Burns & Co.

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Burns & Co. Group

Burns & Co. GC

The GC Blog

Twenty-five articles on why a fractional general counsel is the smarter way for growing businesses to access senior legal leadership.

Insights

Why fractional
is better.

A growing library of articles exploring the case for fractional general counsel — from cost and scalability to risk, compliance and the democratisation of the Fortune 500 legal department.

Why Fractional

Why a Fractional General Counsel Beats Hiring In-House

A full-time general counsel is expensive, slow to recruit and hard to justify for many businesses. Here's why a fractional model often delivers more, for less.

Cost

The True Cost of an In-House General Counsel

The salary is only the beginning. We break down what an in-house GC really costs once every overhead is counted.

Why Fractional

Scalability: Legal Support That Grows With Your Business

Legal needs are lumpy. A fractional general counsel scales up for the busy periods and down for the quiet ones — something a single hire can never do.

Why Fractional

Your Dedicated Counsel, Backed by a Team

You get a single, dedicated point of contact who knows your business — supported by a whole team of specialists behind them.

Why Fractional

A Full Legal Department, at a Fraction of the Cost

Think Fortune 500 legal capability — dozens of specialists — without the Fortune 500 payroll. That is what fractional counsel makes possible.

Why Fractional

The Flexibility Advantage of Fractional Counsel

Permanent hires are rigid. Fractional counsel bends to fit the way your business actually works.

Why Fractional

Why Speed Matters: Legal Support Without the Recruitment Delay

Recruiting a general counsel can take months. A fractional GC can be in place in days — and that speed has real value.

Risk

Managing Legal Risk Proactively, Not Reactively

The most expensive legal problems are the ones you discover too late. A general counsel shifts you from reacting to anticipating.

Why Fractional

Fractional GC vs Traditional Law Firms: What's the Difference?

Both provide lawyers. But the relationship, the incentives and the outcomes are very different.

Risk

The Continuity Problem: Why Single-Lawyer Legal Teams Fail

If your entire legal function rests on one person, you have a single point of failure. A team-based model removes that risk.

Cost

How Fractional Counsel Reduces Your Legal Spend

Not by cutting corners — but by changing how legal work is delivered, priced and prioritised.

Why Fractional

Board-Level Legal Advice Without the Boardroom Salary

You need a lawyer in the room when the big decisions are made. You do not need to pay a boardroom salary to get one.

Growth

Scaling from £2m to £50m: Legal Support at Every Stage

The legal needs of a £2m business look nothing like those of a £50m one. A fractional GC evolves with you through every stage of growth.

Growth

Why Growing Businesses Outgrow Ad-Hoc Legal Advice

There comes a point where phoning a solicitor when something goes wrong is no longer good enough. Here's how to know.

Cost

The Hidden Costs of a Legal Vacancy

The gap between one general counsel leaving and the next starting is more expensive than most businesses realise.

Industries

Fractional Counsel for Private Equity and Portfolio Companies

Portfolio businesses need senior legal leadership, but rarely each justify a full-time GC. Fractional counsel fills the gap.

Compliance

Compliance Without the Headache

Data protection, regulation, governance — compliance is a growing burden. A general counsel turns it from a headache into a routine.

Commercial

Contracts That Protect Your Margin

The terms you sign quietly shape your profitability. Good legal oversight makes sure they work for you.

Why Fractional

Why Senior Experience Beats Junior Hours

Ten hours of a junior lawyer is not the same as one hour of a seasoned general counsel. Experience is what you are really buying.

Cost

Predictable Legal Costs: Budgeting with a Fractional GC

Legal spend is notoriously hard to forecast. A retained model makes it a line item you can actually plan around.

Growth

When to Hire a Fractional General Counsel

The signs that your business has reached the point where ad-hoc advice is no longer enough.

Why Fractional

The Fortune 500 Legal Department, Democratised

For the first time, mid-market businesses can access the kind of legal function that used to be the preserve of giant corporations.

Why Fractional

Fractional GC for Interim Cover and Transition

When a legal leader moves on, the function cannot wait. Fractional counsel provides continuity through periods of change.

Why Fractional

Building a Legal Function Without Building Headcount

You can have all the capability of an in-house legal team — without any of the headcount, overhead or management burden.

Growth

Five Signs Your Business Needs a General Counsel

A quick checklist to tell whether your business has reached the point where senior legal leadership would pay for itself.