Lawyers Utilizing a Fractional General Counsel Model: Guides, experiences, and growth opportunity

Jennifer Wazenski | Watershed Legal Counsel

An environmental and natural resources attorney with more than 25 years’ experience representing businesses and State agencies, Jennifer has litigated and advised on many federal and State regulatory programs and led teams of attorneys in the delivery of coordinated, strategic legal services. Jennifer is an alumna of Big Law (before that was even a term) and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, where she served as Principal Counsel to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Deputy Counsel to the Maryland Department of the Environment. In the course of her work with the Attorney General’s Office, she had the unique opportunity to both apply and influence improvements to regulatory law and policy. She built relationships with other State leaders that enhanced these efforts across multiple political administrations as well as a global pandemic. Jennifer received her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with honors. She graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, with a BS in Biology, summa cum laude. Jennifer is a member of the Maryland bar (active) and the bar of the District of Columbia (inactive). In addition, she is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (inactive), the US Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and DC Circuits, and the US Supreme Court.

Kate Kliebert | Kliebert Law

Kate Kliebert is a business attorney and the owner of Kliebert Law PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina. As fractional general counsel for her clients, she collaborates with fast growing businesses to identify their legal priorities and handle their day-to-day legal matters so they are poised for continued growth. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Law School and in her spare time enjoys scuba diving, hiking with her dog Stella, and reading historical fiction.

Cari Sheehan | Kelley School of Business

Cari Sheehan is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law & Ethics at the IU Kelley School of Business – Indianapolis where she currently teaches Commercial Law and Business Ethics. Additionally, Ms. Sheehan is an Adjunct Professor at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law where she has taught courses in Professional Responsibility, Torts, and Appellate Practice and Procedure. In practice, Ms. Sheehan is a Conflict Attorney with Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary advising on conflicts and other ethical issues. Ms. Sheehan is a well-respected seminar and continuing legal education speaker covering a range of ethical issues across various platforms both locally and on a national level.

Session I – A Solo/Small Firm Niche Practitioner as Fractional General Counsel: Challenges and Opportunities | 11:00am – 11:45am

• Why a Solo or Small Firm Niche Practitioner Might Choose to Serve as a FGC | 11:00am – 11:10am
• Defining the Fractional General Counsel Role-Why and How | 11:10am – 11:20am
• Critical Skills and Knowledge Sets for Would-Be Solo/Small Firm Niche FGC | 11:20am – 11:35am
• Marketing and Branding as a FGC | 11:35am – 11:45am

Session II – A Guide to Serving as Fractional General Counsel | 11:45am – 12:40pm

• What is fractional general counsel? | 11:45am – 12:00pm

Break | 12:00pm – 12:10pm

• Fee structures/profitability | 12:10pm – 12:25pm
• Potential ethical pitfalls | 12:25pm – 12:40pm

Session III – In-House Ethics: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly | 12:40pm – 1:50pm

• What is fractional general counsel? | 12:40pm – 1:00pm
• Fee structures/profitability (part I) | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

Break | 1:10pm – 1:20pm

• Fee structures/profitability (part II) | 1:20pm – 1:30pm
• Potential ethical pitfalls | 1:30pm – 1:50pm