It makes sense for large companies to hire a full-time lawyer to help them avoid legal problems and manage their litigation. Most small and medium-sized businesses, however, do not need to have a full-time lawyer on their payroll and may not have room in the budget for one. Yet these businesses have some of the same legal needs as larger companies and could benefit greatly from having on demand access to the same high quality, legal advice that Fortune 1000 companies receive every day.
Rick has spent the last ten years working in the legal department of a publicly traded Fortune 1000 company. As that company’s General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, his job was to identify potential legal problems and find solutions to them before they became real legal problems that could adversely impact the company’s bottom line or interfere with its strategic goals.
The old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s absolutely true when it comes to legal advice. A little legal advice along the way can help you avoid making decisions that result in costly legal problems down the road.
Our firm can provide you with the General Counsel solutions you need at a fraction of the price you would pay to put a full-time lawyer on your payroll. You’ll find that our hourly rates are fair and reasonable. Other work, such as contract review, can be done for a flat fee. Best of all, you can rest assured that we’re not going to nickel and dime you by passing along routine expenses like postage, long-distance, copies or legal research fees. Unless it’s an extraordinary expense, then it’s included in the firm’s hourly rate.
How about an even better value? For a fixed monthly dollar amount, you can purchase a block of hours that will provide you and your leadership team with access to General Counsel advice at the touch of your fingertips. Such advice may include, among other topics:
- Employment claims and issues
- Contract drafting, review and negotiation
- Asset purchases and divestitures
- Federal, state and local regulatory compliance
- Litigation management and oversight
- Corporate and regulatory investigations
- Risk management and insurance
- Responding to legal demands, notices, service of process
- Union avoidance efforts and collective bargaining
- Executive contracts and non-competition agreements
Contact the firm to learn more about its General Counsel Solutions and how our services can be tailored to meet the needs and budget of your growing business. 816.800.5001.
If you’ve been in business long enough, then sooner or later you are probably going to get dragged into a lawsuit. Perhaps it’s a disgruntled employee, a business competitor, or even a customer. You may find yourself as a defendant. You may find yourself as a plaintiff. And you may ask yourself, “What do I do now?” The answer is simple: “Go grow your business. Let us handle the legal stuff.”
Our firm believes that lawsuits, lawyers and legal fees should always be your last choice when it comes to resolving disputes. But there are times when the other side doesn’t give you a choice in the matter. Sometimes you are 100% right and the other side is being unreasonable. At other times, you might be willing to privately concede in hindsight that your company could have handled things a little differently, but the other side is trying to take advantage of the situation and being greedy. In either case, we’re prepared to take ownership of your legal problem so that you can concentrate on your business.
For the first 10 years of his career, Rick practiced law at national and international law firms, helping clients successfully prosecute and defend lawsuits throughout the country. For the next 10 years, he served as the General Counsel of a publicly traded, Fortune 1000 company where he was responsible for selecting, managing and paying outside legal counsel. In that capacity, he came to appreciate that it’s not necessarily the lawyer’s hourly rate, or even the number of hours spent by the lawyer, that matters. It’s all about value. Did the lawyer deliver what was reasonably expected? Was the total spend reasonable? Would I call that lawyer back again next time?
To be fair, the lawyer you choose to represent your company in litigation probably did not create the law or facts that will control the outcome of your case. However, that lawyer does have the ability to help you develop and manage your expectations going forward, and should prepare your case so that it shines in the light most favorable to it. The lawyer should also understand that you have a business to run, and that your business does not revolve around the lawsuit. As trial lawyers, we all too often forget that our job is not only to “win” the case, but also to take our clients’ legal problems off their plates so they can run their businesses.
Here are some of the types of lawsuits that Rick has handled on behalf of clients around the country:
- Commercial disputes
- Employment discrimination
- Non-compete agreements
- Products liability defense
- Personal injury/Wrongful Death
- Fires and explosions
- Consumer Protection/Fraud
- State Attorney General Investigations/Lawsuits
- Local counsel services (MO and KS state and federal)
Our firm doesn’t take on every case that is sent our way. If we do not believe we are the firm best suited to handle your lawsuit, then we will do our best to connect you with the right law firm for the job. Our referrals are made at no charge to you. Please call us to discuss your next case. (816) 800-5001.
Your Local CounselIf your law firm needs local counsel to assist on a case venued in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, then consider giving our firm a call. With over 20 years of local experience, our firm can help you and your client navigate our local state and federal courts.
Our services can include:
- motions and pleadings
- pro hac vice sponsorship
- judicial intelligence
- verdict and settlement research
- court appearances as needed
As your local counsel, we’re here to help serve YOUR client. Our goal is to add value to the case and provide as little, or as much, assistance as you and your client need. Give us a call so we can discuss how we can help serve you and your client. (816) 800-5001.
- GENERAL COUNSEL SOLUTIONS
-
It makes sense for large companies to hire a full-time lawyer to help them avoid legal problems and manage their litigation. Most small and medium-sized businesses, however, do not need to have a full-time lawyer on their payroll and may not have room in the budget for one. Yet these businesses have some of the same legal needs as larger companies and could benefit greatly from having on demand access to the same high quality, legal advice that Fortune 1000 companies receive every day.
Rick has spent the last ten years working in the legal department of a publicly traded Fortune 1000 company. As that company’s General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, his job was to identify potential legal problems and find solutions to them before they became real legal problems that could adversely impact the company’s bottom line or interfere with its strategic goals.
The old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s absolutely true when it comes to legal advice. A little legal advice along the way can help you avoid making decisions that result in costly legal problems down the road.
Our firm can provide you with the General Counsel solutions you need at a fraction of the price you would pay to put a full-time lawyer on your payroll. You’ll find that our hourly rates are fair and reasonable. Other work, such as contract review, can be done for a flat fee. Best of all, you can rest assured that we’re not going to nickel and dime you by passing along routine expenses like postage, long-distance, copies or legal research fees. Unless it’s an extraordinary expense, then it’s included in the firm’s hourly rate.
How about an even better value? For a fixed monthly dollar amount, you can purchase a block of hours that will provide you and your leadership team with access to General Counsel advice at the touch of your fingertips. Such advice may include, among other topics:
- Employment claims and issues
- Contract drafting, review and negotiation
- Asset purchases and divestitures
- Federal, state and local regulatory compliance
- Litigation management and oversight
- Corporate and regulatory investigations
- Risk management and insurance
- Responding to legal demands, notices, service of process
- Union avoidance efforts and collective bargaining
- Executive contracts and non-competition agreements
Contact the firm to learn more about its General Counsel Solutions and how our services can be tailored to meet the needs and budget of your growing business. 816.800.5001.
- LITIGATION
-
Litigation Savvy If you’ve been in business long enough, then sooner or later you are probably going to get dragged into a lawsuit. Perhaps it’s a disgruntled employee, a business competitor, or even a customer. You may find yourself as a defendant. You may find yourself as a plaintiff. And you may ask yourself, “What do I do now?” The answer is simple: “Go grow your business. Let us handle the legal stuff.”
Our firm believes that lawsuits, lawyers and legal fees should always be your last choice when it comes to resolving disputes. But there are times when the other side doesn’t give you a choice in the matter. Sometimes you are 100% right and the other side is being unreasonable. At other times, you might be willing to privately concede in hindsight that your company could have handled things a little differently, but the other side is trying to take advantage of the situation and being greedy. In either case, we’re prepared to take ownership of your legal problem so that you can concentrate on your business.
For the first 10 years of his career, Rick practiced law at national and international law firms, helping clients successfully prosecute and defend lawsuits throughout the country. For the next 10 years, he served as the General Counsel of a publicly traded, Fortune 1000 company where he was responsible for selecting, managing and paying outside legal counsel. In that capacity, he came to appreciate that it’s not necessarily the lawyer’s hourly rate, or even the number of hours spent by the lawyer, that matters. It’s all about value. Did the lawyer deliver what was reasonably expected? Was the total spend reasonable? Would I call that lawyer back again next time?
To be fair, the lawyer you choose to represent your company in litigation probably did not create the law or facts that will control the outcome of your case. However, that lawyer does have the ability to help you develop and manage your expectations going forward, and should prepare your case so that it shines in the light most favorable to it. The lawyer should also understand that you have a business to run, and that your business does not revolve around the lawsuit. As trial lawyers, we all too often forget that our job is not only to “win” the case, but also to take our clients’ legal problems off their plates so they can run their businesses.
Here are some of the types of lawsuits that Rick has handled on behalf of clients around the country:
- Commercial disputes
- Employment discrimination
- Non-compete agreements
- Products liability defense
- Personal injury/Wrongful Death
- Fires and explosions
- Consumer Protection/Fraud
- State Attorney General Investigations/Lawsuits
- Local counsel services (MO and KS state and federal)
Our firm doesn’t take on every case that is sent our way. If we do not believe we are the firm best suited to handle your lawsuit, then we will do our best to connect you with the right law firm for the job. Our referrals are made at no charge to you. Please call us to discuss your next case. (816) 800-5001.
- LOCAL COUNSEL ASSISTANCE
-
Your Local CounselIf your law firm needs local counsel to assist on a case venued in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, then consider giving our firm a call. With over 20 years of local experience, our firm can help you and your client navigate our local state and federal courts.
Our services can include:
- motions and pleadings
- pro hac vice sponsorship
- judicial intelligence
- verdict and settlement research
- court appearances as needed
As your local counsel, we’re here to help serve YOUR client. Our goal is to add value to the case and provide as little, or as much, assistance as you and your client need. Give us a call so we can discuss how we can help serve you and your client. (816) 800-5001.