The Road to Partnership
When growth accelerates, risk does not arrive neatly packaged. It creeps up within everyday decisions about people, contracts, governance, and communications. Facet NW, Inc, a Pacific Northwest–based design, engineering and environmental firm formed through the merger of Davido Consulting Group and The Watershed Company, experienced this reality as its work and leadership demands became more complex. With this complexity, Facet wanted visibility into existing risk in their infrastructure and help in mitigating risk as the business grew.
Facet moved beyond one‑off legal support and partnered with Equinox Business Law Group’s Fractional General Counsel Services to build a consistent operating rhythm for risk management and legal decision‑making, setting the stage for measurable business impact.
The Starting Point: Targeted Questions, Then a Bigger Need
Facet initially engaged legal counsel only when a specific issue required it. In fact, the Davido Consulting part of Facet had been working with Equinox since 2007. These engagements addressed common business matters – employment questions, leases, contracts, and the like. The leadership team was unsure whether ongoing counsel would be necessary for their small company.
As the business grew, however, questions about the ‘right way’ to tackle a problem became more frequent and the issues more interconnected. Employment risks, contract negotiations, and governance responsibilities increasingly required timely, coordinated decisions.
The Reality of Growth: Unplanned Issues Became the Norm
When Facet engaged Equinox’s Fractional General Counsel Services in 2024, a clear pattern emerged quickly. The team found that having Equinox’s perspective on-hand for unforeseen, urgent matters was a game changer. The entire leadership team could reach out to gain insights into risk management and problem solving because Equinox was an extension of the leadership team. Eventually, Equinox and Facet mutually decided to prioritize these emergent needs instead of previously-identified planned projects.
Through this recalibrated plan, planned work continued, but the work Equinox performed prioritized what Facet needed most in the moment. That approach helped Facet stay responsive without losing momentum on longer-term initiatives.
Over multiple quarters, Equinox helped Facet maintain a steady cadence for prioritization and delivery so leadership could keep moving even as new issues surfaced.
How Equinox Supported Facet and the Measurable Impact
As Facet engaged more regularly, Equinox learned the business’ risk profile and the leadership team’s risk tolerance. With this perspective, Equinox could provide quick, business-centric advice. Facet had a closely integrated partner who could balance the business demands and legal needs across employment, governance, contracts, and leadership decision‑making. The value of that support showed up not just in completed legal work, but in how the business operated quarter after quarter.
Faster, more confident employment and HR decisions
As with any business in Washington State, Facet realized employment compliance was changing faster than the team could keep up. Equinox could provide proactive input to Facet’s internal HR team to help them stay ahead of changes in areas such as wage and hour, anti-harassment, hiring requirements and build policies and systems that worked for the company and the law.
Clear governance and stronger leadership communications
Following the merger, Facet’s combined corporate and ownership structure was more complex. Equinox developed a corporate governance cadence, including board and shareholder requirements, so the Facet ownership group could confidently manage communications, fiduciary responsibilities, and compliance.
Reduced contract friction and greater internal autonomy
Early contract work focused on risk mitigation in contracts. Equinox understood Facet’s risk profile and tolerance and developed standard language for their contracts and trained key team members on negotiating these risk-heavy terms, enabling Facet to lead lower risk contracts internally while knowing when escalation was appropriate.
A legal model that flexed without losing momentum
After many years of engaging with legal in a reactive mode, Facet’s leadership team shifted. After beginning with the Fractional General Counsel Services model in 2024, Facet consistently brought Equinox in to put legal eyes on projects – something they never would have done in a traditional time-and-materials model. Facet’s team members can freely and confidently engage to move the business forward quickly and confidently. Together, Facet and Equinox have developed a predictable legal rhythm that supports faster decisions, fewer surprises, and sustained momentum even as demand increased.
Considering Fractional General Counsel Services for Your Business?
Equinox’s Fractional General Counsel Services help business owners and leadership teams move forward with clarity, confidence, and trusted legal insight. Whether your business operates in a highly regulated environment or is navigating evolving employment, governance, or contract challenges, Equinox brings experience across industries and practice areas to keep legal guidance grounded in your operating reality.
If you are looking for a legal partner who understands your business and grows with you, connect with Equinox to start the conversation.
