5 Signs Your Company Needs a Virtual General Counsel
Growth Feels Riskier Than It Used To
You started with simple templates and the occasional lawyer referral. Now every new hire, contract, or funding round feels like it could create a problem you cannot see. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Most Canadian companies hit this inflection point between $2 million and $30 million in revenue.
I am Angela Papalia, a fractional General Counsel and remote business lawyer. I step in as virtual General Counsel for exactly these companies. Below are the five clearest signs that you have outgrown DIY legal and need consistent senior counsel (without the full-time salary).
1. You Are Spending More Than $50,000 a Year on Outside Lawyers (and Still Feel Unprotected)
If your annual external legal spend has climbed past $50,000 and you still worry about gaps, you are paying reactive fees instead of building proactive protection. A virtual General Counsel typically costs less than that amount while giving you unlimited access and strategic oversight.
2. Investors or Acquirers Keep Asking the Same Due-Diligence Questions
“Show us your cap table.”
“Where is the IP assignment from that early?”
“Why is this contractor agreement missing a non-compete?”
When these questions appear repeatedly in term sheets or LOIs, it is a signal that historical legal hygiene is holding you back. A virtual GC cleans the corporate house once and keeps it clean going forward.
3. Your Team Keeps Asking You Legal Questions You Cannot Confidently Answer
HR wants to know if a termination package is safe. Sales wants to sign a big enterprise deal with unusual terms. Marketing wants to launch a contest. If “I’m not sure, let me check” has become your default answer, you need a lawyer on speed dial who actually knows your business.
4. You Are Expanding (Team Size, Geography, or Revenue) Faster Than Your Legal Infrastructure
Common triggers:
First 20–30 employees.
Opening a U.S. or international entity.
Signing contracts worth more than monthly revenue.
Implementing employee stock options.
Each milestone introduces new compliance, tax, and liability layers. A virtual General Counsel scales with you instead of forcing you to hire prematurely.
5. You Have Experienced (or Narrowly Avoided) a Legal Scare
One disputed contract, one misclassified contractor claim, or one IP ownership surprise is usually enough. Founders who have felt that sinking feeling rarely want to feel it again. A virtual GC prevents the second scare (and the third, and the fourth).
What a Virtual General Counsel Actually Does for You
Reviews every material contract before you sign.
Keeps corporate records clean and investor-ready.
Handles employment, privacy, and IP issues proactively.
Acts as your strategic partner on fundraising, M&A, and expansion.
Costs 20–40 % of a full-time salary with zero overhead.
All remotely, on your schedule, integrated into Slack or Teams.
The Best Time to Bring One In
The ideal window is when legal risk is rising but you are still 12–36 months away from justifying a full-time hire. Companies that add virtual counsel at this stage close rounds faster, avoid expensive mistakes, and scale with confidence.
Think One of These Signs Applies to You?
You do not need to wait for a crisis. A quick 20-minute call is enough for me to tell you whether a virtual General Counsel makes sense right now and what the first 90 days would look like.
Book a call or visit the remote business lawyer Toronto page. The conversation is free, and the peace of mind is immediate.
