Fractional Chief Legal Counsel

Overview

This role involves providing practical, commercially aligned legal guidance across contracts, compliance, risk management, and governance. It is a fractional leadership position designed for senior legal professionals who deliver actionable advice that helps businesses move faster while remaining protected, compliant, and well-structured.

Responsibilities

Commercial Contracts & Legal Advisory

• Advise founders and leadership teams on contracts, legal risk, governance, and compliance
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including client contracts, vendor agreements, partnerships, and NDAs
• Structure contracts to balance risk protection with business agility

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify legal and regulatory risks across operations and business models
• Guide companies on applicable compliance requirements (industry-specific, geographic, and operational)
• Establish practical risk mitigation frameworks that do not impede business execution

Business-Aligned Legal Support

• Provide clear, actionable legal input for strategic decisions such as partnerships, expansions, and pricing models
• Help founders and executives understand legal implications in simple, business-focused terms
• Support legal aspects of fundraising, investor discussions, and strategic initiatives

Governance & Legal Infrastructure

• Build and standardize legal processes, policies, and documentation
• Establish governance frameworks aligned with company growth and maturity
• Support board governance, internal policies, and legal best practices

Scaling & Transformation Support

• Guide companies through expansion, restructuring, or organizational changes
• Support entry into new markets, partnerships, or business lines
• Help transition companies from informal legal practices to structured, scalable systems

Expected Outcomes / Deliverables

• Standardized contract templates aligned with business needs (client, vendor, partnership, etc.)
• Reduced legal risk exposure through stronger structuring and compliance practices
• Faster decision-making enabled by clear, practical legal frameworks
• Scalable legal processes and governance models
• Improved confidence for founders and leadership in navigating legal complexities

Requirements

• Experienced legal counsel, corporate lawyer, general counsel, or senior legal advisor
• Background supporting startups, SMEs, or growth-stage companies
• Strong experience in commercial law, contracts, governance, compliance, and risk management

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong commercial mindset balancing risk with business velocity
• Experience working directly with founders and executive teams
• Ability to simplify complex legal topics into actionable guidance
• Exposure to multi-jurisdictional or cross-border legal frameworks (optional but valuable)

Engagement Model

Flexible engagement structures based on client needs:

• Fractional (Part-time): Ongoing legal advisory and support
• Project-Based: Contract reviews, compliance setup, policy creation
• Advisory: Strategic legal input for specific initiatives
• Interim: Acting General Counsel for defined periods