- 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
Frankfort Law Group offers flexible outside general counsel services for growing businesses in Posen and the surrounding Cook County area. When a company needs steady governance, risk management, and strategic legal support without hiring a full internal team, we provide practical guidance, scalable resources, and responsive counsel. Our approach focuses on aligning legal strategy with business goals, reducing risk, and helping leadership make informed decisions. We act as a trusted partner to support ongoing stability and growth.
Our outside general counsel model integrates with your leadership and management teams to provide proactive legal oversight, timely contract review, and strategic planning. We tailor services to your industry, company size, and risk profile, ensuring clear communication and measurable outcomes. This approach helps you maintain compliance, protect assets, and pursue objectives with confidence while controlling legal costs and preserving internal capacity for core operations.
Engaging outside general counsel delivers continuity, consistency, and strategic perspective for your business. It provides ongoing governance, contract discipline, and risk management without the overhead of a full in-house team. You gain access to seasoned guidance on corporate matters, regulatory compliance, and strategic initiatives, enabling faster decision making, smoother negotiations, and a clearer path toward sustainable growth while maintaining flexibility in spending and resource allocation.
Frankfort Law Group is a Illinois-based firm serving businesses across Cook County and surrounding communities. Our team brings broad experience in corporate governance, contract strategy, compliance programs, labor and employment concerns, and commercial transactions. We collaborate closely with client leadership to understand objectives, industry specifics, and risk tolerances. The staff includes attorneys and paralegals who emphasize clear communication, practical solutions, and responsible, long-term legal oversight tailored to your organization.
Outside general counsel is a retainer-based or on-demand service that provides reliable legal guidance across major business functions. It differs from traditional law firms by offering ongoing strategic support, governance, and risk management integrated with your leadership. The goal is to align legal work with business strategy, empower decision makers, and deliver predictable costs while ensuring compliance and proactive risk mitigation.
This service complements in-house teams by filling gaps in governance, policy development, and contract management. It enables a company to address complex matters promptly, negotiate favorable terms, and maintain a steadfast focus on growth. With a dedicated legal partner, you can navigate regulatory changes, protect intellectual property, and streamline internal processes with confidence.
Outside general counsel is a legal service model where a law firm acts as an ongoing, integrated advisor to a business. The arrangement delivers strategic counsel on governance, risk, and policy, along with practical support on daily legal matters. It replaces or supplements an internal legal department with a reliable external partner who can scale services according to the company’s size and needs.
Key elements include governance framework development, contract lifecycle management, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and strategic advisory. The processes emphasize regular communication, clear documentation, and proactive planning. The aim is to create a dependable legal infrastructure that supports operations, protects assets, and informs decision making without creating unnecessary overhead or bottlenecks.
A concise glossary accompanies this guide to define common terms used in outside general counsel relationships, emphasizing practical meaning and how each term applies to business operations and governance.
Governance and compliance refers to the systems, policies, and controls that guide how a company is directed, managed, and regulated. It includes board oversight, policy development, risk assessment, and adherence to applicable laws and industry standards. A solid framework supports accountability, transparency, and stable growth.
Contract management encompasses the lifecycle of agreements from drafting and negotiation to execution, renewal, and enforcement. It focuses on clarity, risk allocation, compliance with terms, and monitoring performance. Efficient contract management helps protect value and reduce disputes.
Risk management involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal and business risks across the organization. This includes liability exposure, regulatory changes, and operational vulnerabilities. A proactive approach reduces potential losses and supports sustained performance.
Corporate governance covers the framework by which a company is directed and controlled. It includes board processes, fiduciary duties, conflict management, and stakeholder accountability. Strong governance promotes trust and resilience in the marketplace.
Businesses evaluate several paths for legal support, including in-house staff, law firm engagements for specific matters, or a comprehensive outside general counsel arrangement. Each option has distinct cost structures, flexibility, and timelines. A tailored approach, informed by company goals and risk priorities, helps determine the best balance between control, access, and efficiency.
A limited approach is suitable when a business requires focused guidance on specific legal areas, such as contract review, compliance updates, or policy drafting. This model provides essential support without overcommitting resources. Timely, targeted advice helps keep projects on track and reduces risk in critical moments while preserving flexibility for future needs.
A limited approach can work well for fast-moving enterprises that need quick responses and practical solutions. It enables efficient use of resources, allows for scalable involvement as issues evolve, and keeps the leadership informed with concise, actionable guidance that aligns with business priorities.
A comprehensive service is valuable when a business faces multiple ongoing needs across governance, compliance, and risk. A unified program provides consistency, reduces the risk of gaps, and supports long-term planning. It helps leadership anticipate requirements, streamline decision making, and maintain a steady course as the organization grows.
A broad engagement is particularly useful during periods of change, such as expansion, mergers, or regulatory updates. A single partner can coordinate efforts, align policies, and deliver cross-functional guidance that keeps all departments moving in step and reduces friction.
A comprehensive approach offers consistent governance, stronger risk controls, and streamlined operations. By unifying policy development, contract oversight, and regulatory compliance, a business can avoid redundant efforts, improve communication, and respond more effectively to legal developments. The result is steadier growth and clearer accountability across teams.
This approach also helps allocate internal resources efficiently, enabling leadership to focus on strategy and execution. With a predictable engagement model, costs are easier to forecast, and the organization can scale services as needs evolve. The long-term partnership supports ongoing improvement and resilience.
Benefit one centers on consistency. A unified set of policies and procedures ensures that decisions are informed by the same standards and expectations. This reduces confusion, shortens approval cycles, and helps maintain a cohesive legal posture across the company.
Benefit two focuses on risk reduction. Through proactive reviews, contract discipline, and governance oversight, potential issues are identified early and addressed before they impact operations or the bottom line. This supports stable, sustainable growth in a dynamic business environment.
Consider a phased approach to outside general counsel engagement, starting with governance and policy development, then expanding into contract management and risk oversight. This helps establish a solid foundation while staying flexible to accommodate growth and changing needs over time.
Include compliance milestones and performance metrics in quarterly reviews to demonstrate value and guide ongoing improvements. This helps management track progress, allocate resources wisely, and adjust scope as strategic priorities evolve.
Considering outside general counsel can provide a cost-effective, scalable solution for ongoing legal needs without building a large internal function. It enables steady governance, timely guidance on complex issues, and access to a broad range of legal skills tailored to your industry and growth stage.
This approach supports strategic planning, better risk management, and improved negotiation outcomes. It also offers flexibility in scope, allowing you to adjust engagement level as your business evolves, without sacrificing continuity or quality of counsel.
Companies facing rapid growth, complex regulatory changes, multi‑state operations, or frequent contract negotiations often benefit from an outside general counsel arrangement. When governance, policy alignment, or risk management becomes a priority, a consistent external partner helps maintain momentum and reduces downtime.
During periods of expansion, businesses need scalable legal support for new markets, partnerships, and structuring. An external counsel team can provide governance guidance, help align subsidiary arrangements, and ensure compliance across jurisdictions while keeping internal teams focused on core activities.
Shifts in law or industry standards require timely interpretation and action. External counsel can monitor changes, update policies, and implement training to keep the organization compliant and responsive to evolving requirements without overburdening internal resources.
A high volume of contracts across multiple departments benefits from centralized oversight. An external partner can establish standardized templates, track renewal timelines, and maintain consistency in risk allocation, helping teams negotiate efficiently and minimize disputes.
If you are seeking practical, ongoing legal guidance for governance, compliance, and risk management in Posen, our team is ready to assist. We collaborate closely with leadership to understand objectives, translate them into actionable policy, and implement processes that protect the business while supporting growth. Reach out to discuss how we can tailor a program to your needs.
Choosing our firm means partnering with a team that emphasizes clear communication, practical guidance, and dependable execution. We prioritize getting to know your business, its objectives, and its challenges to deliver governance and risk management that fit your culture and operations.
We offer consistent availability, structured processes, and results that align with growth plans. Our approach focuses on collaboration, transparent decision making, and sustainable compliance, ensuring your leadership can act with confidence across day-to-day decisions and strategic initiatives.
Our commitment is to provide value through reliable, scalable legal support that protects you, helps you navigate complexities, and supports long-term success for your business in Illinois and beyond.
Our process begins with a clear discovery of your needs, followed by a tailored engagement plan. We establish governance objectives, define scope, and set expectations for communication and reporting. Ongoing monitoring, regular reviews, and adaptive strategies ensure your legal program remains aligned with business goals while providing measurable value.
Initial assessment and goal alignment involve understanding current governance, contracts, regulatory exposures, and strategic priorities. We identify gaps, propose improvements, and outline a practical plan that can be implemented within your timeline and budget. This sets a solid foundation for ongoing collaboration.
In this phase we gather relevant documents, discuss risk tolerance, and map key processes. The goal is to translate business aims into a clear legal action plan with milestones, responsibilities, and expected outcomes that all stakeholders understand.
We establish governance frameworks, policy templates, and reporting mechanisms. This creates a repeatable structure for guidance, reviews, and updates that keeps pace with the company’s growth and regulatory changes.
Engagement and strategy focus on implementing approved plans. We work with leadership to set priorities, assign responsibilities, and begin practical work on contracts, compliance programs, and risk controls, with regular status updates to ensure alignment.
Document review and policy development occur to establish clear standards. We ensure that contracts, policies, and procedures reflect your business objectives and risk posture, while maintaining practicality for day-to-day operations.
Implementation begins with operationalizing guidelines, rolling out templates, and training teams. Ongoing feedback loops help refine processes and keep your organization compliant and efficient.
Ongoing support includes monitoring, reporting, and adapting to new laws or business changes. We provide continuous governance, risk updates, and strategic advice to sustain performance and protect value over time.
Regular updates and governance reviews are scheduled to keep leadership informed. We document decisions, track progress, and adjust plans as needed to reflect evolving objectives and market conditions.
We continue to monitor compliance programs, risk indicators, and performance metrics to ensure the program remains effective and aligned with the business strategy.
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 acts as an integrated advisor, providing ongoing guidance on governance, risk, and policy. This model suits organizations seeking steady legal leadership without the overhead of a full in-house department. A practical engagement focuses on clarity, responsiveness, and alignment with business goals, delivering predictable support and scalable resources as needs evolve.
Retainer arrangements typically involve a monthly or quarterly fee with defined scope. Costs are predictable and align with the level of service provided, including regular governance work and strategic input. You can adjust scope as the business grows, ensuring you pay for value and outcomes rather than activity alone.
Our service covers governance, contract management, regulatory compliance, and strategic advisory. We assist with policy development, risk assessments, vendor agreements, employee matters, and corporate filings. If a matter falls outside the core scope, we coordinate referrals or provide project-based support to fill gaps efficiently.
We typically begin with a discovery phase to understand your priorities and then align a tailored plan. Once in place, engagement can scale with your needs, from periodic reviews to ongoing day-to-day support. Our process emphasizes rapid responsiveness, clear SLAs, and consistent communication.
We establish preferred channels, regular cadence, and collaborative workflows with your teams. By integrating with operations, finance, and compliance, we ensure policies are practical and applied consistently, and feedback loops keep the program relevant to day-to-day work.
We provide dashboards, milestone reports, and risk summaries that track progress and outcomes. Reports cover governance activities, contract statuses, policy updates, and regulatory changes, helping leadership stay informed and ready to respond.
Yes. We monitor regulatory developments, translate them into actionable steps, and update policies and training as needed. Our approach minimizes disruption while keeping your organization compliant and prepared for changes in the legal landscape.
Absolutely. We support multi‑state operations by adapting templates and processes to different jurisdictions, coordinating with local counsel as necessary, and ensuring consistent standards across locations.
If a matter falls outside our core scope, we transparently identify gaps, propose alternatives, and coordinate connections to trusted specialists or project‑based help to ensure you receive comprehensive support.
Value is measured through continuity, risk reduction, timely guidance, and the ability to execute strategic initiatives. Regular reviews help quantify outcomes, inform budgeting, and demonstrate how the program supports growth and stability.