What Is a Fractional General Counsel — and Does Your Ontario Business Need One?

👋 What Is a Fractional General Counsel?

A Fractional General Counsel (FGC) is a licensed lawyer who provides ongoing, part-time legal support to a business — usually without the cost or commitment of hiring a full-time in-house counsel. Think of it as outsourced general counsel, but embedded in your business just enough to truly understand your operations, contracts, risks, and goals.

Unlike traditional law firms that bill hourly and offer transactional support, a Fractional GC works as an extension of your executive team, handling everything from contract reviews and compliance to corporate governance and risk management.

🧑‍💼 What Does a Fractional General Counsel Do?

Here’s a quick snapshot of what an FGC can do for Ontario businesses:

• 📄 Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with clients, vendors, and partners

• 🏛️ Ensure corporate compliance with Ontario and federal regulations

• 📚 Develop internal legal policies and contract templates

• 🧾 Support HR-related legal issues (e.g., employment agreements, termination risk)

• 💼 Assist with corporate transactions such as restructuring, M&A, or financing rounds

• 🔎 Identify and mitigate legal risk across operations

• 🧠 Act as a legal sounding board for CEOs and leadership teams

🧠 Why Are Ontario Businesses Choosing Fractional GCs?

Businesses in Ontario — especially startups, growth-stage companies, and SMEs — are turning to FGCs for 3 key reasons:

1. Affordability Without Sacrificing Quality

Hiring full-time in-house counsel can cost over $150K annually. A Fractional GC offers high-level support at a fraction of the cost, with flexible engagement models.

2. Consistent Support vs. One-Off Advice

Rather than engaging a lawyer only when something goes wrong, businesses benefit from proactive legal oversight that prevents problems before they arise.

3. Business-Aligned Legal Strategy

Your FGC isn’t just reviewing contracts — they’re helping you structure deals, negotiate better, and scale with less legal friction.

⚠️ When Does a Business Need a Fractional GC?

Here are a few signs it might be time to bring one on board:

✅ You’re signing multiple vendor or client agreements and aren’t sure they’re watertight

✅ You’ve received funding or are preparing for investment

✅ You’ve been Googling legal issues way too often

✅ You want to expand, hire, or restructure but need legal guidance

✅ You’ve outgrown ad hoc legal advice but don’t need full-time counsel yet

🏁 Final Thoughts: The Legal Edge for Smart Ontario Businesses

Hiring a Fractional General Counsel gives your business the legal backbone it needs to grow with confidence — without draining your budget. Whether you’re a fast-moving startup or a scaling business juggling contracts and compliance, having an

experienced corporate lawyer in your corner can make all the difference.

📞 Ready to Add a Legal Partner to Your Team?

Let’s talk about how Fractional General Counsel support can be tailored to your business.

👉 Book a Consultation