InnovaCounsel Welcomes New Partner David Blackwood to Its Network of In-House General Counsel Attorneys

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Jul 23, 2012) - InnovaCounsel LLP, a new-model law firm whose network of in-house attorneys serve as trusted business advisors to companies wishing to accelerate their growth and protect the businesses they're building, has welcomed David Blackwood to its team of talented and experienced attorneys. With more than 25 years of experience, Blackwood brings in-depth industry knowledge in the accounting, investment banking and consumer electronics industries and has extensive legal expertise in general business affairs as well. Blackwood is one of three InnovaCounsel partners driving the firm toward a greater Southern California presence.

"David brings another layer of business and legal experience and insight to the InnovaCounsel team," says Stuart B. Blake, founder and partner of InnovaCounsel and an attorney with more than 30 years of in-house corporate legal experience. "As general counsel, David has worked closely with CEOs, CFOs and other members of senior management as a trusted advisor, which is a major advantage of our model. Our experienced attorneys immerse themselves in every aspect of the company, from operations to sales and marketing, finance, HR and IT. We operate deep within the company, so we know all the sensitivity points and are prepared to best benefit the business. David understands that mindset and will apply it as he focuses on new business development."

InnovaCounsel's executive-level general counsel attorneys work part time and on-site at clients' offices, serving as integral members of the management team. The law firm's unique business structure allows small- and mid-sized companies to enjoy all the advantages of in-house general counsel -- at a substantially lower cost. The innovative law firm's extensive network of veteran general counsel and its commitment to delivering the best service for each client's specific needs make an enormous impact on their futures and their bottom lines.

"InnovaCounsel is really transforming the legal industry and the way businesses view their legal function," says Blackwood. "Every business must manage and monitor their legal and business health needs. Those whose legal teams have an inside presence benefit from greater insight into the deeper issues at play within the company, which is why our on-site, part-time model is so compelling. By operating from the inside, we take that responsibility out of the hands of busy management and offer early and continuous risk analysis and problem resolution. And because we're there regularly, there's a powerful dynamic at work, as well as an understanding of our clients at a core level. This kind of relationship is one that only huge companies used to be able to enjoy; it's gratifying to be able to provide smaller, growth-minded companies with access to this level of talent and service."

Blackwood comes to InnovaCounsel from McGladrey, the fifth largest accounting firm in the U.S., where he served as assistant general counsel of RSM McGladrey. Blackwood also served as executive vice president and general counsel of McGladrey Capital Markets, LLC (recently acquired by D.A. Davidson Equity Markets), an international investment bank specializing in middle-market mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his 11 years at McGladrey, Blackwood served for almost 9 years as executive vice president and general counsel of Canon Computer Systems, the computer peripheral systems subsidiary of Canon Inc., where he helped grow the company from a start-up to a $1.4B market leader.

ABOUT INNOVACOUNSEL: Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., InnovaCounsel is turning the traditional law firm on its head with an innovative new way of practicing law that brings talented general counsel in reach for fast-growth and mid-sized companies. InnovaCounsel's unique business model makes it financially possible for companies to enjoy all the advantages of talented and experienced in-house counsel as part of the management team for an affordable flat monthly fee. The firm's in-house general counsel services offer industry-proven, executive-level general-counsel attorneys on a full- or part-time basis for a fixed monthly retainer that's well below the cost of a traditional hourly-rate law firm -- and with none of the burden or overhead of adding a new department. Initially launched as The General Counsel, the firm changed its name to InnovaCounsel in 2012 to better reflect its spirit of innovation. For more information, visit www.innovacounsel.com. You can also connect with InnovaCounsel at www.linkedin.com/company/InnovaCounsel, www.facebook.com/innovacounsel, and http://www.twitter.com/innovacounsel.