The reality is that most companies are too small to need (much less afford) their own in-house, full-time general counsel. Many make the mistake of assuming that this means they don’t need a general counsel – or can’t afford one – at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is the exact reason Pact was created. To focus on this specific need.

“You don’t know what you don’t know” is true, especially when it comes to law. Whether intentional or not, a violation of the law can prove to be a costly – and sometimes very serious – mistake. Preventive maintenance makes good financial sense. It’s always cheaper and less stressful to avoid problems and mitigate risk to begin with than to try to repair the damage after harm has already been done. 

Before there is a clear need for a full-time, in-house attorney, it is common for a company to “staff” the legal function by using a combination of its owners and key officers, and then retain outside counsel for discrete or technical matters, such as contract negotiations, business litigation or patent work. Sound familiar?

While possibly cost-efficient in the short term, this type of arrangement may result in delegated responsibilities that fall outside of the management’s traditional roles and areas of expertise, which can lead to operational inefficiencies, increased expenses, potential liability, and unanticipated risks.

The leading excuse for avoidance of legal advice is cost. Our fees are fixed and can be incorporated into operational budgets. Overall, engaging outside general counsel can free up management to focus on the business and growth. Tapping into the knowledge of a senior legal counsel can leverage the existing knowledge base of the business exponentially.