chicago market and Illinois regulations, with practitioners who have guided numerous businesses through growth, restructurings, fundraising, and governance changes. The approach combines practical problem solving with strong advocacy when needed, ensuring you have a dependable partner who can translate legal language into clear business actions.
Outside general counsel is a retained relationship where a designated attorney acts as a company’s ongoing legal adviser. The role covers policy development, contract workflows, risk assessment, and compliance monitoring. Rather than handling ad hoc matters, this service supports proactive planning, timely reviews, and escalation protocols. The arrangement is designed to fit the pace of daily business while ensuring legal considerations remain integrated into strategic choices.
Clients gain a predictable framework for legal work, with defined processes, service levels, and communication norms. Regular check-ins, documented decisions, and a shared calendar of obligations help prevent bottlenecks. This model prioritizes business outcomes, helps reduce external spend, and provides steady access to senior counsel when complex issues arise. The objective is to empower leadership to act decisively with confidence.
Outside general counsel describes a long term legal partnership in which a lawyer or team acts as an extension of the company’s leadership. The arrangement blends strategic guidance with practical legal support, covering governance, contract management, risk controls, and regulatory compliance. It is designed to align legal work with business goals, deliver timely advice, and help navigate complex environments without the fixed costs of a full in house department.
Core elements include governance frameworks, contract lifecycle oversight, risk evaluation, compliance monitoring, and clear communication protocols. The processes typically involve proactive policy reviews, routine contract audits, and regular reporting to leadership. With defined steps and accountability, the service supports consistent decision making, efficient negotiations, and durable protection against regulatory and operational risks.
Glossary entries clarify common terms used throughout the service, including governance, contract management, risk, and compliance. Each term is described in plain language to help leadership and staff understand responsibilities, processes, and expectations. The glossary supports consistent communication and faster onboarding for new team members.
Governance and compliance refer to the systems, policies, and practices that help a company operate within legal and ethical boundaries. This area covers board oversight, policy development, code of conduct, internal controls, and regulatory obligations. A solid governance framework supports informed decisions, accountable leadership, and reliable risk management across daily operations.
Contract lifecycle management describes the end to end process of creating, negotiating, signing, performing, and renewing contracts. Effective management ensures clarity in obligations, reduces misunderstandings, tracks renewal dates, and minimizes legal exposure. A disciplined approach integrates risk assessment, stakeholder input, and timely approvals to keep business agreements moving smoothly.
Risk management in a legal context involves identifying potential liabilities, evaluating exposure, and implementing controls to prevent or mitigate harm. It includes compliance checks, insurance coordination, incident response planning, and ongoing monitoring of changes in law. A proactive stance helps protect assets, preserve reputation, and support strategic growth.
Regulatory monitoring refers to staying informed about changes in statutes, rules, and industry standards that affect the business. This includes alerts, periodic reviews, and quick adaptations to policies and contracts. Maintaining current practices reduces compliance risk and ensures governance remains aligned with evolving requirements at both state and federal levels.
Businesses can handle legal needs in several ways, from internal staff to outsourcing to outside counsel or using a general counsel service. The choice depends on volume, complexity, risk, and budget. An outside general counsel arrangement offers strategic depth, access to broad expertise, and ongoing oversight without the costs and commitments of a full in house team.
Limited access can suit smaller operations or peak periods when ongoing legal guidance isn’t necessary every week. A focused engagement provides essential services such as contract reviews, policy updates, regulatory checks, and risk alerts while keeping expenses predictable. This approach preserves agility during growth spurts or resource constraints, enabling leadership to address urgent matters promptly without committing to a full time legal department.
A project based plan works well for negotiations or due diligence on specific deals. It offers flexibility and cost control while ensuring timely, high quality work. This mode lets teams access senior counsel for defined tasks, yet avoids ongoing overhead.
An integrated approach aligns policy, contracts, and risk management with business strategy. It creates consistency across departments, accelerates negotiations, and improves governance transparency. With centralized oversight, teams gain clearer timelines, defined responsibilities, and greater accountability, which leads to smoother growth, fewer miscommunications, and a stronger foundation for sustainable success.
Beyond efficiency, a comprehensive program helps identify opportunities for process improvements, better allocation of legal resources, and proactive planning for regulatory changes. This holistic view reduces last minute scrambles, lowers legal spend over time, and supports leadership in making informed, confident decisions.
Consolidated handling of governance and contract work ensures consistent documentation, auditable decisions, and reliable risk controls. Teams benefit from a unified framework that supports growth while limiting exposure to costly missteps.
An integrated approach also enhances collaboration between leadership and legal, leading to faster responses, clearer expectations, and a shared language for evaluating opportunities and threats. The result is steadier progress, better vendor relationships, and stronger protection of assets.
Set a regular cadence for governance updates, contract reviews, and risk alerts. Use a shared workspace, define decision owners, and record actions with clear due dates. This structure minimizes miscommunication, reduces duplicate work, and keeps the leadership informed. Prioritize high impact matters and track outcomes to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal function while maintaining alignment with business goals.
Integrate risk assessment into routine workflows. Schedule periodic compliance reviews, monitor regulatory updates, and assign owners for remediation tasks. Proactive monitoring helps prevent issues from escalating, protects the business, and builds a culture of accountability around legal matters.
If your business grows beyond a one person legal function, this service provides strategic depth, broad coverage, and ongoing oversight without the fixed overhead of a full in house department. It helps align governance, contracts, and risk management with the company’s goals and operations, delivering reliable support when it matters most.
For teams seeking predictable costs, scalable resources, and timely legal guidance, outside general counsel offers continuity, clearer decision making, and a single point of contact for complex matters. This model supports faster growth while maintaining compliance and prudent risk management across the organization.
Businesses often turn to outside general counsel when facing complex vendor negotiations, rapid growth, regulatory changes, or a need for enhanced governance. This service helps manage multi party contracts, address workforce compliance, and coordinate legal responses to evolving market conditions. It provides a steady framework for decision making during periods of transition.
As a company expands, processes, policies, and roles must scale to support more transactions, customers, and jurisdictions. An outside general counsel helps formalize governance, standardize contract workflows, and implement risk management practices that prevent costly bottlenecks. This support enables leadership to focus on core activities while maintaining control over legal risk.
Regulatory landscapes evolve, bringing new compliance requirements and reporting obligations. Having ongoing legal oversight ensures policies reflect current law, training is updated, and processes adapt quickly. This approach minimizes disruption, reduces penalties, and keeps the business well prepared for audits and examinations.
Mergers, acquisitions, or significant vendor arrangements require coordinated legal input across departments. An outside general counsel provides governance, due diligence support, contract harmonization, and integration planning. This comprehensive involvement helps ensure transactions align with strategic objectives and deliver anticipated value.
Our team stands ready to assist, combining practical legal support with strategic insight. We aim to simplify complex matters, accelerate negotiations, and protect the business through clear policy, disciplined contract management, and proactive risk handling. Reach out to discuss how an outside general counsel arrangement can meet your Chicago area needs.
Frankfort Law Group brings a practical, business minded approach to corporate and contract law. We focus on clear communication, predictable processes, and cost effective solutions that fit the pace of growth in the Lower West Side. Our aim is to deliver reliable guidance that helps leadership make informed decisions with confidence.
We work as a team that values accessible, straightforward advice, collaborative problem solving, and responsive service. By integrating governance, risk management, and policy development into daily operations, we help your organization move forward with clarity and stability.
With a track record across Illinois and Chicago area clients, our attorneys understand local regulations, market conditions, and the practical realities of running a growing business. We tailor solutions to your needs, balancing thoroughness with efficiency to support long term success.
Our process begins with discovery to understand goals, risk, and existing policies. We then propose a tailored plan, set milestones, and establish communication norms. Regular updates keep leadership informed, and flexible engagement options let you adjust scope as needs evolve. You will have access to experienced counsel prepared to address both routine matters and strategic initiatives.
We begin by mapping the current legal landscape, reviewing key contracts, governance documents, and compliance programs. This assessment identifies gaps, clarifies responsibilities, and sets priorities for immediate work. The result is a practical action plan with measurable milestones and clear ownership across the organization.
A thorough review of governance, risk controls, and critical contracts establishes a baseline. We identify urgent issues, opportunities for efficiency, and key renewal dates. Documentation is organized for easy reference, and findings are presented with actionable recommendations to guide next steps.
We develop a detailed plan that aligns legal work with business goals. This includes timelines, owner assignments, and a transparent fee structure. The plan prioritizes high impact items and provides a clear path toward improved governance and contractual efficiency.
Implementation follows the plan, with practical execution of governance improvements, contract management enhancements, and compliance updates. We maintain open channels for feedback, adjust priorities if needed, and report progress in a concise, business oriented format. The focus remains on delivering measurable improvements within established budgets.
Selected initiatives are put into practice, procedures are documented, and teams are trained on new processes. We track adoption, capture outcomes, and refine approaches to maximize efficiency and reduce risk across departments.
Ongoing monitoring ensures governance and contracts stay current. We provide periodic reviews, corrective actions, and strategic guidance to maintain alignment with business objectives and changing regulatory requirements.
We finalize the engagement with a summary of results, documented lessons learned, and a plan for ongoing governance support. This step ensures continuity, clarity, and accountability as the company continues to grow and evolve in its market.
We recap completed work, confirm sign offs, and archive documents in an accessible repository. The goal is to provide a clear record of decisions and outcomes for future reference.
A plan for continued governance, contract oversight, and risk monitoring is established. You retain access to counsel for periodic reviews and strategic guidance as needed to sustain progress.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
At the Frankfort Law Group, we take great pride in our commitment to personal service. Clients come to us because they have problems, and they depend upon us to help them find solutions. We take these obligations seriously. When you meet with us, we know that you are only doing so because you need help. Since we started our firm in northeast Illinois, we have focused on providing each of our clients with personal attention. You do not have to be afraid to tell us your story. We are not here to judge you or make you feel ashamed for seeking help. Our only goal is to help you get results and move past your current legal problems.
Outside General Counsel is a retained relationship where a lawyer or team acts as an ongoing adviser for the company. This arrangement blends strategic guidance with practical legal support, covering governance, contract management, risk controls, and regulatory compliance. It is designed to align legal work with business goals, deliver timely advice, and help navigate complex environments without the fixed costs of a full in house department. The relationship emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and measurable outcomes.
For growing businesses in the Lower West Side, this service provides scalable resources, consistent policy development, and proactive risk management. It enables fast decision making, improves contract quality, and integrates legal considerations into everyday operations. Regular updates and a clear escalation path help leadership stay informed and ready to respond to changing market conditions.
Common contracts include vendor agreements, employment documents, NDAs, customer terms, and licensing deals. The Outside General Counsel oversees drafting, negotiation, risk assessment, and renewals to ensure clarity and compliance. A centralized approach reduces renegotiation cycles, enhances consistency, and supports efficient scale across departments as the business grows.
Costs are typically structured as predictable retainer fees or project based allocations. This approach avoids surprise invoices and allows budgeting with clear scope. You pay for access to experienced counsel, with the flexibility to expand or scale back as needs change. Over time, this can create substantial savings versus ad hoc external work and in house expansion.
You will work with a designated attorney or team who serves as your legal point of contact. Communication often occurs through regular calls, emails, and a shared workspace for documents. The goal is clarity, accessibility, and timely responses. Each engagement defines roles, responsibilities, and decision rights to keep matters moving smoothly.
Yes. A comprehensive approach includes governance programs, policy reviews, training, and monitoring for regulatory changes. We tailor the scope to industry and jurisdiction, ensuring you stay compliant while avoiding unnecessary bottlenecks. Regular updates help anticipate shifts in the legal landscape that could affect operations.
Starting a conversation is simple. We assess your needs, available data, and timelines, then propose a practical plan. Once you approve, we mobilize a team to begin with priority items. Our processes emphasize clear milestones and predictable engagement, so you can begin benefiting from legal guidance quickly without disruption to your daily operations.
If specialized matters arise, we coordinate with trusted colleagues who bring focused expertise. The Outside General Counsel model supports core governance and contract work, while we can bring in additional specialists for specific projects when necessary. You receive integrated management and a single point of accountability throughout the process.
The service is suitable for both startups and established companies. Startups gain scalable legal support as they grow, while established firms benefit from governance enhancements and efficient contract management. The flexibility to adjust scope and resources makes it a practical fit across different stages of business maturity.
Success is measured by clarity in governance, improved contract quality, reduced cycle times, and predictable costs. We track milestones, response times, and stakeholder satisfaction. Regular reviews confirm that legal activities align with business goals and contribute to sustainable growth.