I’ve been talking to many business owners lately, and there’s a common thread: uncertainty. Between shifting regulations, talent management, and rising complexity, business leaders are feeling the pressure. Many are wondering how and when to engage legal support.

If legal questions are piling up and decisions feel reactive rather than strategic, it might be time to consider a new model: Fractional General Counsel Services (GCS).

At Equinox, we support businesses that desire more than transactional help. Our clients want counsel that is proactive, consistent, and embedded in their teams, without the unpredictable costs of traditional law firms. But when is it time to make the switch?

Signs You’ve Outgrown Hourly Legal Services 

Businesses typically move beyond hourly legal help when:

• Legal questions around hiring, contracts, and compliance are becoming more frequent, and harder to answer internally.

• Other fractional partners, like HR or finance, are integrated and effective, but legal support feels disconnected.

• Legal documents are difficult to implement, lacking the clarity or structure needed for real-world use.

• Legal advice feels generic or misaligned with your business’s operations and goals.

• Leadership is involved in every legal decision, regardless of priority or relevance.

• Teams hesitate to raise legal concerns due to confusion or fear of saying the wrong thing.

• Legal risks are surfaced without prioritization or context, making it difficult to take decisive action.

• Unexpected invoices make legal support feel like a liability, discouraging early engagement.

These are more than growing pains, they’re signals that the legal function needs to scale with the business.

What Does a Fractional General Counsel Actually Do? 

A Fractional General Counsel is a strategic generalist who integrates into your leadership team. At Equinox, our General Counsel Services (GCS) model supports the whole business—mind, body, and spirit:

• The Mind
  Logical qualities: Governance, security, and strategic decision-making

• The Body
  Physical assets: Contracts, assets, and operational execution

• The Spirit
  Intangible qualities: Vision, values, and how they’re reflected in policies

Clients often describe their General Counsel as an extension of their leadership team, not just a lawyer. We help:

• Prioritize risks so energy is focused where it matters
• Support teams with legal education and training
• Advise on growth strategy in people, operations, and value 
• Ensure that legal works with your team, not around it

A Month with our General Counsel Services Plan Looks Like This:

• Reviewed and negotiated new vendor contract
• Led strategic risk planning with leadership team
• Updated employee handbook for operational and legal compliance
• Delivered training on contract basics and negotiation 
• Advised on a state expansion
• Adjusted Privacy Policy for new regulations
• Filed new trademark application

Comparison Table: Legal Support Options

Client Story: Piroshky Piroshky 

When Piroshky Piroshky began expanding beyond its original bakery, the team faced increasing complexity across hiring, compliance, and operations. With Equinox’s GCS model, they gained proactive legal guidance that helped them scale to five locations while minimizing risk. Our embedded support provided everything from handbook updates to strategic growth planning, ensuring legal didn’t slow them down but propelled them forward.

Read the full case study here.

Still Wondering if Fractional General Counsel is Right for Your Business?

Reflect on these questions:

• Are legal issues slowing progress?
• Is it hard to tell what’s truly risky and what can wait?
• Are most legal efforts reactive?
• Would it help to have someone who understands your business, goals, and risk tolerance, and trains your team to do the same?

Many of our clients contact us with feelings of overwhelm, uncertainty, and frustration with their legal relationship. They are tired of unexpected bills, slow response times, and work products that aren’t practical for their business needs, they want practical guidance, cost predictability, efficiency, and a partner who understands them and their business goals. That’s what GCS offers.

Start with Clarity

We offer two simple entry points to see if GCS is right for you:

• Take our Legal Health Check – a 7-minute online survey to identify and risks and prioritize next steps
• Schedule a Consultation – connect directly with our team for insights and direction

Whether you’re in manufacturing, construction, staffing, hospitality, or professional services, our GCS model is built to scale with your business.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s build the legal foundation your business deserves.