Outside General Counsel

Your outside resource for conquering legal challenges in an ever-changing business world.

Companies of all sizes experience legal challenges. However, not every company has the resources to hire a full-time in-house lawyer to safely navigate those challenges. HCMP’s Outside General Counsel (“OGC”) services provides the legal support businesses need to manage and minimize risk, optimize operations, and capitalize on opportunities so that your team can focus on what matters most to you: reaching your business goals. In our role as OGC, we partner with clients to understand their company, serve as trusted advisors, and deliver tailored solutions to the unique legal issues they face.

Services

Company Formations

Entity formation
Ownership and management structures
Incentive planning
Capital raising and new business development
Debt and equity financing, including private placements, venture capital investments, and traditional loans

Ongoing Business Operations

Non-disclosure agreements
Strategic partnerships and alliances
Company restructurings
Agreements with employees and independent contractors
SEC and state securities law filings and reporting obligations
Commercial contracts, licensing agreements, and strategic transactions
Corporate governance, board and shareholder resolutions, consents, directors meetings, shareholder meetings, and minutes
Counseling officers and directors on fiduciary duties and strategic considerations
Executive compensation, including stock options, restricted stock agreements, and equity and non-equity-based incentive compensation
Company contracts, including SaaS Service agreements, supply agreements, terms of services, and Master Services Agreements

Exit Transactions

Mergers and acquisitions
Sales of businesses and business assets
Succession planning
Winding down and dissolution

Intellectual Property and Technology

Trademark, copyright, trade secret, and other intellectual property protection
Software licensing agreements
Privacy and data security
California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”)
Website and other online activity compliance, including privacy policies, terms of use, accessibility statements, and community content

Tax

Federal income tax analysis
Washington State sales, use, business & occupation, and real estate taxes
Partnership taxation
Unrelated business income tax and other taxes incurred by ERISA-subject companies

Litigation

Litigation, arbitration, and mediation
Breach of contract and tort cases
Partnership disputes
Risk management
Insurance claims

Real Estate

Real estate purchases and sales
Commercial and retail leases
Site targeting and selection
Structuring entities for development, financing, and protection of real estate projects
REIT formation
Environmental issues, including those arising with landfills, transfer stations, and other solid waste projects
Land use and permitting for development projects

Employment

Counseling clients in preventative strategies to minimize exposure to liability and litigation in federal, state, and local employment-related matters
Employment matters, including hiring, retention, and termination
Employee handbooks
Health and safety regulations
Family Leave Act
Interstate and remote work arrangements

Our Philosophy

Our top priority is to ensure that you get the most value out of our OGC service. To achieve this, we meet with clients--off the clock--to provide an overview of the work we are doing in addition to holding meetings to discuss our efforts and address any concerns.

Dedication to Client Service

Our clients are at the center of what we do. We are passionate about providing excellent client service, and our attorneys are dedicated to being responsive, reliable, accessible, and as knowledgeable about our clients’ businesses and industries as possible.

How We Partner with Clients

As part of our Outside General Counsel service, we will also provide:

Introductions to other HCMP clients who may face similar challenges, fostering a community of like-minded industry relationships to help you achieve your business goals.
Tailored resources to navigate challenges faced by different sectors of your business.
Legal assessments that summarize the services we can offer to help you achieve your strategic goals, avoid disputes and litigation, and address unexpected legal needs, such as corporate transactions.

Client Testimonials

"I really like the approach the people at HCMP take to working with clients. I view them as partners in our business as well as trusted advisors."

Vice President | Major Manufacturing Company

"You know our business, you add valuable input and are great partners to work with."

Executive | National Bank Client

"The people at HCMP work with me the way I want to work. They provide a single point person with whom I correspond directly. It works great. I am exceptionally pleased with the thoroughness of their work."

CEO | Technology Company

"We often wondered how a law firm with such a remarkable reputation could find the time or focus to represent our trivial matter. Yet we left each meeting, conference call and email correspondence feeling like we were the firm's most important client."

Homeowner | Client

"Thank you for being remarkable, unflappable and always two steps ahead. We simply could not have asked for a better team."

Homeowner | Client