Step-by-step resources designed to help founders and teams make informed legal and strategic decisions.
Explore expert perspectives on legal strategy, startup growth, and business operations.
Dive deeper into the stories of real clients who have been in your shoes before.
Get quick answers to common legal and business questions founders face — all in one place.
Outsourced or fractional General Counsel provides legal leadership without a full-time hire. Startups subscribe to a legal service provider - like @VirtualCounsel - that gives them access to experienced attorneys under predictable pricing structures. This means you can get strategic advice, document review, governance support, and risk mitigation as you need it without a large, fixed salary.
During fundraising, General Counsel reviews and negotiates key legal documentation -including term sheets, investment agreements, and shareholder rights. They help ensure that terms align with your long-term goals and that you retain necessary rights without unintended obligations.
Startups face a range of legal risks across multiple domains, including contracts, compliance, employment, investor negotiations, and data/privacy laws. General Counsel helps identify these risks before they become problems. They evaluate contracts for liabilities, advise on regulatory requirements in your industry, and help implement policies that protect the business and its stakeholders.
Corporate governance refers to the systems and rules by which a company is directed andc ontrolled. General Counsel supports governance by helping define and document decision-making processes, preparing board resolutions, and ensuring compliance with bylaws and state laws. This involves formalizing how key business decisions are made - a critical foundation for growth and investment.
"Great communication throughout. Professional and personable."
"Great communication throughout. Professional and personable."
Longview Labs needed a business formation partner that could make the process feel both straightforward and professional for a first-time founder. @VirtualCounsel delivered exactly that—a smooth, personable consultation that combined professionalism with clear communication. With the business properly formed, Longview Labs launched with a strong foundation and a legal team ready for the road ahead.
"Daniel is incredible to work with. He communicated clearly and delivered documents quickly. He made sure I understood the details of a contract and how it would impact me. I would highly recommend him."
"Daniel is incredible to work with. He communicated clearly and delivered documents quickly. He made sure I understood the details of a contract and how it would impact me. I would highly recommend him."
Pantano Media needed a careful review of an equity clause in a service agreement—a detail that, if misunderstood, could have had significant long-term financial consequences. @VirtualCounsel communicated clearly, delivered the reviewed documents quickly, and made sure Pantano Media signed with confidence.
"Answered all my questions and provided a good agreement based on our discussion. Will definitely consider doing business again later."
"Answered all my questions and provided a good agreement based on our discussion. Will definitely consider doing business again later."
TeamCircle needed outside general counsel that could quickly understand its needs and deliver a solid, tailored agreement without unnecessary back-and-forth. @VirtualCounsel produced a strong agreement applicable to TeamCircle's business. With a reliable legal resource identified, TeamCircle looks to @VirtualCounsel for future counsel as the business continues to grow.
"I like that Daniel's team kept reminding me to attend to the foundational signatures required to keep the process moving. As a founder, I'm constantly getting my attention pulled away from the priorities -- and getting this corporation formed and initial stock allocated, was a priority (that I was inclined to drag my feet on)."
"I like that Daniel's team kept reminding me to attend to the foundational signatures required to keep the process moving. As a founder, I'm constantly getting my attention pulled away from the priorities -- and getting this corporation formed and initial stock allocated, was a priority (that I was inclined to drag my feet on)."
WindEverest was ready to form its corporation and allocate initial stock but, like many founders, kept letting other responsibilities take priority. @VirtualCounsel stepped in to help keep the process moving—proactively reminding WindEverest of the critical foundational steps and taking action until the formation and equity award were complete. With @VirtualCounsel in their corner, WindEverest launched on a solid legal foundation built to support long-term growth.
Our Subscription Tiers range from $1,000 to $10,000/mo depending on your company's size, needs, stage, etc. Click here to compare all our Subscription Tiers.
We customize our monthly plans to suit your needs depending on your company's size, needs, stage, etc. Schedule a free consultation and we will find the best Subscription Tier for your business!
@VC Monthly Subscriptions include a defined set of deliverables specified under your selected Subscription Tier, which constitutes the Scope of Work, with the following key terms:
You have on-demand access to your attorney POC and the entire team via scheduled phone/video consultations, email, and Slack messages.
On average our clients pay about half of the cost if they were paying by the hour. We know, it’s a bit hard to believe, but what happens in our relationships with clients is that - since you’re not being charged for every email and every minute on the phone, you end up communicating with us way more - that’s the point!
All Subscription Tiers, except the entry-level @VC Launch tier, are offered on an annual Subscription Commitment Term that automatically renews at the end of each twelve (12) month term, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to this Agreement. Only the @VC Launch tier is structured as a pure month-to-month engagement with no annual commitment.
During the Subscription Commitment Term, you may upgrade to a higher Subscription Tier at the then-current pricing upon written notice to us, but you may not downgrade to a lower Subscription Tier.
At the end of the Subscription Commitment Term, you may request to downgrade or cancel your @VC Monthly Subscription by providing at least thirty (30) days' written notice to @VC before the end of your then-current term. If you provide such notice, your downgrade or cancellation shall take effect at the end of the then-current term. Any such requests made outside of the thirty (30) day window shall become effective at the end of the next Subscription Commitment Term.
@VC Monthly Subscriptions bill on the same calendar day each month that the subscription commenced. Each monthly payment is considered earned when charged and is deposited directly into our operating account at that time. A valid payment method must be kept on file at all times and will be used for subsequent billing cycles. Payment methods can be changed at your discretion.
@VC Monthly Subscriptions include a defined set of deliverables specified in the Scope of Work.
We've found that business and the law are fluid. Some months you may use the subscription services heavily, and some months you may not use them at all. Regardless of your usage, we are reserving and committing our time and resources to account for your subscription commitment.
Therefore, you acknowledge and agree that you are obligated to pay the @VC Monthly Subscription fee during the Subscription Commitment Term, regardless of your actual usage of the subscription services.
As our clients scale, the volume and complexity of work tend to increase and become more regular. We monitor subscription usage and scope and will communicate in good faith any request for services that is out of scope, which may require a Subscription Tier upgrade or ad hoc Flat Fee or hourly billing from time to time.
Legal fees are often a hot topic with our clients, so we want to share our philosophy with you.
We prefer to engage in a Flat Fee or @VC Monthly Subscription for legal projects instead of charging by the hour because we plan to become strategic partners with our clients, and we want to help you grow. We have found that engaging in a Flat Fee or @VC Monthly Subscription fosters a better attorney-client relationship.
Because we want you to succeed, we will always treat you with respect and fairness. We never want you to be shocked with a surprise bill. That said, it is not a requirement to engage us through a Flat Fee or @VC Monthly Subscription, as some matters are better suited for hourly billing. If/when hourly billing becomes necessary or preferable from either or both parties’ perspectives, we will discuss it with you in a collaborative forum.
Click here to see all of our flat fee services.
For Flat Fee projects, we will send you a fee quote in writing by electronic means, which will specifically describe the parameters of the project, i.e., the Scope of Work. Payments for Flat Fees are required before beginning work and are considered earned and deposited directly into our operating account when charged.
All Flat Fee projects are capped at a certain amount of hours of total Firm billable time, as indicated in each Scope of Work on the corresponding quote or invoice ("Total Project Hours"). The Total Project Hours cap is designed to provide ample time to complete the initial Scope of Work and also to create a boundary in the event the Scope of Work expands beyond what was initially communicated or anticipated by the Client and/or the Firm.
If the Scope of Work exceeds the Total Project Hours for any Flat Fee project, we will communicate the expanded scope in good faith and offer to complete it at 20% off our standard hourly rates.
We take a strong stance on hourly billing, preferring to quote reasonable Flat Fees or engaging with our clients in an ongoing @VC Monthly Subscription for legal services. However, from time to time our clients choose to hire us on a traditional hourly basis.
For projects or work product that is billed hourly, the Firm's hourly rates are as follows:
Our hourly rates may increase in the future. Any such increase will only occur upon written notice to you. If you decline to pay the increased rates, we will have the right to withdraw as attorney for you if permitted under the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California and/or applicable law.
Time is charged in minimum units of tenth-of-an-hour increments (0.1). Time spent on a task will be rounded up to the nearest tenth-of-an-hour. Unless we agree otherwise in writing by electronic means, all work will be billed on an hourly basis.
For projects that are billed hourly, the Firm requires a minimum retainer deposit or payment method on file. The @VC Billing department will provide the Client with detailed invoices for hourly projects every two weeks, which will become payable within five (5) business days. During that time, please carefully review the detailed invoice and raise any questions or concerns you may have with the @VC Billing department.
Absent any questions or concerns, we will draw down on the retainer deposit to cover the invoice. We will replenish the retainer deposit in equal installments using a payment method on file.
Retainer deposit funds belong to you, the Client, until we earn fees by invoicing our services. Any funds paid towards retainer deposits will be deposited into our firm's trust account and handled in accordance with our trust accounting policies pursuant to California Rule of Professional Conduct 4-100 and Business and Professions Code §§ 6211-13. This does not apply to Flat Fees or @VC Monthly Subscription fees, which are considered earned when charged. Unless we agree to a Flat Fee or @VC Monthly Subscription, all work will be billed on an hourly basis.
At any time, you are entitled to request a return of the remaining balance in your retainer account by written notice to billing@atvirtualcounsel.com.
Our fees DO NOT include third-party charges for postage, filing fees, license fees, application fees, or other charges and fees. Notably, this includes fees associated with forming a corporate entity and/or amending Articles/Certificates of Incorporation or other similar corporate documents and/or filing with governmental authorities. When we pay those fees on your behalf, you will be billed for them at cost.
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LegalZoom and BizCounsel have done a great job of providing low costs to its customers - they rely heavily on templates that can be found almost anywhere on the internet and also don’t deep dive into YOU and your business as much as @VirtualCounsel does.
With @VirtualCounsel, you have a dedicated attorney point of contact who develops a deep understanding of your business model, goals, and way of operating - we provide far more than templates. We become true counsel in short order based on the level of involvement we have with you and your business - we balance legal protection with business goals and become strategic advisors that are more than just lawyers.
We are a tight team and like it that way. We have work/life balance ourselves. Names, faces, families, souls. No corporate bureaucracy. Big law firms employ humans too, but they are kind of like a top-down scheme that focuses on demanding work hours from lower-level associates who are incentivized to increase billable hours and not incentivized to increase their or their clients’ success and happiness.
We developed our model so that we can select powerful businesses to align with as our clients and provide true partnership and counsel - our clients’ success and happiness are directly aligned with our success and happiness.
VirtualCounsel, PC (i.e., @VirtualCounsel) is a virtual law firm, headquartered in San Diego, CA.
@VirtualCounsel™️ is not a law firm. Any legal services will be performed by the law firm VirtualCounsel, PC, a California professional law corporation.
VirtualCounsel, PC (i.e., @VirtualCounsel) is a virtual law firm headquartered in San Diego, CA. We are progressive corporate attorneys. We are a startup ourselves, and we built our law firm to serve startups in the way that we believe a professional service provider should serve their clients.
Yes. At the beginning of a relationship you will have a kick-off call with one of our talented attorneys who will operate as your primary point of contact. Even better, our technology gives our whole firm - all attorneys, legal staff, etc. - visibility into every client’s confidential portal. So you will have a team of bright minds collaborating on the important work for your business - and will always have your primary attorney point of contact running point.
We provide representation and advice on the specific legal matters you have hired us for, which means that our work together is limited to the Representation. If a project falls outside of the Scope of Work, we will always discuss the parameters of the work and fees with you before moving forward with it.
Additionally, if your business changes substantially, we will discuss the change in Scope of Work and will agree to a revised fee arrangement. Representation on any future matters will be subject to the terms of this Agreement and any other fee arrangements we may mutually agree upon. The question of whether a matter or issue falls within the scope of this Representation will be handled with common sense, mutual agreement, mutual respect, and fairness to both parties.
