One line separates membership from matters. It is drawn in advance.
Most legal work a growing company needs is not a lawsuit or a sale. It is the letter that prevents the lawsuit and the contract that survives the sale. All of that work lives inside the flat fee. A separate engagement begins only when one of five defined events occurs, and the company always knows which side of the line it is standing on.
The flat fee covers
- The monthly module work of the Legal Operating System
- Contract review and drafting
- Demand letters, sent and received
- Negotiations and pre-suit skirmishing
- Employment questions and personnel matters
- Board and governance support
- Threat assessment when trouble first appears
- Unlimited calls and email with counsel
Commencement events
A separate engagement begins only when one of these occurs:
- A complaint, arbitration demand, or administrative charge is filed or served.
- The company decides in writing to initiate litigation.
- A formal mediator is engaged or a tolling agreement is entered.
- An LOI, term sheet, or purchase agreement is executed.
- A subpoena, civil investigative demand, audit notice, or formal investigation letter is received.
Plain terms.
Everything before a commencement event is membership work. The demand letter, the negotiation, the strategy session at nine on a Friday night. None of it starts a meter, because there is no meter.
When a commencement event occurs, the separate engagement is scoped and priced in writing before work begins. No surprise invoices, no drift.
Membership never terminates automatically because a matter opens. The department keeps running while the matter is handled.
Leaving is simple.
Either party may terminate on 60 days written notice. No penalties, no unwind fees, no lock-in theatrics. The work product belongs to the company and stays with the company.
480-633-2444
counsel@retainedfirm.com
New clients may book a scoping call or simply write. Members reach their counsel directly.