General
Counsel

Strategic Legal Partnership

Not every business needs a full-time in-house attorney, but every growing business reaches a point where reactive, matter-by-matter legal work is no longer sufficient. An outside general counsel relationship provides ongoing access to experienced legal leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire, with the depth of knowledge that comes from working inside the business rather than parachuting in for individual matters.

Bryson R. Chow, Esq. has served as general counsel to corporations, community associations, startups, and family offices across Hawaii. That range of experience means practical advice grounded in how businesses actually operate, not theoretical guidance from an attorney who has never managed a P&L or sat in a board meeting.

What an Outside General Counsel Does

The scope of a general counsel engagement depends on the client's needs, but typically includes contract review and negotiation, employment matters, regulatory compliance, vendor and partner disputes, corporate governance, risk assessment, and strategic advice on business decisions with legal implications. The relationship is ongoing; the attorney becomes a trusted member of the leadership team rather than an outside vendor.

For Startups and Growing Businesses

Early-stage and growing companies face legal decisions with outsized consequences: entity formation and operating agreements, equity structures, founder disputes, IP protection, employment compliance, and commercial contracts that set the terms for the company's key relationships. The firm provides startup-stage companies with the same caliber of legal counsel that established companies take for granted, structured to fit the budget realities of a growing business.

For Family Offices and High-Net-Worth Individuals

Family offices and individuals managing significant assets need a single point of legal coordination across real estate holdings, business interests, estate planning referrals, and dispute resolution. The firm serves as that central point of contact, ensuring that legal decisions across multiple domains are coordinated and consistent.