Essential Counsel, LLC Business * Construction*Manufacturing

Proactive, Practical Solutions

Flex-time Outside General Counsel

Flex-time General Counsel and COO expertise without FTE overhead. Trusted fiduciary, business advisor & attorney with 25+ years of experience within a monthly flat-fee compensation model.

Business & Corporate Law
HR/Employment Law
Contracts
Claims & Dispute Resolution
Litigation Management & Support
Insurance Coverage & Claims
Environmental Law
Board Advisor

We integrate business and legal/regulatory applications to offer solutions that are both practical and profitable, tailored to your organizational mission and risk/reward model.

Better Contracts = Better Profits

Flex-time Outside General Counsel

Contracts are the backbone of any business. Your profit is in the details of your contracts. We offer contract ecosystem improvements that can increase your net profitability. From negotiations in the bid stage to contract drafting in award stage to post-award contract audit and management, we proactively negotiate and draft better contracts for a variety of companies. We also perform contract ecosystem audits. Studies show companies lose 9.2% of contract value annually. Multiply your annual contract volume by 9.2% to understand the impact contract value leaks can have on your bottom line. We systematically identify contract value leaks and provide solutions to boost net profitability.

Increase Cash Flow

Flex-time Outside General Counsel

Enterprise Risk & Crisis Mgmt

Dispute Resolution Avoiding Legal Action

Construction Claims

Contract Claims

Business Disputes

We proactively negotiate & draft clear contracts that optimize cash flow solutions.

Business

Construction

Manufacturing

Real Estate

Technology

Buy-Sell Agreements

Business litigation is caused by a bad relationship, a bad contract, or both. We integrate relationship expectations into the contract details to help you achieve optimal net profitability and help avoid costly litigation.

Enterprise Risk & Crisis Mgmt

Whether a solution for a single crisis or an organizational policy/practice, our team of legal and health care professionals offer more than 40 years of combined risk management experience.

Claims & Dispute Resolution

Enterprise Risk & Crisis Mgmt

Claims & Dispute Resolution

Have a construction claim or business dispute? As an experienced C-Suite executive and trial lawyer, Steve can provide a fresh perspective for early dispute resolution to optimize your net recovery. If your claim or dispute seems stuck in litigation, we can offer a second opinion or intervene as Resolution Counsel working with your current trial attorney.

GiveMe50 for Veterans

Enterprise Risk & Crisis Mgmt

Claims & Dispute Resolution

Steve donates at least 50 hours annually for U.S. Veterans by providing negotiation coaching and legal advice solutions.

Essential Counsel Attorney Steve Schinker

General Counsel and COO

25 Yrs Proactive, Practical Business, Contract & ADR Solutions

A perfect solution for mid-market businesses with revenue @ $4M+. GC & COO expertise without FTE overhead. Focus is on operational integration of complex laws, rules, and regulations tailored to increase cash flow and net profitability.

5 Value-Add Reasons

1. Flat Fees

CFO's love predictable, budget-friendly flat fees.

2. Speed, Availability, Accuracy

CEOs love same-day response plus accurate advice and practical solutions without hourly billing.

3. Experience & Active Listening

Through a lens of experience and active listening, we offer tailored solution options relying on interdisciplinary legal and business know-how.

4. Profitability & Cash Flow

Integrated GC & COO perspective is infused on every touchpoint from contract ecosystem to daily ops.

5. Profit is in the Details

We use proven methodologies to scrutinize details and identify, optimize, and monetize value.

Schedule an Appointment

Email: steve@essentialcounsel.com

Arizona, Colorado, Florida:

303-319-2924

Wisconsin:

715-573-2077

Lawyer Advertising Disclaimer: Interview an attorney before hiring. Using a website or sending an e-mail does not create an attorney-client relationship. Call Essential Counsel by phone to ensure that we are a good fit to represent you.

Visit our Blog

25 Yrs Proactive, Practical Business, Contract & ADR Solutions

Nearly 60% of M&A deals fail, attributing contracts and operational integration as primary causes.

Let's talk about solutions!

As attorney advisor for business deals or resolving business disputes, Steve Schinker serves clients as a fiduciary attorney working in the client's best interest.

1. A proactive approach to negotiating and drafting clear contracts that integrate client objectives helps avoid liability, minimize risk, and foster sustainable business relationships.

2. Contract law expertise for buying/selling business assets, healthcare, tech, construction, manufacturing, real estate, etc.

3. Get back to business with early B2B alternatives versus expensive and time-consuming litigation. We explore dispute resolution through direct negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or state-specific business courts.

Call 303-319-2924

Communities Served

25 Yrs Proactive, Practical Business, Contract & ADR Solutions

Communities Served

As a USAF veteran, Steve supports all communities served through volunteer and financial support.

Arizona

Scottsdale ~ Tucson

303-319-2924

Colorado

Denver Metro ~ Colorado Springs

Fort Collins ~ Durango

303-319-2924

Florida

Fort Myers ~ Jacksonville

Tampa ~ Vero Beach

303-319-2924

Wisconsin

Madison ~ Milwaukee

Minocqua ~ Wausau

715-573-2077

Education

Cert. Advanced Negotiation Master

Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation

J.D. with Distinction

WMU-Thomas Cooley Law

LL.M. in Environmental Law

Pace University School of Law

Member

State Bars of AZ, CO, FL, WI

U.S. District Courts in CO & WI

World Commerce Contracting

Past Wisconsin State Bar Board

Adjunct Professor Experience

MBA Strategic Business Planning

Business Law & Ethics

Univ. of Wisconsin System