Fractional general counsel on a monthly retainer.
Small and mid-sized businesses get a lawyer on speed-dial without the full-time commitment of a team member, for a predictable monthly retainer.
Starting at $1,995 per month, on retainer
Fractional general counsel is ongoing legal counsel on a monthly retainer, meaning a lawyer who knows your business and is there when questions come up, without the cost of a full-time in-house hire.
Modern Mark offers fractional general counsel for small and mid-sized businesses, drawing on the firm’s work in trademarks, copyright, contracts and marketing compliance.
What is a fractional general counsel?
An outside lawyer who acts as your company’s general counsel part-time, on a monthly retainer. You get continuity from someone who already knows your business, without paying a full-time salary.
When does a business need a general counsel?
When legal questions come up regularly, with contracts every month, a growing brand portfolio, contractors to onboard or campaigns to review, but not often enough to justify a full-time in-house lawyer.
Is fractional counsel better than paying a lawyer by the hour?
For ongoing needs, usually. A retainer makes the cost predictable and removes the hesitation to ask a quick question. For a single, one-off matter, a flat-fee project is often the better fit.
What does fractional general counsel include?
Scope is agreed up front in the retainer and built around your business. Typical work draws on the firm’s practice, including contracts, trademarks and copyright, marketing compliance, and a sounding board for business decisions.
Business contracts are handled for Texas and New York businesses, entity formation in nearly every state, and IP work nationwide.
How it works.
Tell us your needs
Fill out our matter evaluation form. The more detail you provide, the better we can help.
Free matter evaluation
We review your information and determine how we can best help. Free of charge, no commitment.
Schedule your Strategy Session
If we can help, you’ll get a link to a 45-minute strategy session with clear next steps and a quote.
More questions.
Q01Is fractional counsel billed hourly?
No. It is a monthly retainer, so costs are predictable.
Q02Can we start with one project and move to a retainer later?
Yes. Ask about it during your Strategy Session.
Q03Do you work with businesses outside Texas?
Yes for trademark and copyright, which are federal. Contracts are handled for Texas and New York, and entity formation in nearly every state.
Related services.
Trademark Registration
A clearance search and strategy before a USPTO filing that holds up.
Trademark Enforcement
Cease-and-desist letters, takedowns, UDRP, cancellations and monitoring.
Copyright
Copyright registration, DMCA takedowns when work is copied, and licensing.
Business Contracts
Custom contracts designed to hold up.
Business Formation
The right entity, filed correctly, in nearly any state.
Marketing Compliance
FTC and FDA review of ads, product claims and influencer deals.
Trademark Monitoring
A year-round watch for copycat filings, with monthly attorney reviews.
Trademark Licensing & Monetization
Licensing, assignments, franchising and co-branding deals that turn a brand into income.
Business Legacy & Estate Planning
Plan who owns and runs the business, and the brand, after you.
IP Litigation
Trademark, copyright and trade secret disputes, taken to court when a letter isn’t enough.
Trademark Oppositions
Received a Notice of Opposition? Your answer deadline and your options for defending or settling it.
Filed It Yourself?
Attorney help when a self-filed application gets an office action, refusal, abandonment, or opposition.
Foreign Applicants
USPTO rules require trademark applicants based outside the US to be represented by a US-licensed attorney.
Let's protect what you built.
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