FAQs
Sharp answers. No legal padding.
What kind of legal work do you handle?
Investment-related legal work only.
LPAs (Limited Partnership Agreements), side letters, IMAs (Investment Management Agreements), sub docs, compliance requests, consents, and amendments. I stay laser-focused on your investment office—nothing else.
Do you only work with university endowments?
Nope. I work with endowments, foundations, and institutional investors—mission-driven, faith-based, or focused on long-term returns.
What’s your background?
26 years in investment law — 18 as head of legal for Notre Dame’s endowment, helping grow it from $5B to $22B — 980+ deals closed. Investment-savvy legal is my lane.
Do you give investment advice?
No. I handle the legal architecture of your investments. You make the calls. I make sure they’re compliant, defensible, and built to reduce risk.
Do we need to fire our law firm?
No need. I plug in as your virtual in-house counsel, coordinate with outside firms, and even help source niche legal experts when needed. You’ll use them more strategically—and less often.
What if we already have an internal legal team?
Perfect. I complement—never compete. Your team handles HR, corporate, or litigation. I focus 100% on investments. We work seamlessly, side by side.
How do your fees work?
Flat quarterly fee, tied to your AUM — paid into a DC IOLTA trust account (legally compliant escrow). No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. Starts at $80K/year for $1B AUM and scales with size — always flat, always clear.
Why hire you over a law firm?
Flat fees. No surprises.
Direct access—never handed off to juniors.
Fast turnaround from someone who knows your world.
Strategic partner who helps you see around corners.
Legal acumen built for returns, not billing hours.
How do you handle confidentiality?
Complete discretion. No exceptions. Attorney-client privilege covers all work. Secure systems for all client materials. Experienced with sensitive institutional matters.
How do you stay ahead of regulatory changes?
I monitor policy, tax, and regulation daily — you get early warnings, not surprises — legal strategy becomes an investment advantage.
What happens if you’re unavailable?
I don’t disappear. If something urgent comes up after hours or on weekends, I’m reachable.
When I take vacation (about 3 weeks a year, plus holidays), I plan ahead so nothing slips.
And if I’m ever seriously out of commission, a trusted attorney will close things out and return any unused fees.
You won’t be left in the dark—ever.
How do we get started?
Simple engagement letter.
I plug into your systems.
You’ll have legal work off your plate within 72 hours.