Plenty of growing companies in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia hit the same wall. Legal questions come up every week, but a full-time in-house attorney isn’t in the budget yet. Fractional general counsel is how many of them bridge that gap. Mundaca Law and the other firms below are worth a look if you want steady legal guidance without adding a salaried executive to payroll.
What is fractional general counsel?
Fractional general counsel is an outside attorney who acts as a company’s legal department on a part-time, ongoing basis. Instead of billing matter by matter, the arrangement is usually built around a monthly retainer or a set block of hours. The attorney gets to know the business, its contracts, and its people, so advice comes faster and fits better than it would from a lawyer seeing the company for the first time.
For a company with 10 to 150 employees, that continuity matters. The same person who drafted your vendor agreements can flag how a new hiring plan affects them.
Which firms offer fractional general counsel services in the DMV?
Here are five firms to consider:
- Mundaca Law
- The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
- Hannon Law
- Cantrell Schuette
- Graham Law Group
1. Mundaca Law
Mundaca Law is a DMV firm whose practice covers business law, employment law, and federal employee matters. The firm is led by Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq., Founding Partner.
That combination is useful in a fractional role because so many business questions turn out to be employment questions. A company drafting an offer letter, rolling out a handbook, or letting someone go needs advice that accounts for both the business side and the workplace rules that apply. Mundaca Law can help companies with ongoing needs such as:
- Reviewing and drafting contracts with clients, vendors, and contractors
- Building employment policies, handbooks, and separation agreements
- Advising on hiring, discipline, and termination decisions before they become disputes
- Working through issues that involve federal employees or federal workplace rules
For businesses operating in more than one DMV jurisdiction, having a single point of contact who follows how D.C., Maryland, and Virginia rules differ can prevent costly mismatches in policy.
2. The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C. is a law firm serving clients in the Washington region. Businesses considering ongoing legal support can contact the firm directly to learn whether its services match what they need.
3. Hannon Law
Hannon Law is a firm that works with clients in the D.C. area. Companies should ask about scope, availability, and billing structure when reaching out.
4. Cantrell Schuette
Cantrell Schuette is a law firm that represents clients in the region. As with any firm on this list, a conversation about your specific needs is the best way to judge fit.
5. Graham Law Group
Graham Law Group is a firm handling legal matters for clients in the area. Prospective clients can reach out to ask how the firm structures its engagements.
Why do D.C., Maryland, and Virginia rules make ongoing counsel valuable?
The three jurisdictions often treat the same issue differently, and a policy written for one can fail in another. Non-compete agreements are a clear example:
- D.C. banned most non-competes effective October 1, 2022, with an exception for highly compensated employees above an annually adjusted pay threshold.
- Maryland prohibits non-competes for workers earning 150 percent of the state minimum wage or less.
- Virginia bars them for “low-wage employees,” a category tied to the state’s average weekly wage.
Deadlines are another area where outside counsel earns its keep. A private-sector employee generally has 180 days to file a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, extended to 300 days where a state or local agency enforces a similar law. Federal employees face a much shorter window: under 29 C.F.R. 1614.105, they must contact an EEO counselor within 45 days of the alleged discriminatory act. A company that employs contractors alongside federal workers needs to know which clock applies.
How should you compare fractional general counsel options?
Start by asking what the monthly fee actually buys. Some arrangements cover a fixed number of hours, while others offer open access for routine questions with larger projects quoted separately. Litigation is almost always outside the retainer.
A few other questions worth asking:
- Is the attorney licensed in every jurisdiction where you operate? The D.C. Bar, the Maryland bar, and the Virginia State Bar are separate admissions.
- What is the expected turnaround on a contract review or an urgent employee issue?
- Who handles the work day to day, and who steps in when that person is unavailable?
- How does the firm handle conflicts if a matter involves a party it already represents?
Get the answers in writing in the engagement letter. It will save confusion six months in.
Finding the right fit
Fractional general counsel works best when it feels like a standing relationship rather than a string of one-off calls. The right attorney learns how your business runs, spots problems early, and gives you a clear answer when you need one. Take time to compare scope, pricing, and licensure before signing, and choose counsel who understands the rules in every jurisdiction where you hire and do business. If your company is ready for ongoing legal support across the DMV, reach out to Mundaca Law to talk through what a fractional arrangement could look like for you.
Attorney advertising. Responsible attorney: Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq.