What Is a Fractional GC, and Why Are More Startups Hiring One?

‍Li Reilly, US Partner at Biztech Lawyers, brings an ideal blend of deep legal expertise and practical, in-house experience to her work with fast-growing technology companies. In this article, Li shares her insights on the growing demand for fractional GCs, why the model works for scaling businesses, and how it helps legal teams and founders navigate growth.

I’ve spent much of my career working inside fast-growth companies, building legal functions from the ground up. And, I’ve witnessed firsthand how tech companies, time and time again, reach a critical stage where experienced legal guidance is needed, but the business lacks the means to support a full-time General Counsel. 

It’s partly what has driven the rise of the fractional GC model in recent years, as a result of its ability to equip companies with the senior-level legal support they need, without the full-time overhead. And, it’s one of the things I’ve been most excited to bring into my current work at Biztech Lawyers, to help founders, solo GCs, and lean legal departments get the guidance and solutions they need to move forward, confidently.

That’s why in this article, I address:

• What Is a Fractional General Counsel?
• When does a startup need one?
• What a Fractional GC brings to the table
• Who benefits most from the Fractional GC model?

Let’s start from the beginning.

What Is a Fractional GC (General Counsel)?

A fractional GC is a senior lawyer who works with a company on a part-time or project-based basis, providing the same strategic legal oversight as a full-time General Counsel, but with a tailored scope. It’s not just “outside counsel” support for one-off questions. It’s an embedded, proactive partnership.

For tech companies without in-house legal teams, or for solo GCs who need backup during high-volume periods, this model bridges the gap between internal capability and legal risk.

When Does a Startup Need One?

I’ve worked with a lot of growing companies, and the signs are usually clear:

• Founders are spending too much time reviewing contracts
• Teams are launching products without legal review
• Fundraising is getting complicated
• Businesses are getting into new markets, but are uncertain about local compliance
• A company’s only lawyer is completely underwater

If any of that sounds familiar, it’s probably time to bring in experienced legal support. But hiring a full-time GC too early can be expensive and premature. And, that’s where a fractional model offers real value.

What to Bring as a Fractional GC

Before joining Biztech Lawyers, I spent years building legal functions at tech companies like Amplify Education and Fareportal. At Amplify, I helped the company grow from 150 to 1,500 employees, creating scalable legal frameworks and working directly with sales, product, HR, and operations. At Fareportal, I served as General Counsel, focused largely on product counseling and compliance, and helped guide the business through complex contracts and risk decisions.

Those experiences taught me to work closely with teams across the business, to be responsive, embedded, and action-oriented. 

All - ultimately - qualities that are critical in a fractional GC relationship.

Who Benefits Most from the GC Model?

This kind of legal support is especially helpful for:

• Executives or solo GCs who need help during a financing or commercial deal, compliance audit, or product launch
• Startup founders who want to build legal infrastructure the right way, especially with an eye towards new investment or potential e
• Growing tech companies that need to start scaling policies and processes, without bringing in a full legal department
• Companies in regulated industries, like edtech, that require careful navigation of privacy, compliance, and product issues

A Final Thought

With increased growth comes complexity and potential risk. With that in mind, if you build a solid legal foundation early on, you can spend less time and money fixing future issues. 

If you’re a founder, legal lead, or operations exec and wondering whether now’s the right time to bring in legal help, let’s talk. A fractional GC might be the fit you didn’t know you needed.