Fractional CLO / General Counsel Services

Your growing business needs sophisticated legal guidance and strategic oversight, but you may not be ready for a full-time Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel. Savvy Esquires offers Fractional CLO/General Counsel services, providing you with access to C-level legal executive expertise on a flexible, as-needed basis.

Miakel D. Williams steps in as your de facto General Counsel, drawing on extensive experience leading legal strategy for global technology companies. We partner with your leadership team to transform your legal function into a strategic business enabler, proactively manage risk, ensure compliance, and support your core business objectives. Our goal is to provide the strategic legal insight you need to navigate complex challenges and capitalize on opportunities, without the overhead of a full-time executive.

Services under this offering are tailored but can include leadership and oversight on:

Corporate Governance & Compliance Program Development
Strategic Risk Management across the enterprise
SaaS & Technology Transaction Strategy and Complex Commercial Agreements
Intellectual Property Strategy development and portfolio management
Support for M&A legal operations, including due diligence and integration strategy
Employment Law advisory for executive and key personnel matters, including C-level separations
Management of external counsel (if litigation or specialized needs arise)
Development and implementation of scalable legal tools and processes

Who It's For

Our Fractional CLO/General Counsel services are ideal for:

Growing Startups & Scale-Ups: Businesses that have outgrown ad-hoc legal advice and need ongoing, integrated legal leadership but are not yet ready to hire a full-time General Counsel.
Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs): Companies needing expert legal oversight for technology transactions, corporate matters, or strategic initiatives.
Companies Preparing for Major Transactions: Businesses seeking experienced legal guidance through M&A activities, significant partnerships, or funding rounds.
Organizations Requiring Interim Legal Leadership: Filling a temporary gap in senior legal support.
Businesses in SaaS, Technology, Marketing, or Creative Industries seeking a legal leader with deep industry understanding.

Key Benefits of Fractional CLO/General Counsel Services

Access to C-Suite Expertise: Gain the strategic insights and leadership of an experienced General Counsel without the full-time executive salary and overhead.
Proactive Risk Management: Identify and mitigate legal risks before they become costly problems.
Strategic Legal Alignment: Ensure your legal strategy directly supports and enables your core business objectives and growth.
Enhanced Compliance: Develop and maintain robust corporate governance and compliance programs.
Scalable Legal Support: Access legal leadership that can scale with your business needs.
Improved Decision-Making: Benefit from experienced legal counsel integrated into your strategic decision-making processes.
Cost-Effective Legal Leadership: More predictable and often lower cost than relying solely on traditional outside counsel for ongoing strategic needs.

What's Included / Our Process

Engaging Savvy Esquires for Fractional CLO/General Counsel services is a collaborative partnership:

Deep Dive & Needs Assessment: We start with a thorough understanding of your business, industry, strategic goals, existing legal framework, and specific challenges.
Customized Engagement Plan: We develop a tailored plan outlining the scope of services, level of involvement (e.g., set hours per month, specific project leadership), key objectives, and communication protocols.
Integrated Strategic Advising: Miakel D. Williams works closely with your leadership team, participating in strategic discussions, providing ongoing counsel, and overseeing legal functions as agreed.
Regular Reporting & Review: We provide regular updates on activities, progress towards objectives, and adapt our support as your needs evolve.
Focus on Empowerment: We aim to build your internal capacity for managing legal issues and implement scalable legal processes where appropriate.

Pricing Approach

Fractional CLO/General Counsel services at Savvy Esquires are structured to provide you with dedicated, high-level strategic leadership through clear, upfront monthly retainer packages. These packages ensure prioritized access and secure Miakel D. Williams' availability to serve as your trusted legal partner, offering enhanced value for ongoing, embedded support.

All retainers are non-refundable fees, earned upon receipt for securing this availability for the agreed-upon hours each month, and are deposited directly into the Firm's operating account.

We offer the following primary tiers for Fractional CLO/General Counsel services, with the entire retainer for the selected tier due upfront each month:

Tier 1: Strategic Advisor

Ten (10) hours per month of dedicated service.

Effective Rate: $400 per hour.

Upfront Monthly Retainer: $4,000.

Tier 2: Embedded Partner

Twenty (20) hours per month of dedicated service.

Effective Rate: $375 per hour.

Upfront Monthly Retainer: $7,500.

Tier 3: Fractional Lead

Thirty (30) hours per month of dedicated service.

Effective Rate: $350 per hour.

Upfront Monthly Retainer: $10,500.

Additional Considerations for Fractional Tiers:

Scope: The specific scope of responsibilities and deliverables within each tier, reflecting a higher level of strategic engagement and leadership, will be customized and agreed upon in your Engagement Letter following an in-depth consultation.
Unused Hours: Unused hours from your monthly tier allotment may be rolled over for one (1) subsequent month. For example, unused hours from June may be used in July, after which they would expire if not utilized. This ensures flexibility while allowing us to manage capacity.
Additional Hours (Overage): Should you require services exceeding the hours allocated in your chosen tier (including any valid rolled-over hours) within a given month, these additional hours will be billed at the following preferred overage rates:
- Tier 1 Clients: $425 per hour.
- Tier 2 Clients: $400 per hour.
- Tier 3 Clients: $375 per hour.
Any overage hours will be discussed with you and invoiced separately.
Cancellation: Terms regarding the cancellation of an ongoing monthly fractional retainer (e.g., requiring written notice at least ten (10) days before the next billing cycle) will be detailed in your Engagement Letter.

We are committed to transparent and value-driven fee arrangements. We will discuss the best tier for your needs during our initial consultation.

Fractional CLO / General Counsel Services: Strategic Legal Leadership On Demand