Virtual General Counsel

Virtual General Counsel (VGC) Services

Flexible, Expert Legal Support – Tailored to Your Business Needs

In today’s fast-moving business environment, legal issues can arise at any time – but not every company is ready to invest in a full-time in-house legal team. Ignition Law’s Virtual General Counsel (VGC) service gives you access to expert legal support across all departments, without the overheads.

Whether you need occasional guidance or regular, ongoing advice, our fractional legal counsel service offers cost-effective, scalable support that flexes with your business. It’s a proactive, strategic partnership – not just reactive advice.

What is Virtual General Counsel?

Our VGC service gives you direct access to a senior legal advisor who acts as an extension of your leadership team. From commercial contracts to employment matters, compliance, disputes, and more – we provide flexible, high-quality legal expertise across your business. You’ll benefit from:

A dedicated lead lawyer who understands your business
Regular check-ins with your lead partner to stay aligned
Support with both day-to-day queries and strategic projects
Predictable monthly pricing and discounted subscription hoursCustom packages based on your specific needs

Why Choose a Fractional Legal Counsel Service?

1. Cost-Effective Legal Support

One of the primary advantages of our Virtual General Counsel service is cost savings. Instead of hiring a full-time in-house lawyer, you can access our expert legal advice as and when needed, ensuring you only pay for the services you use. This is especially beneficial for growing businesses that need legal expertise but may not yet require a full-time legal team.
Outsource your legal needs, insource your success. Free up internal resources and improve operational efficiency by letting our expert team handle your legal complexities. Studies show that outsourcing legal support can significantly reduce costs and boost productivity—key advantages for fast-scaling businesses.

2. Scalable Support to Meet Your Needs

Our VGC service is fully customisable, meaning we can scale our support based on your changing needs. Whether it’s a one-off project, monthly retainer, or ongoing advice, you can choose the level of service that best fits your business.
Future-proof your business. Investing in proactive legal support means you’re not just addressing immediate issues but also building a resilient foundation for future growth. Our strategic advice helps you stay ahead of regulatory changes and manage risk effectively.

3. Expertise Without the Overhead

You benefit from the expertise of seasoned legal professionals without the overhead costs associated with hiring in-house. Our virtual general counsel is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses that need the knowledge and experience of a senior legal advisor but don’t have the budget for a full-time legal team.

4. Enhanced Flexibility and Availability

With our Virtual General Counsel service, you have access to a legal professional who understands your business and is available when you need them. This allows for faster decision-making, reduced risk, and the ability to stay ahead of potential legal issues before they escalate.

5. Comprehensive Legal Coverage

Our team covers a wide range of legal areas, including contract drafting and review, employment law, intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, and more. Whatever legal challenges you face, our Virtual General Counsel can provide the tailored advice you need. Our extensive network of specialist lawyers is here to ensure your business receives comprehensive legal support.·

Benefits of Choosing Ignition Law as Your Virtual General Counsel

Tailored Legal Solutions – Our legal advice is bespoke and designed to meet the specific needs of your business.
Proactive Risk Management – We work closely with you to identify potential legal risks before they become costly issues, ensuring your business remains compliant and protected.
Seamless Integration – Our Virtual General Counsel integrates seamlessly into your business, working as part of your team to provide real-time legal advice.
Discreet and Confidential – We take confidentiality seriously. You can trust us to handle your sensitive legal matters with the utmost discretion.

Who Can Benefit from Our Virtual General Counsel Service?

Our Virtual General Counsel service is ideal for a range of businesses and senior business leaders, including:

Start-ups and SMEs seeking flexible, cost-effective legal solutions without committing to full-time legal hires.
Growing businesses that need regular legal support but are not ready for a full in-house legal team.
Owners of fast-scaling businesses: Get expert legal guidance you need to navigate growth challenges and regulatory complexities without the resource burden of an in-house team.
Corporate legal departments looking to outsource specific legal functions or require additional support during busy periods.
Entrepreneurs who need expert legal advice to navigate complex transactions, contract negotiations, or regulatory challenges.
CFOs and Financial Directors: Streamline legal spend and optimise budgeting with fixed monthly costs and predictable legal fees.
Busy General Counsels and inhouse legal teams: Supplement your internal talent with expert external support, ensuring continuous, senior coverage.

How Our Virtual General Counsel Service Works

1. Initial Consultation – We begin with an in-depth consultation to understand your business, your legal needs, and any ongoing or anticipated challenges.

2. Customised Service Plan – Based on your requirements, we develop a tailored plan, offering a flexible retainer or hourly service depending on what works best for you.

3. Ongoing Support – Your Virtual General Counsel will be available on-demand to provide legal advice, handle projects, or step in whenever you need assistance.

4. Review and Adjust – As your business evolves, so too does our support. We regularly review our service to ensure it remains aligned with your legal and business goals.

Ready to Start?

Get flexible, high-quality legal support – without the full-time commitment.
Contact Ignition Law to find out how our Virtual General Counsel service can support your business now and as it grows.

Meet the team

Helen Gerrard
Hannah Jones
Tim Barnett-Richards

Get in Touch Today

If your business needs flexible, expert legal support without the burden of a full-time hire, our Virtual General Counsel service is the ideal solution. Contact us at Ignition Law today to learn how we can help safeguard your business and provide the legal expertise you need, exactly when you need it.

02034324020

info@ignition.law

What People Say

Why Ignition Law

Our clients range from software start-ups, medical technology firms and university spinouts, to social enterprises, investment funds and established companies across a number of sectors, many of which seek sophisticated advice to help them scale. For the better part of a decade, these clients have put their trust in us to provide advice that’s not only technically spot on, but commercially relevant and cost effective, and we take pride in our ability to consistently deliver fast, flexible and forward-thinking legal, commercial, and strategic advice.

In addition, as already mentioned, our lawyers have worked at many of the world’s most high profile international law firms and corporations, meaning you’ll have access to senior, market-leading experts who are used to providing nothing less than the highest levels of client service.

News, Insights & Resources

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27th March 2025

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During the recent session from our ‘General Counsel Know How’ series, commercial property partner Helen Lucas and consultant Michael Whitaker led an interesting discussion on hotly contested lease terms that should be properly considered even before the landlords and tenants sign heads of terms.

22nd May 2023

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Hotly Contested Lease Terms

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Get In touch

If this sounds like it might help to transform the way you approach legal services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d be very happy to arrange a no obligation call so that we can better understand your needs and create a bespoke proposition for you to consider.