Outside General Counsel
Your Business Deserves More Than a Lawyer You Call When Something Goes Wrong.
Trial Lawyers. Outside General Counsel. One Firm.
Strategic legal counsel for owners of $1M–$20M+ privately-held companies who want a trial-tested advisor in their corner — for every decision, every deal, and every challenge.
At A Glance
2 Programs
Slingshot &
On-Demand
4 Tiers
Sized To Your Business
$1M–$20M+
Revenue Range
30+ Years
Trial Experience
- Legal Strategy Before Problems Begin
Most outside general counsel firms are transactional. We're a trial firm.
Most outside general counsel firms review contracts and give advice — but when things get serious, they refer you out. We are different. Every contract we review, every risk we identify, and every recommendation we make is informed by what we have seen go wrong in the courtroom.
The Griffith Law Group is a Washington, DC trial firm that also serves as outside general counsel for businesses with $1M–$20M+ in revenue. Our clients do not just get legal advice — they get battle-tested legal strategy.
And when disputes escalate, we are already in your corner. We already know your business. We already know the facts. We are ready to fight.
An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure — and we are that ounce.
- What's Included
Five core services in every engagement
For Slingshot we begin by learning your business — your contracts, your people, your compliance posture, and your growth trajectory. Over the first months of the engagement, we build a complete picture of where you stand and what needs to be addressed.
Contract Review & Drafting
Customer, vendor, partnership, and employment agreements. Drafted for clarity, leverage, and protection.
Vendor & Partnership Agreements
Structuring relationships before they become disputes. Documented terms that hold up under pressure.
Employment & Contractor Matters
Hiring, classification, separations, executive agreements, and the people-side issues that become claims.
Risk Identification & Mitigation
Ongoing assessment of contracts, compliance, people, and growth exposure. The roadmap is documented.
Business Asset & IP Protection
Trade secrets, intellectual property, and the operational assets that define enterprise value.
- Two Programs. One Firm.
The right fit depends on where your business is today
The most protected businesses do not wait for legal problems to find them — they have a consistent legal partner in every key decision. For businesses ready for that commitment, we built The Slingshot Program. For those not yet ready, we offer On-Demand legal support.
- The Slingshot Program
Fractional General Counsel
Your integrated legal partner — always on.
Slingshot is designed for businesses that want an integrated legal partner — not just help when something goes wrong. We attend your key meetings, advise on critical decisions, manage your legal strategy, and proactively assess your legal exposure — at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
- Fixed monthly fee — predictable costs
- Re-evaluation of tier level every six months
- Proactive by design — decisive when issues arise
- All 5 services included at every tier
- Attends key internal meetings as needed
- Access to the full firm — always on
- Borrow up to 3 hours from next month (once per quarter)
- On-Demand Legal Support
Evergreen Retainer
Engage us when you need us.
Not every business is ready for a monthly commitment — and that is okay. With On-Demand legal support, you have access to the full firm whenever you need us, billed at the firm’s hourly rate with no monthly commitment.
- Evergreen retainer — replenishes monthly as hours are used
- Billed at the firm's hourly rate
- No monthly commitment required
- On-call legal support for contracts, decisions, and business matters
- All 5 services included
- Access to the full firm — on demand
- Slingshot Tiers
Four tiers. Sized to your business.
Structured to grow with it.
Each Slingshot tier delivers the same five core services. What changes is the cadence, the embedded hours, and the depth of integration with your business. Tier level is re-evaluated every six months as your business grows.
Foundation
For established operators building their first structured legal infrastructure.
Monthly cadence with proactive legal counsel. All five core services included. Priority response on urgent questions. Reduced rates if litigation matters arise.
Most Chosen
Growth
For operators navigating hiring, larger contracts, and the first executive-level legal questions.
Bi-weekly cadence with on-demand access. Attendance at key internal meetings. Expanded contract drafting and HR counsel. Quarterly risk review.
Scale
For operators needing executive-level legal counsel embedded in major business decisions.
Weekly access to your principal attorney. Full contract lifecycle management. Semi-annual board-ready risk briefings. Litigation-readiness protocols.
Enterprise
Senior-level coverage approaching in-house GC depth for established privately-held businesses.
Dedicated principal attorney relationship. Embedded weekly availability. Quarterly board-ready briefings. Acquisition and capital-event support.
How tier selection works: Your tier is recommended in your initial Strategic Consultation based on revenue band, business complexity, and your current legal infrastructure. Tier levels are re-evaluated every six months as the business grows.
- The Cost of Doing Nothing
Without proactive legal support, small issues turn into expensive problems.
Many business owners delay legal investment because they assume it is unaffordable. The reality is that unmanaged risk is far more expensive.
Avoidable Contract Disputes
Vague terms today become six and seven figure disputes tomorrow.
Compliance Exposure
Regulatory missteps that compound until they trigger an enforcement action.
Employee Classification Issues
Misclassification that becomes a class action when disgruntled workers leave.
Vendor Conflicts
Relationships handled without legal infrastructure that collapse under pressure.
Preventable Lawsuits
The conversation that would have cost an hour becomes the litigation that costs six figures.
The Business You Built
Legal exposure doesn't just cost money. It costs the reputation, the relationships, and the standing in your market that no settlement can restore.
“The reality is that unmanaged risk is far more expensive than managed risk.”
- Is Slingshot Right For You?
Slingshot may be the right fit if any of these sound familiar.
Growing businesses face more decisions, higher stakes, and greater legal exposure. The right legal structure allows you to move with clarity and confidence.
You are making decisions with significant legal consequences but don't have a lawyer in the room.
You have outgrown your startup attorney but aren't ready for a full-time hire.
You are managing employees, vendors, or partnerships without clear legal structure.
Your legal costs are unpredictable and reactive.
You are entering new markets, adding employees, or taking on new business lines.
You want a trusted advisor who understands both the law and your business.
You are signing contracts without consistent legal review.
You are exposed to compliance or regulatory risk.
You keep getting surprised by legal issues that could have been prevented.
You want to avoid costly disputes and litigation before they happen.
You are making growth decisions without legal input.
You want a legal partner involved before problems arise.
- Before You Begin
The GLG Legal Risk Audit
Before you engage an Outside General Counsel program, know exactly where your business stands. The GLG Legal Risk Audit is a structured one-month review across four pillars. You walk away with complete clarity and a documented roadmap.
Contracts
Standard contract language and how your agreements function in practice — uncovering risks and strengthening terms.
Compliance
Regulatory, licensing, and HR compliance to ensure operations are legally sound and risk-resistant.
People
Workforce agreements and contractor classifications. Prevention of legal risks and IP protection.
Growth
Legal considerations in your growth plan — expansion, new markets, partnerships, and investment readiness.
Month 1 -- Audit Conducted
Structured review across all four pillars. Document collection and interviews.
End of Month 1 -- Verbal Debrief
Live walk-through of findings, exposure assessment, and prioritized recommendations.
Week 6 -- Written Report
Comprehensive written deliverable with documented action plan (add-on service).
Available to all clients as a standalone service or as the foundation of your program engagement.
Common Questions about General Counsel SErvices
Outside general counsel refers to a law firm serving as your ongoing legal advisor without being a full time in house employee.
A fractional general counsel is a senior attorney embedded in your business — attending key meetings, advising on critical decisions, and managing your legal strategy — at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
Slingshot is a structured fractional GC engagement with a fixed monthly fee. We are integrated into your business — proactive by design. On-Demand is an evergreen retainer billed hourly with no monthly commitment. Both give you access to the full firm. Slingshot is built for businesses that want a legal partner in the room before decisions are made. On-Demand is for businesses not yet ready for that commitment.
No. The structure is designed for growing businesses that want sophisticated legal support without hiring full time internal counsel.
Yes. Many disputes stem from poorly structured agreements or unmanaged risk. Proactive oversight reduces the likelihood of escalation.
As a trial firm we are equipped to handle the full spectrum - from prevention to courtroom representation. Our clients never have to start over with a new firm when things escalate.
Stop Reacting. Start Growing.
Your business deserves a legal partner as invested in your success as you are — one that is proactive by design and battle-ready by nature.
In our consultation, we will discuss your business objectives, identify which Outside General Counsel program is right for your business, and answer questions about how it works.
"Most firms force business owners to choose between dispute resolution and dispute avoidance. Griffith Law was built so they do not have to."
Marlon Griffith Founder & Principal Litigator