Thank you for your interest in our Outside General Counsel program.  Large corporations typically have their own in-house attorney, known as a "general counsel." The general counsel's job is to ensure that the business stays in compliance with the law in all aspects of the business operations. The General Counsel advises management on all legal aspects of the business, from hiring, to reviewing contracts; allowing management to concentrate on running the business and making money.  The problem is, smaller businesses can't afford a full-time attorney.  

That is where we come in.  Under this program, we act as your general counsel.  We advise you when needed, draft documents when needed, and negotiate agreements when needed; with the goal to allow you to concentrate on running your business, while leaving the legal work to us.  Here is how it works:

1. We sign a fee agreement and you pay a retainer.  Your hourly rate will be determined by the amount of retainer you pay.  When the retainer is depleted; you can either replenish your retainer, and enjoy the same low rate, or switch to monthly billing, and pay a slightly higher hourly rate. Your rates will be locked in for the next two years.
2. You get a concierge phone number that you can reach your attorney even after hours.  (because business does not always happen during "normal business hours")
3. You get a free consultation every quarter.  This allows us to be proactive and discover potential legal issues before they become major legal headaches. 

On the next few pages, we will collect some basic information about you and your business.  Followed by a fee agreement.  You will sign the fee agreement electronically and once we receive the signed agreement, we will send you an invoice. 

Thank you for choosing Grantham Law to represent you and your business.

 

Dax Grantham  

B.   Hourly Rate (non-prepaid)

Once retainer is depleated, you have the option of purchaing another block of pre-paid time, or paying month-to-month.  The rate below is charged on all month-to-month billing.

      $325.00/hr.

C.   Billing Period/Billing Increments:       

Billing Period is a calendar month.

We charge in increments of 1/10th of an hour, or less

D.   Costs & Expense

      In-Office Photocopying:    $ 0.15 per page

Mileage:  current IRS reimbursement rate

Other costs/expenses: charged to you at actual cost to firm

E.    Due Date/Discounts/Late Fees

Once retainer is depleated, and you chose to go to month/to month billing (non-prepaid) all invoices are due upon receipt.

5% late fee on all unpaid invoices after 30 days.

G.     Free Quarterly Meeting

Legal Concierge clients are entitled to a free 1 hour meeting every quarter to discuss your business’ needs and follow up on the progress of any projects that we may have pending. It is up to you to contact us to schedule your meeting and they cannot be combined or rolled over from quarter to quarter.

H.    Notice/Changes        

The rates on this schedule are guaranteed and will be valid for 24 months from the date you sign this agreement.  After that date, we reserve the right to change the fees listed on this schedule given 30 days written notice.  

GENERAL COUNSEL ATTORNEY-CLIENT FEE AGREEMENT

(Legal Concierge)

 This document (the "agreement") is the written fee contract that the law requires lawyers to have with their clients. We, GRANTHAM LEGAL, PC (dba GRANTHAM LAW), (“Attorney” or "GRANTHAM LAW") will provide legal services to you, {yourName} (“client”) on the terms set forth below.

1. CONDITIONS. This agreement will not take effect, and we will have no obligation to provide legal services, until you return a signed copy of this agreement and pay the initial deposit called for under Paragraph 4.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES. You are hiring GRANTHAM LAW. as your attorney and general counsel, to offer legal advice and represent you in all legal aspects of your business, including, but not limited to: legal transactions; drafting and reviewing agreements, contracts, or notices; compliance with state and federal laws; collections, and any civil dispute that may arise between client, contractors, subcontractors, employees, and/or customers.  We will provide all legal services reasonably required to represent you. We will take reasonable steps to keep you informed of progress and to respond to your inquiries. As a business concierge client, you will be given priority status as well as a dedicated phone line to reach one of our attorneys. This agreement covers any business in which you have an ownership interest in.
3. CLIENT'S DUTIES. You agree to be truthful with us, to cooperate, to keep us informed of developments, to abide by this agreement, to pay all bills on time and to keep us advised of your current mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, and whereabouts.
4. MINIMUM FEE/DEPOSIT. You agree to pay GRANTHAM LAW an initial prepayment in the amount of {aPrepaid}. This prepayment will entitle you to an hourly rate as stated on the attached rate schedule. 
5. LEGAL FEES AND BILLING PRACTICES. Your prepaid purchase will be applied to the time worked at the hourly rate plus actual “out of pocket” expenses, including but not limited to filing fees, postage, and travel.  Therefore, the actual time you receive for each block may be reduced by the expenses that are incurred.  Once your initial prepaid block is completed, you have the option of being invoiced monthly at a slightly higher rate or purchasing additional Prepaid Time Blocks and receiving the discounted hourly rate subject to the following terms:
   1. Monthly Billing:  if you chose monthly billing, you will be billed on a monthly cycle at Attorney’s current hourly rate as shown on the attached “Rate Schedule.” Client is also responsible for, and will be billed for actual “out of pocket” expenses such as filing fees, postage, travel or third parties that must be retained to complete work on your behalf.  The hourly rates, as shown on the attached Rate Schedule, is guaranteed to not change for two years beginning with the date this contract signed.
   2. Prepaid Billing:  In lieu of monthly billing, Client may purchase prepaid blocks of time from Attorney.  Prepaid Time may not be used to pay for legal fees incurred prior to the date of purchase of Prepaid Time.   Prepaid Time covers legal services only, and Client is responsible for, and will continue to be billed for actual “out of pocket” expenses such as filing fees, postage, travel or third parties that must be retained to complete work on your behalf.  The price of our Prepaid Time, as shown on the attached Rate Schedule, is guaranteed to not change for one year from the date of this contract. Prepaid Time does not expire.
6. DISCHARGE AND WITHDRAWAL. You may discharge us at any time. We may withdraw with your consent or for good cause. Good cause includes your breach of this agreement, your refusal to cooperate with us or to follow our advice on a material matter, or any fact, or circumstance that would render our continuing representation unlawful or unethical.
7. REFUNDS.  If Client terminates Grantham Law before all prepaid time has been used in the last prepaid block they purchased, Client may request a refund of all unused time.  The Client will lose the benefit of reduced billing rate and the amount of the refund will be calculated as follows:   Price paid for block of time – (total time used x $325.00/hour)
8. BILLING STATEMENTS. We will send you periodic statements for fees and costs incurred. Each statement will be due within fifteen (15) days of its date. You may request a statement at intervals of no less than thirty (30) days. If you do, we will provide one within ten (10) days.
9. COLLECTION OF LEGAL FEES. When our services conclude, for any reason listed in Paragraph 6, all unpaid charges will immediately become due and payable.  After our services conclude, we will, upon your request, deliver your file to you, along with any funds or property of yours in our possession.  If we are holding any funds on your behalf or receive any funds pursuant to a settlement or judgment, we reserve the right to withhold payment of any outstanding legal fees and costs that are outstanding.

   You further agree to pay all reasonable costs and legal fees associated with any attempt to collect any debt that you owe Grantham Law that is more than 60 days old.  You also agree to indemnify Grantham Law for any loss that we incur as a direct result of your failure to pay expenses to third party vendors as they become due.

10. DISCLAIMER OF GUARANTEE. Nothing in this agreement and nothing in our statements to you will be construed as a promise or guarantee about the outcome of your matter. We make no such promises or guarantees. Our comments about the outcome of any matter are expressions of opinion only.

11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This agreement will take effect when you have performed the conditions stated in Paragraph 1, but its effective date will be retroactive to the date we first performed services. The date at the beginning of this agreement is for reference only. Even if this agreement does not take effect, you will be obligated to pay us the reasonable value of any services we may have performed for you.

RATE SCHEDULE

•  Prepaid Blocks (retainer paid)
  • $3,000 - $300.00/hr (10 hours without expenses)
  • $5,000 - $275.00/hr (approximately 18 hours without expenses)
• Hourly Rate (non-prepaid)
  • Once retainer is depleated, you have the option of purchaing another block of pre-paid time, or paying month-to-month at a rate of $325.00/hr.
• Billing Period/Billing Increments:       
  • Billing Period is a calendar month.
  • We charge in increments of 1/10th of an hour, or less
• Costs & Expenses
  • In-Office Photocopying:    $ 0.15 per page
  • Mileage:  current IRS reimbursement rate
  • Other costs/expenses: charged to you at actual cost to firm
• Due Date/Discounts/Late Fees
  • Once retainer is depleated, and you chose to go to month/to month billing (non-prepaid) all invoices are due within 15 days.
  • 5% late fee on all unpaid invoices after 30 days.
• Free Quarterly Meeting
  • Legal Concierge clients are entitled to a free 1 hour meeting every quarter to discuss your business’ needs and follow up on the progress of any projects that we may have pending.
• Notice/Changes       
  • The rates on this schedule are guaranteed and will be valid for 24 months from the date listed below.  After that date, we reserve the right to change the fees listed on this schedule given 30 days written notice.  If you decline to pay any increased rates, we will have the right to withdraw as your lawyers.

SIGNATURE

I/We have read and understood the foregoing terms and those set forth on the attached Rate Schedule and agree to them. If more than one party signs below, we each agree to be liable, jointly and severally, for all obligations under the foregoing agreement.

 

{yourName}