When should a General Counsel in a start-up use an outsourced legal team?

As General Counsel in a start-up, you are faced with a range of options when it comes to buying legal services. From private practice law firms to legal consultants, ALSPs and more, it can be difficult to decide how to create the optimal mix.

At Gazelle Law, we have developed a model that is tailored to meet the needs of smaller legal teams and GCs in fast-growth start-ups. 

In this article, we'll explore which scenarios our services are best suited to, and provide some guidance on how to get the most from this relationship.

I am a new GC with a lot to fix

Often, when a business employs its first GC or in-house lawyer, you arrive to years’ worth of immediate issues that need fixing. But, you also have to get a legal strategy in place. And that’s what you really want to do, not spend months trying to fix the privacy policy (which, whilst necessary, doesn't  get you the visibility and influence you’re  looking for).

This is the perfect time to start outsourcing to a team of experienced in-house lawyers who can help you get your legal building blocks in place. They can save you valuable time so you can focus on the strategic elements, building professional relationships with key stakeholders, attending Board meetings and showing your value.

I need urgent help from a lawyer who can hit the ground running

It’s Friday, 5:59pm, and you are just about to log off for the weekend, with some important plans that cannot be changed. Of course, this is the exact time an urgent contract lands in your inbox with a deadline of Monday end of play. And you know you also have back-to-back meetings all day Monday.

It is peace of mind for GCs and their legal teams to have a flexible legal partner on hand who is able to work whenever they can’t. This is a situation we are used to dealing with at Gazelle Law. We enjoy being that reliable safety net for our start-up clients.

I just need to find headspace

Start-up life is fast-paced and fun. It is also chaotic and relentless. Sometimes you can spend a whole week without the luxury of four quiet hours to draft an essential agreement you need to do. 

This is when you need a seamless external legal team working on documents and sending them back to you invisibly, so you can continue to attend all the meetings you need to whilst delivering on outputs. It’s like having your own legal team without the pressure of people  management and the cost of permanent hiring; just a flexible resource of experienced lawyers you are able to delegate to, creating the headspace you need. 

An innovative approach to your legal team and budget 

Working with an outsourced legal team can be a cost effective budget solution. It removes the cost of permanent headcount and you can access support on a “pay as you go” basis. You have complete control as the client to scale work up and down as you need to. It also means having direct access to a senior legal professional who is on the same level as you as GC – something that would not be achievable if you were growing your own legal team with layers of hierarchy.

There are so many alternatives on the market now. How do I know which outsourced legal team I should work with?

Here at Gazelle Law, we think it is all down to who you like as a lawyer. Do you think the lawyer you are going to be working with will do a good job? Do you trust them? Is it a good personal fit? Do you like the way their company operates? Do you feel confident that if you send them a major urgent contract, they’re going to do it well? If so, and there’s a good feeling of fit, chemistry and good communication, go for it. 

What should I do to get the most out of an outsourced legal team?

When it comes to getting the most out of any outsourced partner, including an outsourced legal team, it is ideal to have a plan of when you think work will come in and give notice, especially when it comes to major projects. 

But, in reality, that can be hard to plan in advance. So, as with most things, it all comes down to communication and regular check-ins to discuss key business priorities and for the outsourced lawyer or legal team and General Counsel to align on what is coming up and where the business is heading. It’s also helpful to understand culture before working together and any house rules as to how things are done or not done.

What is there to lose? 

Nothing! 

Why not send something out and see what comes back? We’re confident you’ll quickly see how having an outsourced legal team on hand will help you be more efficient in your role as a GC in a start-up.

It goes without saying if you would like to give it a go, Gazelle Law is on hand to help work out how you can make a start doing that. Contact our founder katie@gazellelaw.com for a chat on how we work with our clients.