GC-as-a-Service: brains without the burden

27 Aug 2025

For decades, large corporates have relied on in-house General Counsel. A GC sits at the leadership table, shaping strategy, managing risk, and ensuring decisions are sound. It’s a role that blends legal expertise with commercial judgment and often saves businesses from costly mistakes.

For mid-sized organisations, that resource has traditionally been out of reach. Hiring a full-time GC is a big step, and relying on external lawyers only when something goes wrong can be risky and expensive.

That gap gave rise to GC-as-a-Service: an alternative legal model that’s flexible, practical and increasingly common in New Zealand.

A model built for today

GC-as-a-Service takes the best of the in-house GC role and makes it available on terms that suit modern business. Instead of a permanent hire, businesses can access senior legal, risk and governance expertise on retainer or by project.

The model has flourished overseas, particularly in the UK and US, where “fractional GC” or “outsourced GC” roles have become a trusted resource for fast-growing companies. Now, more New Zealand businesses are seeing the value: brains on tap, not on payroll.

• As General Counsel and Company Secretary at two of New Zealand’s largest NZX-listed property companies, he guided them through major capital raisings, led enterprise-wide insurance programmes, and strengthened governance at board level.
• His career began in London, where he advised on major corporate and real estate transactions with two of the world’s top global law firms. That experience gave him a strong grounding in complex, high-value deals: insights he now brings to New Zealand businesses.
• Along the way, he's delivered strategies that unlocked millions in savings, strengthened governance, and resolved high-stakes insurance and construction claims.

This mix of corporate, private practice, and executive experience means he understands how decisions are made at the top table, and what boards and leadership teams need to move forward with confidence.

When it makes sense

GC-as-a-Service is often the right fit when a business:

• Is preparing for a capital raising, acquisition, or joint venture.
• Wants to build governance and risk frameworks to satisfy boards or regulators.
• Needs a trusted sounding board for the CEO or CFO.
• Is looking to free up leadership time by removing legal bottlenecks.

When it may not be the right fit

The model isn’t for every organisation. It may work less well where:

• Constant availability is essential. Some businesses need a GC in the building every day.
• Highly specialised immersion is critical. Niche industries sometimes need full-time insiders.
• Needs are purely transactional. If it’s just one-off contract reviews, a traditional law firm model may be more efficient.
• The business is very early-stage. Start-ups with limited budgets may find the model more than they need at that point.

GC-as-a-Service works best for organisations in the middle ground: large enough to need strategic input, but not ready to hire full-time.

The bottom line

GC-as-a-Service gives businesses the insight of an experienced General Counsel, when needed, in the way that works best.

It’s about clarity, confidence, and trusted partnership. Or put more simply: the brains without the burden.

If you’d like to see how this model could cut cost, reduce risk, and give you more confidence, contact Trevor to set up a time to talk.