General Counsel: The Advisor You Should Call Before Things Go Wrong

Every entrepreneur knows the feeling. You’re growing fast, juggling contracts, hiring decisions, and partnership opportunities—and somewhere in the back of your mind, you’re wondering: Should I run this by a lawyer?

For most business owners, the answer comes too late. They call after the contract is signed, after the employee dispute escalates, after the deal falls apart. I’ve built my practice around a different model: being the person entrepreneurs call before something becomes a problem.

As a corporate Partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, I serve as “outside general counsel” to businesses across industries—from government contractors and tech companies to manufacturers and nonprofits. It’s a role that gives my clients the strategic advantage of experienced legal guidance without the overhead of a full-time in-house attorney.

What does that look like in practice?

Well, I’m in the room when you’re negotiating a major contract, reviewing your employment policies before they create liability, and helping you structure the deal, not just paper it. For entrepreneurs running lean and moving fast, this kind of relationship can be transformational.

In most cases, the entrepreneurs I work with don’t want a lawyer who speaks in legalese and bills for every phone call. Instead, they want a trusted advisor who understands the rhythm of building a business—the risks you take, the decisions you make with incomplete information, the pressure to keep momentum while staying protected. That’s the relationship I aim to build.

My Path

My path to this work wasn’t accidental. First, I earned my B.S. in Business Administration from UNC Chapel Hill and my J.D. from George Washington University Law School. Over the years, I’ve represented businesses in state, federal, and appellate courts across the country, secured dismissals for Fortune 500 companies, and conducted countless workplace investigations. But the work I find most rewarding is the day-to-day counsel—helping entrepreneurs and small businesses think through decisions before they become disputes.

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig shares that same philosophy. We’re a veteran-owned firm with 13 offices nationwide, founded by two U.S. Army officers who believed legal practice should be practical, efficient, and rooted in long-term relationships. Our attorneys aren’t just lawyers—we’re business owners, patent-holders, engineers, and pilots. We understand our clients because, in many ways, we are our clients.

Being part of EO has reinforced what I already believed: entrepreneurs succeed when they surround themselves with people who understand their journey. The conversations I’ve had with fellow members—about growth challenges, leadership, and the loneliness of building something from nothing—mirror the conversations I have with clients every day.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d offer to fellow EO members, it’s this: don’t wait for a crisis to build a relationship with your attorney. The best legal guidance is proactive, not reactive. Find someone who will learn your business, anticipate your risks, and help you make smarter decisions along the way.

That’s what outside general counsel is all about.

Get In Touch

I am an SAP because I want to support entrepreneurs like you. If you have a question about any of these topics, let’s talk. I’m already looking forward to it.

• Corporate Transactions & General Counsel Services (Contract negotiation, M&A support, business formation, day-to-day legal advice, risk management)
• Strategic Dispute Resolution (Commercial litigation, employment disputes, breach of contract enforcement, pre-litigation strategy, mediation/arbitration)
• Employment & HR Legal Framework (Executive agreements, wage/hour compliance, workplace investigations, policy development, discrimination defense)
• Government Contracting & Regulatory Compliance (Bid protests, contract compliance, investigations, crisis management, industry-specific regulations)
• Intellectual Property & Data Protection (Trademark registration, trade secrets, data privacy compliance, IP licensing, cybersecurity protocols)
• Tax Structuring & Succession Planning (Business succession, estate integration, entity optimization, buy-sell agreements, exit strategy preparation)