General Counsel, Ownership and Governance

As a result of having served the unique legal needs of middle-market businesses and their owners for over 30 years, HMB has developed a suite of General Counsel services for middle-market businesses consisting of the following core aspects:

Understanding the Business

Every middle-market business is unique. HMB believes it can maximize the value of its legal services only if its legal services are provided in the context of truly understanding a client's business, including its industry, management team, legal and operational structure, communication style, priorities and goals. At the start of the relationship, HMB invests its time (at HMB's expense) to learn the client's business and incorporate critical business data into HMB's corporate database management system. With this foundation of business knowledge, HMB can ensure that the client will receive practical, targeted advice.

Seasoned General Counsel

Every HMB client will work with a seasoned HMB lawyer to act as the client's part-time general counsel and, in such capacity, oversee all aspects of the client's legal function. HMB lawyers who act as general counsel have substantial experience serving as outside general counsel to a wide range of sophisticated middle-market businesses. Several HMB attorneys have hands-on business experience managing middle-market businesses. The HMB general counsel will interface with the client's owners, executives, managers and outside accountants and other professionals as a trusted advisor and key member of the management team.

Dedicated Team of HMB Professionals

The HMB general counsel will oversee a dedicated team of HMB professionals to service the regular ongoing legal needs of the business. By maintaining a consistent professional team, HMB leverages the institutional knowledge gained from the ongoing representation of the client. In addition to the HMB general counsel, the HMB team typically consists of an experienced attorney who will handle day to day legal work under the supervision of the general counsel and a junior attorney and paralegal who will handle routine administrative and maintenance functions on a cost-effective basis. The HMB general counsel will also coordinate the work of other attorneys and paralegals from HMB's Litigation, Real Estate, and Trusts and Estates practice groups, as needed.

Leverage HMB's Network of Recognized Legal Professionals

HMB believes that its middle-market clients are best served by bringing in experienced professionals to handle legal matters requiring specific knowledge. To that end, HMB has established longstanding relationships with seasoned professionals in specific areas of the law such as intellectual property, securities, labor, bankruptcy, and regulatory matters. These professionals typically work in a practice area of a large law firm or a boutique law firm concentrated on a specific practice area. HMB's general counsel will (subject to client approval) engage the professional, establish the scope of the project and interface with the outside professional to tightly manage the project to completion in a cost-effective manner. By working closely with seasoned professionals across a large number of clients, HMB can use its leverage to obtain the best possible service and terms for its clients. To the extent HMB's current network is not optimal for a specific situation, HMB's general counsel will find the best legal resources available to address the issue.

Leverage HMB's Other Professional Relationships

Over the years, HMB has developed a strong network of professional relationships that have added substantial value to middle-market clients. These professional relationships include areas such commercial banking, investment banking, risk management, appraisals, accounting and investment services.

Conclusion

HMB provides a compelling value to middle-market businesses by providing a cost-effective, integrated suite of best-in-class legal services. By having an experienced general counsel overseeing a dedicated HMB client service team and recognized legal professionals, HMB clients receive cost-effective, practical and targeted legal services when needed, and do not pay for a "learning curve" or theoretical advice not applicable to the client's specific business context.

Industries Served

Automotive Manufacturing & Dealerships
Banking
Broadcast Media
Construction
Energy & Utilities
Entrepreneur/Start-Up Companies
Financial Services
Food/Beverage Services & Hospitality
Healthcare
Information Technology
Leasing Companies
Manufacturing & Distribution
Mortgage Companies
Not-For-Profit Organizations
Pharmaceuticals
Retail
Service Companies
Shipping & Logistics
Specialty Finance
Telecommunications
Trading Companies

Practice Areas