Outside general counsel for New York businesses

What outside general counsel means

Outside (or fractional) general counsel is an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off project. Instead of calling a different lawyer each time a contract arrives or an employee issue comes up, you have one attorney who already knows your company, your templates, and your risk tolerance.

The work typically includes reviewing contracts as they come in, keeping company records and filings current, answering employment and compliance questions, and helping plan bigger moves—a new location, a new owner, a financing, or an eventual sale.

Typical scope

• Ongoing contract review and negotiation
• Company records, minutes, and state filings
• Employment documents and New York compliance questions
• Template library for routine agreements
• Strategic advice on growth, new owners, and financing
• Coordination with accountants and other professionals

Recurring New York obligations

A good part of ongoing counsel is keeping track of requirements that recur or that change. In New York these include:

• Pay notices to employees. New York employers must give each new hire a written notice of pay rate, pay day, and other details in English and the employee's primary language, and must provide detailed wage statements every payday. Source: N.Y. Labor Law § 195.
• Sexual harassment prevention. Every New York employer must adopt a written sexual harassment prevention policy and provide interactive training to all employees every year. Source: N.Y. Labor Law § 201-g.
• Biennial statements and records. Corporations and LLCs must file biennial statements with the Department of State. Ongoing counsel keeps those filings, minutes, and ownership records current so the company is ready for a lender, investor, or buyer. Source: N.Y. Department of State — Division of Corporations.
• Freelancer agreements. Businesses that regularly hire freelancers need written contracts that meet New York's statewide Freelance Isn't Free Act and, in New York City, the city's version of the law. Source: N.Y. General Business Law Article 44-A.

Outside counsel does not replace specialists. When a matter needs litigation, tax, or another discipline, Auxo Law helps you find the right professional and coordinates with them.

This summary is general information, not legal advice for your situation, and the law changes. Ask about how these rules apply to your business.

How the relationship works

Engagements start with a review of your existing contracts, entity records, and employment documents, followed by a short list of priorities. After that, you contact Chris directly by phone or email as issues come up, and the most common documents are standardized so routine matters move quickly.

Owners in the Southern Tier can meet at the Binghamton office; clients elsewhere in New York work by phone and video.

See the New York business attorney overview or read how virtual counsel works step by step.