- 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
At Frankfort Law Group, our Outside General Counsel approach provides strategic legal guidance without the fixed overhead of a traditional in‑house team. We partner with growing Illinois businesses in Steger and surrounding areas to align legal strategy with commercial objectives. By acting as an extension of your leadership, we help you manage risk, stay compliant, and plan for scale with clarity and confidence.
Unlike rigid outsourcing, our services flex with your needs and budget. We deliver practical, results‑focused guidance on contract review, governance, regulatory updates, and day‑to‑day legal decision making. Whether you are launching a new product, negotiating partnerships, or addressing disputes, our team brings steady counsel, timely communication, and a proactive mindset that supports resilient operations.
Engaging Outside General Counsel helps steady leadership, shorten response times, and improve decision quality across the organization. It reduces the risk of compliance gaps and ensures strategic alignment between legal guidance and business goals. This service supports governance, contract discipline, risk management, and scalable growth, allowing owners and managers to focus on core activities while maintaining strong oversight. In Steger and the broader Illinois market, guided leadership translates into smoother operations and better long term outcomes.
Frankfort Law Group is dedicated to practical business law for Illinois companies. Our team combines broad corporate experience with hands-on industry insight to deliver clear, actionable advice. We work with emerging enterprises and mid sized firms across Cook County, including Steger, offering responsive counsel on governance, contracts, employment matters, and strategic transactions. Our approach emphasizes collaborative problem solving, transparent communication, and outcomes that support day-to-day operations and long-term objectives.
Outside General Counsel services provide strategic legal leadership without the fixed salary of a full-time general counsel. In practice, our team becomes a trusted partner to executive leadership, offering proactive planning, risk assessment, and timely legal insight across daily operations and major initiatives. We tailor the scope to your needs, ensuring coverage for corporate governance, contract management, compliance programs, and key negotiations while maintaining cost efficiency and flexibility.
By integrating with your internal teams, we streamline decision making, improve policy enforcement, and help you anticipate legal issues before they arise. Our approach emphasizes practical, business-focused guidance that supports growth while protecting assets and reputation. We maintain accessible communication, detailed documentation, and a steady cadence of reviews, updates, and strategic planning so your company can move forward with confidence.
Outside General Counsel refers to a legal partner who serves as an extension of your leadership, providing direction on complex issues that affect the whole business. This arrangement blends strategic planning with practical execution, aligning legal risk with commercial goals. From corporate governance to contract strategy, the engagement emphasizes proactive management, informed decision making, and clear accountability. The arrangement is designed to offer scalable support, enabling steady operations without the overhead of a permanent internal team.
Core elements include governance framework, contract lifecycle management, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and open communication channels. The processes center on proactive planning, scheduled reviews, and rapid response protocols for urgent matters. We integrate policy development, training, and internal controls to create a resilient legal function that supports growth. As needs evolve, we expand or shrink scope while maintaining consistent availability, ensuring your business remains compliant and informed through every phase.
This glossary clarifies common terms used to describe an Outside General Counsel arrangement, including governance, risk, compliance, and contract management. Understanding these terms helps leadership communicate expectations, measure performance, and align legal services with business goals. The definitions below reflect practical, business oriented language suitable for Illinois companies seeking flexible legal leadership.
Governance refers to the structure of policies, controls, and decision rights that guide the organization. Compliance means adhering to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards to operate ethically and avoid penalties. Together, governance and compliance create a framework that supports accountability, strategic planning, and sustainable growth.
Contract management covers drafting, review, negotiation, approval workflows, and ongoing monitoring of obligations. A well‑managed contract program reduces risk, clarifies expectations, and supports timely renewal or termination decisions. This element is central to protecting business interests and maintaining vendor and customer relationships.
Risk assessment involves identifying potential legal and operational threats, evaluating their likelihood and impact, and prioritizing actions to reduce exposure. Mitigation includes proactive controls, policy updates, insurance considerations, and incident response planning. This process helps the business stay agile while protecting assets and reputation.
Policy development creates formal guidelines for daily operations, decision making, and employee conduct. Internal controls establish checks and balances that minimize errors and fraud. Together, they support consistent practices, easier audits, and clearer accountability across departments. Regular reviews keep policies current with evolving laws and business needs.
Choosing between full-time in-house counsel, freelance counsel, or an Outside General Counsel arrangement requires evaluating cost, responsiveness, and strategic alignment. An Outside General Counsel offers flexible access to seasoned guidance without the overhead of a permanent department. It balances proactive planning with practical execution, helping to maintain momentum during growth, manage risk, and keep legal costs predictable.
During early stages, a small set of core matters may be handled effectively with targeted legal support. This keeps costs predictable while providing essential governance, contract review, and risk oversight. As the business grows, scope can expand to address broader needs, maintaining continuity and policy alignment.
For specific projects or transitional periods, a focused engagement delivers practical guidance without committing to a long-term arrangement. It supports negotiations, regulatory reviews, and structured decision making, while leaving routine operations to internal teams or a temporary plan. This approach keeps the organization nimble and aligned with evolving priorities.
For companies pursuing ongoing expansion, a broader, integrated legal function helps manage multiple workstreams and reduces gaps. It supports governance, employment, IP, licensing, and acquisition activity with coordinated guidance. This approach ensures consistent policy, timely updates, and a stable foundation for scaling.
As compliance regimes expand, a comprehensive service provides centralized oversight, policy enforcement, and proactive risk mitigation. It reduces the likelihood of costly penalties and operational disruptions by aligning procedures with current laws, industry standards, and best practices. Regular reviews, training, and incident response planning are included to maintain resilience.
With a comprehensive approach, legal guidance becomes a coordinated, company-wide resource. Leadership gains consistent policy, streamlined contract handling, and clearer accountability. This alignment reduces friction between departments, shortens cycle times for negotiations, and supports strategic initiatives with reliable risk management. The result is a resilient framework that travels with the business from startup through growth.
One notable benefit is ensuring legal strategy aligns with business goals. A unified approach fosters cross‑functional collaboration, reduces miscommunications, and supports faster, more informed decisions. This consistency helps teams plan, execute, and measure outcomes, while protecting the organization’s assets and reputation.
Predictable budgeting and scalable resources are core benefits. The ability to expand or contract services based on activity keeps overhead aligned with need, avoids surprise bills, and supports long-term planning. This flexibility helps growth stages, onboarding of new initiatives, and timely responses to changing circumstances.
Start with a documented scope of work that outlines areas of responsibility, expected deliverables, and escalation paths. This helps ensure timely guidance on governance, contracts, and risk matters, while keeping costs predictable. Regular reviews of the scope allow adjustments as the business evolves, avoiding gaps or overlaps in coverage.
Measure impact through defined metrics such as cycle times for negotiations, compliance incident reductions, and policy adoption rates. Use quarterly reviews to refine scope, add or remove services, and align legal support with strategic priorities. A flexible approach ensures your legal function grows with the business and stays aligned with what matters most.
Growing organizations benefit from structured legal leadership that scales with needs. An Outside General Counsel arrangement offers ongoing guidance, reduces the burden on internal teams, and helps you navigate complex regulatory environments. This approach provides steady governance, enhances risk management, and supports strategic partnerships, product development, and expansion while keeping costs manageable.
Companies in competitive markets often require timely decisions and clear policy. A flexible legal partner brings risk intelligence, contract discipline, and governance practices that protect assets and accelerate growth. By aligning legal work with business objectives, you gain smoother operations, better vendor relations, and resilience in the face of changing laws and market dynamics.
Common triggers include rapid growth, complex vendor arrangements, regulatory changes, and frequent contract negotiations. When multiple workstreams demand coordination, an Outside General Counsel helps keep policies coherent, reduces delays, and provides practical guidance across departments. This approach minimizes gaps and ensures your team has trusted counsel available for critical decisions.
As a company expands, governance, compliance, and contract oversight become more complex. An external general counsel provides the additional capacity to maintain structure, implement controls, and support leadership during transitions. This helps ensure consistency and reduces risk as you enter new markets or introduce new products.
As regulations evolve, a dedicated legal partner can anticipate updates, adapt policies, and guide training programs. Proactive management minimizes disruption and helps maintain steady operations across teams.
Frequent negotiations, complex vendor agreements, and significant procurement require careful contract design and oversight. An external general counsel offers consistent templates, standardized review processes, and timely risk assessment to support favorable outcomes and lasting relationships.
Frankfort Law Group provides practical legal leadership tailored to Illinois businesses. We offer responsive support, clear guidance, and hands-on collaboration to address governance, contracts, and growth initiatives. Our goal is to help you navigate risk with calm, confidence, and a focus on outcomes that sustain your operations and protect your interests.
Choosing our firm means partnering with a team that understands local markets, regulations, and the realities of running a business in Steger and Illinois. We provide consistent availability, practical recommendations, and a bias toward outcomes rather than theory. Our collaborative approach emphasizes transparency, plain language, and timely execution that keeps projects moving and teams aligned.
From governance to negotiations, we tailor our services to fit your needs. We do not rely on generic templates alone; instead, we apply disciplined processes, clear communication, and real‑world experience to help you achieve strategic aims while maintaining control over legal spend and priorities.
With a footprint in the local community and a focus on practical results, we align with your business timeline, respond quickly to developments, and help you protect assets and reputation as you grow.
From initial assessment through ongoing management, our process emphasizes clarity, collaboration, and practical results. We begin with a discovery of your business goals, legal priorities, and risk profile. After outlining a tailored plan, we execute with regular updates, documented decisions, and measurable milestones. This approach keeps leadership informed and ensures your legal function adapts as needs and markets change.
During the initial phase we gather essential information about your operations, governance structure, contracts, and compliance obligations. We map out priorities, identify gaps, and set expectations for engagement. The goal is to create a practical plan that aligns legal work with business objectives and provides a clear path forward.
We collect documents, interview key stakeholders, and review existing policies to gain a complete understanding of risk areas and opportunities. This step ensures that subsequent actions are based on accurate, current information and aligned with your strategic priorities.
Based on findings, we draft a practical plan detailing scope, timeline, responsibilities, and success metrics. The plan guides implementation, ensures accountability, and provides your team with a clear reference for future reviews.
We implement the agreed plan, establish governance processes, and monitor progress. Regular touchpoints, policy updates, and contract reviews ensure ongoing alignment with objectives. We adjust as needed to respond to changing conditions while maintaining steady momentum.
We establish decision rights, approval thresholds, and reporting structures so leadership has visibility and control over legal matters across the organization.
Policies, templates, and contract workflows are deployed, with training and documentation to ensure consistent use. This foundation supports efficient operations and reduces risk.
We conduct periodic evaluations of performance, adjust scope, and refresh risk assessments. Ongoing feedback from leadership informs updates to policies, training, and governance practices. The goal is continuous improvement that keeps the legal function responsive and aligned with evolving business needs.
Regular performance reviews measure outcomes against milestones, track cost efficiency, and identify areas for refinement. This discipline ensures accountability and clarity across the engagement.
Policy updates reflect new regulations, market changes, and company growth. We provide updated materials and training to keep teams aligned and compliant.
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 provides strategic leadership without the ongoing cost of a full-time role. It offers scalable guidance on governance, contracts, and risk management, tailored to your business needs. You receive timely, pragmatic advice and ongoing collaboration with your leadership team, helping to navigate growth while keeping operations compliant and aligned. This arrangement supports continuity during leadership changes, distributes expertise across the firm, and applies consistent policies across departments. You pay for services on a predictable basis, with access to a broad range of capabilities when required, ensuring governance and risk management stay strong as your company scales.
Our service is designed to be practical and accessible for Illinois businesses. We tailor the scope, respond promptly, and provide plain language explanations of complex legal issues so leaders can make informed decisions. Regular updates, clear milestones, and collaborative problem solving keep projects on track without interrupting day‑to‑day operations. Fees are transparent and aligned with your needs, avoiding hidden charges. We emphasize value by focusing on proactive planning, risk mitigation, and reliable guidance that supports growth while preserving control over budgets and priorities. We can structure retainer, hourly, or milestone-based arrangements to fit the business cycle and ensure predictable spending.
Getting started is simple. We begin with a structured discovery session to outline your goals, identify key risks, and determine the most appropriate scope of services. Next, we present a tailored plan with clear timelines, assigned responsibilities, success metrics, and a practical budget. This initial phase ensures both sides understand expectations and enables a smooth, efficient engagement from day one. Onboarding is streamlined through shared templates, defined contact points, and a steady communication cadence. You gain ongoing access to a dedicated attorney team, regular status updates, decision-ready briefs, and a transparent path for issue resolution. As needs evolve, we adjust the plan to maintain alignment with business priorities and maintain steady progress.
The typical fee structure balances predictability with flexibility. Many clients prefer a monthly retainer that covers a defined scope of governance, contract review, and risk management tasks, combined with optional project-based work for large initiatives. This approach provides steady access to counsel while avoiding budget surprises. Alternative models include hourly billing for specific engagements or milestone-based pricing for major projects. We tailor the arrangement to fit your cash flow and growth plans, and we provide detailed invoices and clear documentation of work completed so you can track value and outcomes.
Yes, the arrangement is designed to scale with your business. As you expand, we increase coverage to include additional departments, new regulatory challenges, and broader contract management. The flexible structure allows the legal function to grow in tandem with operations without the overhead of hiring a full-time team. Scalability also means quicker onboarding for new projects, improved governance, and a more resilient risk framework. We continuously monitor needs, adjust scope, and bring in specialized resources when required, ensuring the service remains aligned with strategic priorities and market demands.
Yes, we provide guidance on applicable laws and standards across Illinois. Our approach includes updating policies, conducting risk assessments, and implementing training programs to keep teams informed and prepared for changes in the regulatory landscape. We tailor compliance programs to your industry and operations, ensuring ongoing monitoring, documentation, and rapid response to regulatory developments. This support helps minimize penalties, reduce disruption, and maintain competitive integrity.
We work with startups, growth companies, and mid-sized firms across Illinois, including Steger. Our flexible model supports early stage needs and more complex later-stage requirements, delivering consistent guidance without fixed internal headcount. Our practical, business-focused approach helps teams implement strong governance, manage contracts, and address risk as the company scales. We tailor services to fit budgets and timelines while maintaining clear, ongoing communication.
Starting the engagement begins with a no‑obligation consultation to understand your goals, existing legal needs, and risk priorities. We then propose a tailored scope, define roles, and set a realistic timeline for onboarding and initial deliverables that align with your business calendar. Once you approve, we finalize the scope, assign a dedicated team, share a project plan and templates, and establish regular communication routines. You will receive a welcome package, access to collaboration portals, and consistent progress updates as work begins.
We provide service commitments based on responsiveness and quality benchmarks rather than guarantees of legal outcomes. Our aim is to deliver practical guidance, timely communication, and documented processes that improve governance and risk management. While we cannot guarantee specific legal results, we guarantee transparency, accountability, and a plan for ongoing improvement. You will have access to a dedicated team, clear escalation paths, and measurable milestones to track progress and value.
Our service is grounded in Illinois practice and local knowledge of Steger, Cook County, and surrounding communities. We collaborate closely with local clients, participate in regional business networks, and understand how state and municipal rules apply to everyday operations. This local presence translates into proactive, timely support for governance, contracts, employment matters, and regulatory updates, with a straightforward, hometown approach that aligns with your timelines and community expectations.