Interview with a Fractional GC: Li Reilly on Scaling and Supporting Legal Teams 

‍Li Reilly, our US Partner at Biztech Lawyers, brings a deep background in both law firm and in-house roles. In this interview, she shares her experiences building legal teams, supporting tech companies during high-growth periods, and how the fractional GC model is transforming access to legal expertise for startups and lean legal departments.

You started your career in law firms. What kind of work were you doing early on, and how did it shape your path?

I started out at the likes of Morrison & Foerster, focusing on venture capital, startups, and M&A. That work gave me a strong foundation in corporate transactions, but I ultimately wanted to be closer to the business. I was drawn to the idea of working more directly with internal teams and helping shape decisions from the inside.

What led you to move in-house?

The transition felt really natural. My first in-house role was at Amplify Education, where I built up the legal function and helped guide the company as it grew from 150 to 1,500 employees.

Being on the inside of that was hugely impactful, as it allowed me to understand how a legal department supports and fuels a fast-scaling tech company.

What were the biggest lessons from building a legal function from scratch?

You have to be both proactive and practical. At Amplify, I helped the company add data platforms and digital curricula to their product line. These raised a number of legal challenges around intellectual property, privacy, ethics, and compliance, and required close collaboration with product and operations. 

 nal. Alongside these, I added durable and scalable systems that served Amplify Education through several growth stages.

It was a crash course in balancing business priorities with legal structure - a skill that remains invaluable today.

How did your role shift when you became General Counsel?

At Fareportal, a travel-tech company, I became General Counsel, my focus was shifted heavily towards strategic counseling and compliance, alongside product counseling, which is especially important for an e-commerce company with millions of users. 

It was all about maturing the legal function and making sure it supported the company’s broader growth. I had to step back and think more globally - across four continents - while still managing day-to-day execution.

Now that you’re at Biztech Lawyers, what excites you about the fractional GC model?

I’m currently exploring the fractional GC concept as a flexible way for companies to get General Counsel guidance on a more flexible basis than a full-time position. I work with senior company leadership as well as in-house legal departments, especially in the tech space. In its current format, the model has allowed me to jump in where I’m needed most and bring structure without slowing anyone down.

What kinds of companies are a good fit for this kind of support?

I focus on supporting fast-growth companies that know they’ll need in-house legal leadership at some point but aren’t yet ready, or certain, about making a full-time General Counsel hire. Often, founders don’t have the time to run a lengthy search, aren’t sure what skillset they truly need, or simply don’t know what they don’t know!

By stepping in to act as that GC, I give leadership teams the chance to test what in-house legal support looks like in practice: a proof of concept that helps clarify both immediate priorities and long-term needs. This “try before you buy” approach makes it easier for companies to move strategically, by balancing speed, cost, and risk, while laying the groundwork for the right eventual hire.

I’m also deeply mindful of the pressures founders face. The work is rewarding, but it requires careful calibration of where legal support adds the most value at each stage of growth.

How would you describe your approach to legal work?

I believe it all comes down to a balance between good judgment and action-oriented solutions. Legal should be a partner to the business, not a blocker - a deep understanding of the company’s culture and goals is absolutely essential. 

When we fuse legal expertise with a deep understanding of the pressures facing stakeholders - company-wide - we’re able to focus on driving the best possible outcomes, for all involved.

Want to connect with Li or learn more about fractional GC support? Contact Li today.