Fractional In-House Counsel

In-house counsel has the potential to create tremendous value to a healthcare company. To do so, they must focus on strategic and high priority files critical to the company’s future.  But routine legal operations need time and attention too. 

Companies With Canadian In-house Counsel

Outsource routine legal work to a full-service law firm.

You can manage a half-dozen subject matter experts, have the work passed from the partner to the associate and back again, and get a redline back with a litany of immaterial comments to go with the exorbitant bill.   Deals get bogged down in red tape and high fees.  Business people will be afraid to reach out to legal because of budget impact.

Pile the work onto your full plate.

You can keep the work, but there are only 24 hours in the day.  The file won’t get your best work because of the scarcity of your time and attention. Business people will be afraid to reach out to legal because of the timeline impact.   The legal services department becomes the business prevention department.

Neglect legal review.

You can skip legal review, but you can’t skip legal risk.  Sooner or later, the business, or the company’s reputation, will be negatively impacted. 

Companies Without Canadian In-House Counsel

Outsource routine legal work to a full-service law firm.

You can manage a half dozen subject matter experts, have the work passed from the partner to the associate and back again, and get a redline back with a litany of immaterial comments back to go with the exorbitant bill.   Deals get bogged down in red tape and high fees.  Business will be afraid to reach out to legal because of budget impact.

Give the work to an in-house lawyer outside of Canada.

The Canadian legal landscape for therapeutic products is highly regulated and highly complex.  It is not the USA.  You simply need local expertise to properly navigate it. 

Secondment

Taking on a mid-level associate from the company’s full-service firm is a revolving door.  The 4th year associate from downtown wants to be a 5th year associate downtown.  They have no in-house experience; they don’t know your products or your company.  If they are good, they will be up to speed in 6 months, but in 6 months they will be gone, so the process starts over again, ad infinitum.