Outside General Counsel Services

General Counsel Services, contracts, corporate governance, business formations, affordable rates,

On-Demand General Counsel Services

Here at the Law Office of Michael P. O’Connor, we provide general counsel services from large to small businesses and start-ups. We handle all legal matters that an in-house general counsel provides, but we do so as an independent contractor.

Our outside general counsel service is a great option where hiring the first or another full-time attorney is not in the budget. We provide services from complex legal work to administrative tasks at a fraction of the cost. Provide crisis management, compliance with regulatory issues, labor and employment disputes, investigations, transactional support, litigation management, identify legal issues and guidance with corporate governance.

We can also help get you organized and stay compliant by putting together legal checklists for a variety of day-to-day legal, operational matters by outlining the legal obligations such as for employment policies, hiring, disciplining and terminating employees, employee benefits, wage, and hour laws, record keeping requirements, and government filing requirements.

We can serve the Board by developing Board charters, provide guidance, and support the Board with corporate secretary services, and Board minutes.

Even sophisticated business owners make the mistake of drafting their agreements that many times result in disastrous or costly consequences. Many of these risks and costly mistakes could have been minimized or eliminated by hiring a part-time general counsel.

Affordable General Counsel Services

You won't be charged for regular photocopies, domestic phone calls, or other such incidental expenses. Flexible billing is available from discounted hourly rates to flat fees. No job is too big or too small.

Side-by-Side with Your Business

We are team players willing to work closely with your in-house counsel. We are flexible and willing to use your assigned email address and extension phone number to make things more seamless.

Intimate Knowledge of Your Business

We are available to work closely with your team. We strive to develop intimate knowledge of your business, allowing us to develop trust relationships with key individuals. Like a full-time in-house counsel, our we can have email addresses on your email system, have an extension on your phone system, and take other steps to be part of your management team.

Government Contracting, Procurement Rules of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) -- Suspension

When a government contractor is faced with a suspension and debarment action, it can be beneficial to engage “outside” counsel who does not have a relationship or a close relationship with any of the individuals involved in the matter under investigation. Also, outside counsel is better able to bring a fresh-eyed perspective and lend to the process the kind of independence, objectivity, and transparency that will help the contractor demonstrate its responsibility to the SDO. Early engagement with the SDO along with the proper non-litigant tone while recognizing any genuine past mistake, and taking remedial steps to correct the problem will go a long way in demonstrating the contractor knows what to do as a responsible contractor and trusted business partner. This might help avoid a notice of suspension or debarment, or, if one is issued, convince the SDO to convert it to a notice to show cause instead. If the contractor received a notice to show cause and did nothing wrong, then don't wait the 30 days to explain your case to the SDO to resolve the matter as early as possible. In short, outside counsel is sometimes in a better position to analyze your problem, identify ways to correct the problem, and present the matter, mitigating factors and remedial measure taken to the SDO.

Other Services

1) Negotiating and drafting contracts

Software/technology/license agreements
Contract research and development agreements
Professional services agreements
Development/outsourcing agreements
Oil and gas mineral sales agreements
Cell tower buyout agreements
Option agreements to purchase communications easements
Easements and assignment agreements for cell tower lease buyout

2) Negotiating, drafting, and reviewing leases

Real estate leases
Oil and gas leases
Cell tower leases
Equipment leases

3) Handling employment and immigration matters

Offer letters and employment agreements
Severance agreements
Employee handbooks
Nonimmigrant work status and visas, employment and family-based immigration visas and permanent residence status, and U.S. Citizenship

4) Managing Corporate Governance

5) Risk Management Policies and Procedures

6) Privacy and Data Security

7) Mergers and Acquisitions

8) Business Formation & Related Services

Locations Where We Provide General Counsel Services

We provide the above General Counsel and Transactional services where permitted by law. This is a bit vague because the laws change from time to time. We are licensed to practice law throughout Texas and Pennsylvania without any limitations. We can practice in those jurisdictions that do not require state-specific licensing as long as we maintain licensing in one state. As of the date of this writing, those states that do not require in-house counsel to have state-specific licensing include Arkansas, Arizona, District of Columbia, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington.

At least twenty-six other states require special in-house licenses. The license requirements in most states are similar and straightforward. Ordinarily, an applicant must show that he or she: (1) has a law school degree; (2) is admitted to active practice in at least one state; (3) is in good standing in each admitted jurisdiction; and (4) practices solely for a corporation. Along with an admission fee, fulfillment of these requirements, entitles in-house counsel to limited admission, which generally authorizes in-house lawyers to counsel and otherwise represent their corporate employer.

In other states, coming to a state briefly to negotiate a contract is not the unauthorized practice of law.

In sum, outside of Texas and Pennsylvania our right to practice law may be limited or restricted and each matter will need to be analyzed on a case by case basis as to the jurisdictional requirements, if any, the scope of the work, the extent of our contacts with that jurisdiction and whether or not we obtain a special in-house license.