Rick Mortensen, Attorney at Law

Elite legal services from an in-house perspective

Do you run a business with regular legal needs that you’re not quite ready to hire a full-time in-house attorney to address? Are you tired of sending your contracts out to big firms who charge you too much and slow down the process without adding any concrete value to the deal? Do you need a lawyer with the experience and perspective to distinguish a small risk from one that could threaten your company, one who will solve your problems instead of just spotting them?

Let me help. I’m an attorney with 20 years’ experience, most of it in-house, including time at two international mining companies, two direct selling/MLM companies, a large ecommerce retailer, and an accounting/fintech firm. I have been a company’s first legal hire, and I have worked in mature legal departments with established systems, forms, playbooks, and policies. I know how an effective legal department works, and I know how to build one.

I can give you immediate help with a contract or legal issue, and I can offer you more permanent solutions by creating standard agreements, playbooks, flowcharts, and employee trainings. As an in-house attorney, I learned to prioritize risks and find proportional, affordable solutions that ultimately add value to the business.

I’ve also spent significant time in court, having represented plaintiffs and defendants in all stages of litigation, and won jury trials and appeals. This experience informs the counsel I provide as an in-house or fractional general counsel; from knowing how a court is likely to interpret a particular clause in a contract, to helping you resolve litigation threats before they escalate, to helping you win if litigation is your best or only option.

My low overhead and business model allow me to provide my services at a low, predictable cost. I can do certain projects for a flat fee, or set a not to exceed amount at my hourly rate. I have also had clients pay me a monthly retainer to come into their office 1-2 full days a week. Call or email for fees and availability.