Attorney Michael D. Layman contracts to act as “outside” General Counsel for start-up and early-stage companies. As General Counsel, he advises management about corporate governance; selection, budgeting for and management of outside counsel; “cleaning up” organizational and other corporate and business documents to identify and correct potential legal and business problems in preparation for seeking debt and equity funding; best practices for documentation to avoid future problems with due diligence by potential investors and lenders; and business law matters such as dealing with customers, vendors, intellectual property issues, employees and the management group/initial investors. Mike’s interest is in working regularly with management to identify needs for legal services and assist in meeting those needs. As general counsel for two South Carolina start-up businesses for eight years, he learned about business from the daily perspective of management and investors.