Click ABOUT US for information about Bill Van Valkenberg and the formation of Practical Legal Advantage PLLC.

Click SERVICE INFO to read why PLA's size and its fixed fee structure are Practical Legal Advantages  for its clients.

The top ten areas in which Chief Legal Officers expect to spend the greatest amount of time during the next 12 to 18 months (as reported in the ACC's 2008 Chief Legal Officer Survey), listed by the percentage of participants who selected each area, are:

1) Transactional work (43%)
2)  C-suite relations (10%)
3)  Compliance (9%)
4) Regulatory work (8%)
5) Litigation (7%)
6) Board relations (5%)
7) M & A (4%)
8) Managing outside counsel  (4%)
9) Government affairs/External relations (2%)
10) Legal 
department cost control (2%)

Bill Van Valkenberg formed Practical Legal Advantage ("PLA") to provide early stage and middle market companies (revenues of $40M to $250M) with immediate, high-level support of an experienced in-house Chief Legal Officer.  It is a way fir companies to acquire or expand the benefits of in-house legal counsel, and reduce their dependence on outside law firms, without hiring a full time employee. Business objectives are to proactively solve problems, better manage legal needs, improve legal and business decisions and reduce legal costs.   

Situation:  Middle market companies have sufficient strategic, operational and financial needs to benefit from an in-house General Counsel, but don’t necessarily need one full time.  They may also have in-house legal staff that is overwhelmed or in need of additional support, due to the current business climate or increased corporate demands.  PLA provides select in-house legal services as an alternative to the services available from traditional law firms.

Entrepreneurs with aggressive growth plans have a critical need for legal assistance organizing their business, transferring property into the business, arranging financing, protecting their intellectual property, establishing business relationships and motivating employees.  All have extensive needs for experienced legal counsel at a point in time when many have very limited access to capital and most are ill-equipped to prioritize their legal needs, manage outside counsel or proactively avoid liabilities instead of reacting to problems after they arise.

After practicing law in large law firms and a securities law boutique for 30+ years, it became apparent that many companies do not take full advantage of outside legal counsel.  Billing by the hour, the industry standard, is a big factor.  Often budget constraints and expense management includes minimizing contact with outside counsel.  Cost is not the only reason for the disconnect, however, availability, difficulty bringing lawyers up to speed when needed, and perceived delays and complications associated with legal process are also factors.

Services:   PLA uses a fixed fee structure to eliminate the uncertainty inherent in hourly billing rates.  Work is also conducted onsite and offsite to improve access, availability and turn-around time for answers to questions.  Additional features include:

• Immediate support for management
• Fixed fee for budgeting purposes
• Alignment of legal services with business goals
• Efficient coordination of outside counsel with internal objectives
• Solid enterprise risk management
• Extensive involvement in business and financing transactions
• Strong corporate governance expertise
• Practical resolution of legal problems  

Clients are also able to select services that meet their business needs.    Examples include:

• Crisis management
• Strategic and legal review of business plans
• Negotiation of significant contracts, financing arrangements or other business transactions
• Forensic analyses, internal reviews or investigations
• Interim management during a restructuring or reorganization of a subsidiary or division
• Development and negotiation of strategic alliances, partnering arrangements or similar business ventures
• Management of processes associated with the purchase or sale of a business or a financing transaction (such as creation of a due diligence data room or preparation of an initial draft of a registration statement)

Important Signals:  Signs that a company may be struggling and in need of PLA's are:

Experience:  There is no substitute for experience, and it is a key factor in our ability to add value to our clients’ businesses.  We also rely on current expertise and business arrangements that align our  interests with our client to add value throughout our engagement. 

That is our practical legal advantage.  Review the information on this web site and contact PLA.  You will like working with a practical legal advantage.
Espcially, no surprises when you recieve our invoices!