Why the Fractional General Counsel is on the Rise.

In today’s business environment, agility has become a strategic imperative. Companies are scaling faster, often operating across multiple jurisdictions and navigating increasingly complex regulatory landscapes. Yet for many, the traditional model of hiring a full-time General Counsel (GC) or building an in-house legal department doesn’t always align with business needs or budgets. 

Enter the Fractional GC. Just as businesses have embraced Fractional CFOs and Fractional CMOs to provide specialist expertise in finance and marketing, the Fractional GC role is gaining traction. 

A Fractional GC is a senior lawyer who works with a business on a flexible, part-time, or project basis. They provide the strategic legal guidance of a seasoned in-house counsel without the full-time cost and commitment. For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), scale-ups or investor-backed businesses, this model is proving to be a win-win. 

Key Benefits for Businesses 

• Cost-Effective Access to Senior Talent 
  Hiring a full-time GC can be prohibitively expensive for growing businesses. A Fractional GC delivers the same calibre of advice but on a flexible basis, ensuring top-level legal oversight without straining budgets. 

• Strategic Alignment, Not Just Legal Advice 
  Unlike external law firms that typically work on a transactional basis, a Fractional GC embeds themselves into the business. They understand the company’s strategy, operations, and culture—becoming a trusted advisor who proactively spots risks and opportunities. 

• Scalable and Flexible Support 
  Legal needs often fluctuate. A Fractional GC can step in during periods of growth, fundraising, expansion, or regulatory change, and scale back when demand eases—providing a level of adaptability traditional models don’t allow. 

• Business-Enabling Approach 
  The best GCs help leadership teams make smart, commercially viable decisions—striking the right balance between protecting the business and enabling growth.
  

When Should a Business Consider a Fractional GC?

• When the company is entering a period of rapid growth (e.g. scaling through M&A or entering new markets).
• During fundraising or restructuring, where legal project management and investor relations become crucial.
• When contracts and partnerships are increasing in volume or complexity.
• During periods of regulatory change or when regulatory scrutiny is increasing. 
• If legal spend with external law firms is becoming unpredictable or excessive.
• When the leadership team needs a strategic advisor on risk, compliance, or corporate structure.

Why It’s Becoming More Popular

The broader fractional leadership trend has paved the way. Many businesses already rely on Fractional CFOs and Fractional CMOs. Legal is a natural next step. Investors, boards, and founders recognise that governance, compliance, and risk management are too important to leave to chance—but also too costly to staff at a full-time executive level, especially in smaller or earlier - growth stage companies.

The rise of the fractional GC also reflects a broader evolution in the legal profession. Legal leadership is no longer bound by traditional full-time models but can flex to meet the realities of modern business. For many companies, the fractional approach can act as a stepping stone - laying the foundations for compliance, governance, and risk management - before evolving into a full-time in-house function.

For lawyers, the rise of Fractional GC roles offers an appealing career path. It allows senior legal professionals to work flexibly across industries, add value at the leadership table, and build a portfolio career rather than being tied to one employer.

The Bottom Line

Fractional GCs bring the best of both worlds: the experience and judgment of a senior in-house lawyer, delivered with the flexibility and efficiency today’s businesses demand. Whether you’re a business looking for agile legal leadership or a lawyer seeking a new way to add value at the executive level, the rise of the Fractional GC presents a compelling opportunity.

At KorumLegal, we’ve seen a strong uptick in demand for Fractional GC services this year and we are are helping a number of businesses take their legal function to the next level.

Reach out to us at KorumLegal to learn more.