What types of clients does IRC Legal work with?

IRC Legal advises founders, executives, investors, and growing companies facing complex legal and strategic decisions. Our clients typically include startups, owner-operated businesses, PE-backed companies, and executives who need senior-level legal guidance without the built in overhead of a traditional large law firm.

Where is IRC Legal based and who is the founder?

IRC Legal is led by Ian R. Cohen, a dedicated family man who resides on Long Island in Dix Hills with his wife and three boys. A fan of the Yankees, Knicks and Jets he is often recognized in the digital asset space as "Bitcoin Lawyer Guy."

Ian founded IRC Legal to move away from the "faceless" BigLaw model. By staying rooted in his local community while serving global-reaching ventures, Ian provides a level of direct accountability and elite-tier judgment that only a founder-to-founder relationship can offer.

What are your hourly rates?

Market Transparency: Hourly Rates in 2026

For project-based work, we bill at transparent hourly rates based on the complexity of the matter. To provide perspective on the current New York legal market:

BigLaw Partner Rates: Senior partners at elite global firms typically range from $1,800 to $3,400+ per hour for M&A and complex corporate matters.
IRC Legal Rates: Our hourly rates for specialized counsel currently range from $675 to $800 per hour, providing executive-level BigLaw experience with boutique-level efficiency and access.

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How do your monthly retainers work?

Our Fractional General Counsel retainers are structured for predictability. You secure a set number of hours per month for a fixed fee, ensuring "Executive Legal Command" is always available when you need to architect a deal or mitigate a sudden risk.

Scalable Support: We offer different tiers based on your monthly needs, typically ranging from 10 to 40 hours.

Rollover Options: Depending on your plan, we may offer limited rollover hours to ensure you receive full value for your investment.

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What is your pricing model?

We offer a flexible, hybrid approach tailored to your company's lifecycle. This includes:

Hourly Billing: Best for discrete transactions, one-off transactions, or unpredictable dispute resolution.
Monthly Retainer (Fractional GC): Designed for growth-stage companies needing consistent, executive-level strategic oversight without the overhead of a full-time hire.

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How is IRC Legal different from a traditional law firm?

IRC Legal operates as strategic counsel, not just transactional support. We focus on decision-making, risk mitigation, and deal architecture: often acting as fractional general counsel or a trusted advisor alongside management. Clients work directly with executive counsel, not layers of associates.

What is fractional general counsel and when does it make sense?

Fractional general counsel provides ongoing legal leadership on a part-time or project basis. It’s ideal for companies that need experienced legal oversight and executive-level guidance, but don’t yet require a full-time in-house GC.

Does IRC Legal handle mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions?

Yes. IRC Legal regularly advises on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financings, strategic partnerships, and complex commercial transactions. We focus on structuring deals that align with long-term business goals while managing legal and operational risk.

How do I get started with IRC Legal?

You can start by booking a working session through our contact form. We’ll discuss your situation, identify the key risks and opportunities, and determine whether IRC Legal is the right fit. If so, we tailor an engagement structure that matches your needs: project-based, advisory, or ongoing counsel.

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