Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily a full-time hire, but you need documented legal support. Investors and bank partners want to see that you have someone reviewing contracts, maintaining corporate records, and ensuring compliance. A fractional GC gives you that coverage at a fraction of the cost — typically $1,250–$9,500/month vs. $200K–$400K+/year for a full-time hire.

Most startups don't need a full-time GC until they hit significant scale — typically 100+ employees, complex regulatory requirements, or preparing for acquisition/IPO. Until then, fractional or outside counsel gives you senior-level expertise without the $250K–$400K+ annual cost. The rule of thumb: if you're not keeping a lawyer busy 30+ hours per week, fractional is the smarter choice.

Traditional law firms bill by the hour ($500–$2,000+/hour), creating unpredictable costs with no ongoing operational involvement. A fractional GC becomes part of your team — predictable monthly cost, embedded in your operations, available on Slack, and proactively managing your legal needs rather than just reacting to them. You call us without watching the meter.

CompliSun Legal's fractional GC plans range from $1,250 to $9,500 per month, depending on your needs. Compare that to a full-time in-house GC, which typically costs $20,000–$55,000+ per month fully loaded (salary, bonus, benefits, payroll tax) — before equity. Our Hotline plan ($1,250) includes 5 hours, Counsel ($3,500) includes 15 hours, and General Counsel ($9,500) includes 50 hours.

No surprises. We operate on flat monthly plans. If you consistently exceed your hours, we'll have a conversation about adjusting your plan — we don't hit you with unexpected invoices. A $75 admin fee applies for certain regulatory filings, but that's disclosed upfront.

Yes. Engagements are typically month-to-month with 30 days notice. You can scale up during busy periods (like fundraising or a bank partnership negotiation) and scale back when things settle. We flex to fit your business.

Everything an in-house GC does, on a part-time basis: contract review and negotiation, corporate governance, compliance program management, employment matters, equity/cap table support, board meeting preparation, regulatory filings, and strategic legal advice. The difference is you're not paying for a full-time salary when you don't have full-time needs.

We don't do trial work, but we do manage litigation — coordinating with specialized trial counsel, reviewing strategy, managing discovery, and keeping you informed. For regulatory enforcement actions, we're often the primary counsel since that's our wheelhouse.

Yes. We handle investor-side diligence, cap table cleanup, SAFE and convertible note reviews, and coordination with your securities counsel. Many clients bring us in 60–90 days before a raise to get their house in order — it makes diligence smoother and avoids last-minute scrambles.

Banks typically want to see: a documented compliance management system (CMS), BSA/AML policies and procedures, fair lending policies, consumer complaint handling process, information security program, vendor management policies, and evidence of ongoing monitoring and testing. CompliSun Legal has built these programs from scratch — we know exactly what banks need to see because we've sat on both sides of the table.

Yes. We advise on licensing strategy (which states, what license types, timing), prepare applications, and coordinate with outside licensing specialists when needed. For fintechs operating through bank partnerships, we also help structure arrangements to minimize direct licensing requirements.

Our core areas include: BSA/AML (Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering), fair lending (ECOA, Fair Housing Act), consumer protection (UDAAP, TILA, FCRA, FDCPA, SCRA), state lending and money transmission laws, privacy (CCPA, state privacy laws), and bank partnership regulatory requirements. Colin spent 8 years building Rocket Loans' compliance function — this isn't theoretical knowledge.

However works best for you. Most clients use Slack for quick questions, email for longer matters, and scheduled calls for strategic discussions. We're embedded in your workflow, not operating from a distance. You don't have to schedule a meeting to ask a question.

Most engagements kick off within a week of signing. We start with a 30-minute consultation to understand your business and needs, then propose a tailored engagement. Once we agree on scope, we hit the ground running — no lengthy onboarding or bureaucracy.

Absolutely. Many clients have us as their primary legal resource, while others use us to supplement an existing compliance team or coordinate with specialized outside counsel for litigation, securities, or M&A. We play well with others and will quarterback your legal function however makes sense.

Colin is the founder and managing partner of CompliSun Legal. He spent 8 years as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Rocket Loans, building their compliance function from scratch and serving through their IPO (NYSE: RKT, 2020). He co-founded what became the American Fintech Council and holds an LL.M. in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University. He's recognized in Best Lawyers 2026 and is licensed in Michigan, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

We're based in Detroit, Michigan, but serve clients nationwide. Most of our work is done remotely — the nature of legal work means we can be embedded in your operations regardless of geography. We have clients on both coasts and everywhere in between.

This FAQ is for informational purposes only and doesn't constitute legal advice. Contacting us doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, schedule a consultation and we'll discuss your specific situation under a proper engagement.