Arkansas General Counsel Services

Many small businesses reach a point where legal issues come up regularly—but not enough to justify hiring a full-time in-house attorney. That’s where Outside General Counsel services fit. The idea is simple: the business has a lawyer it can call as issues arise, with a broader, proactive approach than hiring counsel one problem at a time.

Outside General Counsel support often includes day-to-day legal triage and decision-making. When a new contract lands in your inbox, a customer threatens a chargeback, a vendor relationship turns sour, a key employee departs, or you’re facing compliance questions—those aren’t always “lawsuit situations,” but they are legal issues that can become expensive if handled poorly. With an outside general counsel relationship, you have a go-to attorney who learns your business, your risk tolerance, and your internal processes, so the advice becomes faster and more consistent over time.

Another key role is coordination. Businesses sometimes need help beyond Arkansas—such as contract disputes, employment questions, or regulatory issues in another state. When out-of-state counsel is necessary, outside general counsel can help identify appropriate local attorneys, coordinate strategy, manage budgeting, and serve as the central point of contact—similar to how an in-house legal department oversees outside firms.

Outside general counsel is also about prevention. That can include improving contract templates, tightening policies, building a practical compliance checklist, documenting key decisions, and setting up a process for handling disputes early—before they turn into litigation.

The goal is to make legal support predictable, accessible, and aligned with business goals—so legal issues are addressed early, consistently, and strategically.

If your business needs legal guidance from time to time—but not a full-time in-house attorney—Outside General Counsel services can provide as-needed support and proactive planning. Contact our office to discuss a general counsel arrangement tailored to your business.