Fort Lauderdale · Broward, Palm Beach & Miami-Dade
Business counsel for founders and growing companies.
Flat fee. Quoted before we start.
We handle the contracts, structure, and deals behind privately held companies, as your outside general counsel or one matter at a time. Big Law and Fortune 500 training, without the hourly bill.
Download the capabilities overview (PDF) →The legal work that runs your company, and the deals that change it.
Transactional and commercial work only. We don't litigate and we don't dabble, so every matter we take is squarely in our lane.
Outside General Counsel
A standing legal team for companies that need a lawyer on call but not on payroll. Contracts, questions, and deals handled as they come, for one predictable monthly fee.
- Contract review on demand
- Priority access and response
- Entity, governance, and day-to-day legal questions
- Deal support when you buy, sell, or raise
Commercial Contracts
Drafting and negotiating the agreements your business runs on: MSAs, vendor and supplier contracts, SaaS, employment, NDAs.
03Entity, Equity & Founders
Formation, operating agreements, holding structures, co-founder terms, and structuring a raise or a new partner.
04Buying or Selling a Business
Buy-side and sell-side M&A for privately held companies, from LOI through diligence, the purchase agreement, and closing.
05Sponsors & Family Offices
Platform and add-on acquisitions, equity structuring, and management agreements for independent sponsors and family offices.
You know the number on day one.
Every matter is scoped and priced before work begins. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no meter running while you ask a question.
- 01
Free call
30 minutes, no charge. We learn the business, the issue, and the timeline.
- 02
Scope memo
A written scope and a fixed price. You approve it before anything starts.
- 03
Engagement
Sign the engagement letter and the work begins right away.
- 04
Execute
We draft, negotiate, and see it through to signing and funding.
The price is set before the work starts, so you never hesitate to call.
See full published pricingWhen clients call us.
If one of these sounds like this week, that's a good time to talk.
You deserve Big Law experience without Big Law overhead.
Brandes Law Group was founded by Jonathan Brandes after a career across Big Law and the Fortune 500: private equity and M&A at Greenberg Traurig, then in-house corporate counsel at Carrier Global on domestic and international deals.
The premise is simple. Founders and operators deserve sophisticated counsel that's accessible, transparent, and priced fairly, with senior attorneys doing the work on every matter.
Read the full background →- Tulane LawJuris Doctor
- George WashingtonB.A., magna cum laude
- Florida BarNo. 1024664, good standing
What does Brandes Law Group do?
Brandes Law Group PLLC is a transactional and commercial law firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We serve as outside general counsel for privately held companies and handle commercial contracts, entity formation and structuring, founder equity, private equity and independent sponsor deals, and buy-side and sell-side mergers and acquisitions.
How are fees structured?
Every matter is billed as a flat fee, with published prices: contract review from $1,500, LOI review from $3,500, buying a business typically $20,000 to $45,000, selling a business typically $25,000 to $60,000, and outside general counsel on a monthly flat fee scoped to the company. After a free 30-minute call, you receive a written scope memo and a fixed quote before any work begins. We do not bill hourly.
How does the outside general counsel retainer work?
One flat monthly fee, scoped to your company, covering a defined set of ongoing work: typically contract review and negotiation, corporate housekeeping, and day-to-day legal questions. Larger projects such as an acquisition are quoted separately as a flat fee.
Who is the attorney?
Jonathan Brandes, the firm's founder and managing attorney. He previously practiced in the private equity and M&A group at Greenberg Traurig, on transactions ranging from $1 million to $100 million, and served as in-house corporate counsel at Carrier Global. He holds a J.D. from Tulane University Law School and a B.A., magna cum laude, from The George Washington University, and is a member of The Florida Bar (No. 1024664).
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. The initial call is 30 minutes and there is no charge.
Who does the firm typically represent?
Founders, owner-operators, independent sponsors, search fund buyers, family offices, and private equity sponsors starting, running, buying, or selling privately held companies.
Where does the firm work?
We're based in Fort Lauderdale and represent clients across Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties and throughout Florida. Meetings are held by video, by phone, or in person in Fort Lauderdale.
Does the firm handle litigation?
No. Brandes Law Group handles transactional and commercial work only. Litigation matters are referred to other counsel.
How do I get started?
Use the contact form on this page, call (954) 257-5141, or email jonathan@brandeslawgroup.com. We typically respond within one business day.
Talk to a Fort Lauderdale business lawyer.
Tell us what's going on and your timeline. We reply within one business day with how we can help and what it will cost.
Download the capabilities overview (PDF) →Message sent
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