By: Jordan Gerheim CEO | Outside Chief Legal Officer | Litigator | Strategic Business Advisor
The latest issue of Today’s General Counsel features a compelling article by Professor Robert Bird on how general counsel (GCs) can become engines of strategic value for the C-suite – not just risk managers – but true business partners. This perspective is especially relevant for businesses we serve leveraging outside general counsel and fractional Chief Legal Officers (CLOs) to achieve more with less.
The Evolving Role of General Counsel
Traditionally, legal departments have been seen as cost centers, focused on compliance and risk mitigation. Like OCL, Bird’s article challenges this notion, arguing that legal expertise—when embedded into business strategy—can be a sustainable competitive advantage. The key steps he identifies include:
– Securing buy-in from top management to treat legal knowledge as a strategic asset.
– Establishing clear processes and policies that integrate legal standards into daily operations.
– Promoting access and cooperation between legal experts and business leaders, ensuring legal insight is part of early decision-making.
– Developing a culture where legal knowledge is valued alongside other business functions.
What This Can Mean for Businesses
As outside general counsel and fractional CLOs, our firm embraces this philosophy. Actually, it was built on it! It is a different concept to many however, and we embrace the opportunity to teach others about the possibilities.
We don’t just aim to “keep you out of trouble”—we help want to and do unlock hidden value and drive your business forward. Here’s how:
1. Strategic Partnership : We work directly with owners and leadership teams, embedding ourselves in their business to anticipate challenges and identify opportunities. Our legal insight isn’t an afterthought; it’s a core part of your strategy.
2. Proactive Risk Management : By establishing clear compliance frameworks and transparent processes, we help our clients avoid pitfalls before they arise—freeing your team to focus on growth.
3. Business-First Legal Advice : Our approach goes beyond technical legal answers. We translate legal complexity into actionable business guidance, supporting everything from contract negotiations to M&A planning.
4. Scalable Legal Solutions : Whether you need ongoing support or project-based expertise, our fractional CLO services give you access to top-tier legal leadership—without the overhead of a full-time hire.
The Bottom Line
Legal knowledge is one of the last great sources of untapped competitive advantage for organizations. By partnering with firms/counsel like ours, you can gain more than legal compliance—you gain a strategic ally dedicated to your long-term success. (P.S. And we enjoy it!)
Jordan leads Outside Chief Legal LLC (OCL), a modern, forward-thinking law firm that redefines how businesses and their owners access legal support. OCL works to remove the common barriers preventing many from seeking the legal counsel they need — such as fear of unknown or high costs, lack of legal experience, and overly complex legal jargon. OCL serves as fractional chief legal officers and outside general counsel for businesses of all sizes drawing on over 100 years of combined litigation, in-house, and general counsel experience. It delivers approachable, comprehensive counsel that blends legal expertise with practical business insight to help clients navigate ownership complexities with confidence. As a seasoned litigator, general counsel, and entrepreneur himself, Jordan personally understands the legal and business challenges businesses and their owners face. Jordan and OCL are committed to providing the modern legal support today’s companies need.
