- 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
Businesses in Kankakee and throughout Illinois often need steady, strategic legal guidance without the cost of a full-time in-house general counsel. An outside general counsel partner provides timely advice on contracts, risk management, compliance, and governance, enabling leaders to focus on growth and day-to-day operations. This flexible arrangement makes it easier to align legal decisions with business goals while keeping legal spend predictable and transparent.
Frankfort Law Group offers this service to mid-sized and growing companies in Kankakee and the surrounding counties, combining practical legal counsel with business insight. You gain access to experienced attorneys who understand local regulations and industry needs, with responsive guidance that fits your schedule, budget, and strategic priorities.
Engaging an outside general counsel brings steady, proactive support for governance, risk mitigation, and strategic planning. The arrangement provides scalable resources, ensures timely contract reviews, and helps foresee legal impacts on major business decisions. Clients gain predictable costs, access to seasoned practitioners, and a partner who integrates legal thinking with growth goals without the overhead of a full-time internal role.
Frankfort Law Group serves clients across Illinois with a collaborative team approach. Our attorneys bring broad experience in business and corporate law, commercial transactions, and risk management. While there is no single path, the firm emphasizes practical, results-oriented guidance tailored to the needs of mid-sized businesses and family-owned enterprises in the Kankakee region.
Outside general counsel is a strategic, scalable resource designed to mimic an in-house legal department. The arrangement covers contract lifecycle management, regulatory compliance, governance, and litigation readiness. It emphasizes proactive planning, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving to align legal priorities with business objectives in a cost-efficient manner.
This service model suits companies seeking senior-level guidance without the fixed overhead of traditional employment. It offers flexibility in engagement terms, responsiveness to urgent matters, and ongoing legal risk assessment that evolves with the company’s growth, market changes, and regulatory environment in Illinois.
An outside general counsel acts as a legal partner to a business, providing strategic counsel, contract review, and risk management on an ongoing basis. The arrangement integrates legal thinking into business decisions, reduces exposure to regulatory risk, and enhances the ability to scale legal support as the organization grows. It blends senior-level insight with practical execution tailored to Illinois regulations.
Core elements include governance structure design, contract lifecycle management, risk assessment, regulatory compliance tracking, and board advisory support. Processes emphasize proactive planning, regular communication, and documented workflows. The goal is to deliver timely guidance, reduce surprises, and ensure decisions align with both short-term needs and long-term strategy.
This glossary clarifies common terms used to describe the outside general counsel relationship, the scope of services, and the processes used to deliver practical legal support for growing Illinois businesses.
Governance and Compliance refers to the framework and practices that ensure a company follows laws, regulations, and internal policies. It includes board oversight, policy development, risk assessment, and the implementation of controls to prevent legal issues and support sustainable growth.
Contract Negotiation and Drafting encompasses the creation, review, and negotiation of business agreements. It focuses on protecting interests, clarifying responsibilities, and minimizing exposure to risk while maintaining workable, enforceable terms aligned with business goals.
Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management involves identifying applicable laws, monitoring changes, and implementing controls to reduce exposure. It includes audits, training, and policy updates to keep the business compliant and prepared for enforcement actions, penalties, or litigation.
Budgeting and Cost Management for Legal Services covers forecasting legal spend, tracking matters, and ensuring cost-effective use of outside counsel. It emphasizes transparent billing, milestone-based work, and alignment with business priorities to avoid surprises.
Companies have several paths for legal support, including in-house general counsel, retainer arrangements with a law firm, or project-based external counsel. Each option has trade-offs in cost, control, and flexibility. The outside general counsel model combines senior guidance with scalable resources, offering steady counsel while avoiding the fixed overhead of a full-time internal team.
A limited approach is often appropriate for routine contracts, compliance checks, and recurring governance tasks. It allows the business to access strategic guidance on a case-by-case basis while keeping ongoing legal spend predictable. This approach supports growth without committing to a full-time legal team.
For companies experiencing steady activity but stable risk, a targeted, project-based arrangement delivers essential legal support during peak periods or major initiatives. It helps preserve cash flow and ensures critical issues receive timely attention without committing to continuous full-time coverage.
A comprehensive service covers governance, contract management, regulatory oversight, and risk mitigation in a cohesive program. This integrated approach helps prevent gaps, aligns legal work with business strategy, and supports long-term planning with a single, reliable partner.
With a full-service approach, companies gain proactive counsel, continuity across matters, and scalable resources that grow with the business. The arrangement reduces disruption, enhances decision-making, and provides a consistent legal voice for executives and stakeholders.
A comprehensive approach delivers consistent guidance across contracts, compliance, governance, and risk. It helps teams anticipate legal needs, lowers the chance of costly surprises, and strengthens the organization’s ability to execute strategic initiatives with confidence.
By consolidating support, the business gains faster response times, clearer ownership of matters, and a unified policy framework. The arrangement supports strategic growth while maintaining practical control over legal spend and outcomes.
A full-service approach aligns legal work with business strategy, ensuring decisions consider regulatory implications, contractual risk, and long-term outcomes. This cohesion helps leadership plan with greater confidence and execute more effectively.
Operational efficiency increases as teams rely on a single trusted partner for multiple needs. Clear processes, predictable timelines, and coordinated workflows minimize bottlenecks and deliver tangible time and cost savings over time.
Define who handles which matters and establish escalation paths for urgent items. Regularly review roles to ensure responsibilities align with current business priorities. Clear boundaries help teams work efficiently, reduce duplication, and improve overall service delivery from the outside counsel partner.
Document key decisions, contracts, and compliance actions so future work is easier to manage. Proactive planning reduces rework, supports audits, and ensures a smoother path during periods of expansion or regulatory change.
Growing businesses benefit from scalable legal support that matches demand. An outside general counsel provides senior insight without the fixed cost of a full-time professional, enabling prudent budgeting and timely guidance as the company evolves within Illinois markets.
For firms navigating complex contracts, regulatory changes, or governance updates, this service offers continuity, risk-aware decision making, and a single point of contact to streamline legal work and strategic initiatives.
A company may consider outside general counsel when entering major vendor agreements, pursuing acquisitions or reorganizations, or facing evolving regulatory requirements. In each case, seasoned guidance helps align legal activity with business goals and minimizes disruption to operations.
When a business expands, the volume and complexity of legal work rise. An outside general counsel provides strategic risk assessment, contract oversight, and governance support to keep pace with growth while maintaining cost controls and predictable budgeting.
Regulatory landscapes shift often, requiring timely updates to policies, training, and procedures. External counsel offers monitoring, interpretation, and implementation guidance to keep the organization compliant without overwhelming internal resources.
Significant transactions demand thorough due diligence, risk assessment, and precise contract terms. An outside general counsel can lead the process, coordinate teams, and ensure documentation supports strategic objectives and regulatory compliance.
Our team stands ready to provide practical legal guidance that supports daily operations and long-term plans. We tailor services to your industry, company size, and growth trajectory, delivering clear, actionable advice backed by years of experience in Illinois business and corporate law. We welcome inquiries and look forward to discussing how we can assist your organization.
Choosing our outside general counsel team offers a blend of strategic perspective, practical execution, and local expertise. We focus on what matters most to your business, from contract optimization to governance frameworks, with transparent communication and reliable delivery of results.
Our approach emphasizes collaboration, measurable outcomes, and a clear service structure. You gain senior-level guidance, flexible engagement terms, and a dependable partner who can scale with your needs while maintaining cost discipline.
We value accessibility, responsiveness, and a practical, no-nonsense style that keeps legal work aligned with business priorities. This ensures you receive meaningful support when and where you need it most.
Our firm follows a practical, client-centered process designed to deliver timely counsel with clarity. We begin with understanding your business, then map priorities, establish governance and contract workflows, and implement a plan that aligns with your goals and compliance needs. Regular reviews ensure continuous progress and alignment with changing conditions in Illinois.
Initial Consultation and Needs Assessment focuses on understanding your business model, risk profile, and strategic objectives. This phase establishes relationships, reviews current contracts, and identifies immediate priorities to guide the engagement moving forward.
During the initial discussion, we gather business context, review key documents, and outline a plan with timelines. The goal is to translate business goals into actionable legal steps while ensuring all critical areas are covered.
We summarize findings, define deliverables, and set expectations for ongoing communication. This ensures alignment, transparency, and a clear path to addressing high-priority matters promptly.
Needs Assessment and Plan Development builds a tailored strategy. We map contracts, risk controls, and governance processes, agreeing on milestones, reporting, and resource allocation to support your objectives.
In this phase, we detail the scope, assign responsibilities, and confirm the required documentation. The plan emphasizes practical steps and ensures everyone understands their role in the process.
Drafting and review priorities are established, with timelines that fit business cycles. We begin implementing essential policies and contract templates to standardize operations.
Execution and Ongoing Support focuses on delivering agreed actions, monitoring progress, and adjusting the plan as needed. Regular check-ins ensure continued alignment with business goals and regulatory changes.
We execute prioritized items, maintain documentation, and provide progress reports. The emphasis is on steady, reliable delivery and transparent updates.
Ongoing review and refinement continue, ensuring that policies stay current and contracts reflect evolving business needs and legal requirements.
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 ongoing legal guidance, contract oversight, governance support, and risk management. The arrangement is designed to be cost-effective and scalable, adapting to your company’s growth and regulatory needs in Illinois.
Billing often follows a retainer or milestone-based structure with clear scope. Costs depend on engagement level, volume of work, and the complexity of matters. We aim for predictable budgeting and transparent reporting so you can plan accordingly.
Yes. The model is designed to scale with peak periods or special projects, providing additional resources as needed without a long-term commitment to a larger fixed team. This flexibility helps maintain momentum during busy times.
A typical start includes an intake meeting, document review, and priority setting, followed by a phased plan. Value emerges as contracts are standardized, policies are updated, and governance processes become routine over the first several weeks.
We follow best practices for confidentiality and data security, with secure systems for document handling and access control. Clients retain ownership of their information, and we adhere to applicable privacy and safeguarding requirements.
Yes. We monitor regulatory developments, update policies, and assist with audits as needed. Ongoing compliance support is integrated into the service to minimize disruption and keep you aligned with current requirements.
A primary attorney leads matters with a dedicated team supporting you. You communicate through a single point of contact for efficiency, while our wider team provides specialized expertise as needed.
Our approach emphasizes collaboration, practical planning, and measurable outcomes. You receive transparent workflows, consistent governance, and a partner who treats legal work as a strategic business function rather than a standalone process.
Yes. We tailor guidance to industries common in Illinois, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and professional services, providing templates, risk assessments, and compliance considerations relevant to your sector.
We offer flexible terms and a fair exit policy. You can adjust scope as needed, and terminate with reasonable notice while preserving access to essential documents and transition support.