Initial Legal Consultation
A Client-Driven Process for Gaining Clarity Before Structure
Designed for owners, families, boards, and organizational leaders navigating critical decisions, our initial consultation session provides a structured space for constructive conversation. The process helps you capture key facts, test core assumptions, clarify your objectives, and evaluate viable legal, strategic, and governance options before committing to formal structures.
Clarity Before Structure
When approaching a major decision, transition, or strategic commitment, it is tempting to jump straight into drafting documents or initiating transactions. In our experience, creating structures before aligning on long-term objectives often leads to costly missteps, misaligned governance, tax exposure, or operational friction.
We intentionally reverse that sequence, prioritizing clarity before structure through a working session centered on what you are trying to accomplish.
An Integrated Legal Perspective
Complex organizational and family decisions rarely exist in a single silo. The consultation draws on over 25 years of experience across four interconnected disciplines:
- Business & Tax Law: Entity structuring, ownership transitions, and closely held enterprise governance.
- Tax-Exempt & Foundation Law: Nonprofit formation, tax-exempt qualification, and foundation compliance.
- Philanthropic Strategy: Integrating charitable objectives with family governance, succession, business, and legacy.
- Board & Fiduciary Governance: Navigating fiduciary duties, board dynamics, and succession planning.
Evaluating options across these disciplines helps ensure that any eventual legal framework aligns with operational realities, tax rules, and long-term objectives.
Consultation Structure & Terms
Fixed Fee: $1,200
One flat fee includes pre-session review, a 90-minute legal consultation, a confidential written summary, and one week for brief clarification questions arising directly from the session. No retainer or hourly billing applies to these included services.
Advance Review & Research
Prior to the session, and after conflicts clearance and engagement confirmation, we review the information you provide and conduct appropriate preliminary analysis so that the session can focus on your questions, options, and decision points.
90-Minute Working Session
A dedicated 90-minute session (Zoom or phone) centered on testing core assumptions, exploring viable options, and establishing clear decision criteria.
Post-Session Follow-Up & Documentation
Clarification Period: The fee includes a one-week follow-up window for brief clarifying questions arising directly from our session.
Written Summary: We provide a confidential written summary of the discussion, preliminary observations, and potential next steps. It is prepared for your internal use as you evaluate your options and is not a formal legal or tax opinion or a document intended for third-party reliance.
Flexible Options for Continued Work
We offer continued legal engagements when the client’s needs align with our experience and practice areas. Further work may be a second limited-scope session under the same agreement, a fixed fee, or hourly representation.
Non-legal advisory, executive coaching, or organizational facilitation are provided separately through Synerlogic.
The two practices are strictly distinct to maintain professional role clarity, regulatory compliance, and privilege protection for legal engagements.
How to Begin: Simple 3-Step Intake Process
- Step 1: Book an introductory conversation to discuss your needs and determine whether this consultation is a good fit. If you decide to proceed, we will collect the information needed for a formal conflict check.
- Step 2: Complete conflicts clearance and confirm the session. After clearance, you receive the limited-scope engagement agreement and payment request; the consultation is then scheduled.
- Step 3: Submit background materials and attend the session. Send relevant materials for review before your 90-minute Zoom or phone session.
Initial Legal Consultations are scheduled after an introductory conversation, conflicts review, and confirmation that the matter fits Evans Law’s practice. Applicable engagement terms, including the fixed fee and cancellation policy, are provided before the consultation is scheduled.
Please do not send confidential information until conflicts have been checked and Evans Law has confirmed that we are able to discuss the matter with you. See terms for details.
Prefer to begin in writing? Send a brief introduction and a general description of what you are navigating (no confidential information until we’ve cleared conflicts and formalized an engagement).
“Randy possesses a rare ability to truly listen and understand. He helped me apply structure and strategy in a way that aligned with our organization and how we operate.”
— Tammy Hankins
President & CEO, Humane Society of Wickenburg
LinkedIn recommendation | reproduced with permission.