With the legal landscape only becoming more complex over time, having effective legal assistance is more important than ever. It is for this reason that almost all major companies and government agencies, as well as many smaller ones, will have a general counsel on staff. But what exactly is a general counsel, and why might you need one for your business?
What is a General Counsel?
Broadly speaking, a general counsel (also sometimes known as a chief counsel or chief legal advisor) is the foremost attorney on staff at a given company or organization. In smaller companies, they may be the only permanent attorney on staff, while in larger companies they may lead an entire team of lawyers. Regardless of the size of the company, however, they typically have the same role: advising your business on any legal issues that may arise.
What Does a General Counsel Do?
A general counsel’s primary purpose is to give legal advice to a company’s leadership, ensuring their business dealings go as smoothly as possible. Their primary role is to assess potential legal risks, ensure the business is compliant with relevant rules and regulations, and review any major contracts or business transactions. While some general counsels will also represent their company in court, others will have separate attorneys to handle litigation, with the general counsel managing matters behind the scenes.
Why Might You Need a General Counsel?
The reason you might need a general counsel for your business is simple: the law is complicated, and as a business owner, you cannot reasonably be expected to know it all yourself. By having a general counsel, you can be sure to have a lawyer on hand for any legal questions you might have, and also ensure there is someone to oversee your business transactions to ensure they comply with the law.
Without a general counsel, you may be stuck trying to handle these legal matters yourself. This is not advisable, since that places you at an increased risk of regulatory violations, contract disputes, and other issues that may embroil you in lawsuits for months or years to come.
What Should You Do For Your Company?
While you may not have a general counsel on staff, that does not mean you cannot get the benefits of having one regardless. The Law Offices of Peter Sverd have extensive experience providing general counsel services to businesses of all sizes, and we can do the same for your company. The sooner you get in contact, the sooner we can get to work on your behalf.