Fractional GC · Interim Legal Leadership · International Business Advisory

Fractional General Counsel for international business.

Senior legal leadership for international companies, private equity environments, transformation projects and regulated business environments — without the overhead of a permanent hire.

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Boutique Legal Advisory · Hamburg

A pragmatic, business-oriented advisory practice for complex corporate environments.

Haak Legal is a Hamburg-based boutique advisory focused on fractional and interim general counsel services, international business law and strategic legal leadership for complex corporate environments. Founded by German-qualified lawyer Heiko Haak, the practice combines extensive international in-house leadership experience with a pragmatic, business-oriented advisory approach developed across multinational, regulated and transformation-driven organisations.

GC-level expertise

Senior in-house legal leadership without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

Flexible & scalable

Engagements scoped to your actual needs — monthly retainer, project or interim.

Embedded advisory

Fast integration into existing business structures and leadership rhythms.

Pragmatic posture

Business-oriented advice tailored to commercial reality, not abstract theory.

Transformation track-record

Strong carve-out, PMI, governance redesign and special-situations experience.

International & regulated

Cross-cultural fluency, deep familiarity with regulated industries and EMEA structures.

Services

Senior legal leadership, scaled to your needs.

01 / Fractional GC

Fractional General Counsel

Ongoing senior legal leadership on a flexible basis — embedded in your business, accessible to your leadership team.

Strategic legal leadership
Commercial contracting
Governance & compliance coordination
Board and management support
External counsel management
Cross-functional stakeholder support

02 / Interim

Interim Legal Leadership

Temporary legal management during transition, transformation or rapid growth — covering vacancies and complex programmes.

Interim General Counsel
Transformation programmes
Legal department restructuring
Carve-outs
Post-M&A integration
Special projects & rapid scaling

03 / Commercial

International Commercial & Corporate Advisory

Cross-border contracts, distribution and supply structures, corporate governance, international framework agreements.

Commercial agreements
Distribution structures
Supply & manufacturing agreements
International framework agreements
Corporate governance
Cross-border projects

04 / Special Situations

Transformation & Special Projects

Strategic legal support for complex organisational change and high-impact business projects.

Carve-outs
Transformation programmes
Post-merger integration support
Governance redesign
Legal operating model optimisation
Private equity related environments

Industry Experience

Deep familiarity with regulated and international corporate environments.

Pharma & Life Sciences

Extensive experience within highly regulated pharmaceutical and life sciences environments.

MedTech & Healthcare

Deep understanding of regulated healthcare and MedTech structures.

Manufacturing & Operations

Support for international commercial and operational structures across EMEA.

Private Equity

Carve-outs, transformation programmes and operational change initiatives.

About

Heiko Haak

Rechtsanwalt · Founder

German-qualified lawyer with extensive international in-house experience across regulated industries, multinational organisations and transformation-driven business environments.

Before founding Haak Legal, Heiko held senior international legal leadership positions within global healthcare, MedTech and life sciences organisations — including responsibility for complex cross-border commercial structures, governance frameworks, compliance environments and transformation projects.

Combines legal expertise with a pragmatic, commercially driven advisory style developed alongside executive leadership teams, business units and international headquarters across Europe and the Middle East.

Selected Topics

Perspectives on legal leadership in international business.

Fractional GC

What a Fractional General Counsel actually does — and when it makes sense.

A practical look at the model, its boundaries and where it adds the most value for international businesses.

Transformation

Building legal structures during transformation programmes.

Carve-outs, integrations and governance redesign from a senior counsel’s perspective.

Cross-border

Managing legal complexity in regulated international organisations.

Notes on operating models, external counsel management and stakeholder alignment.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about the practice.

What is a Fractional General Counsel?

A Fractional General Counsel is a senior in-house lawyer engaged on a part-time or flexible basis, providing strategic legal leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Companies access GC-level expertise scaled to their actual needs, with embedded responsiveness across commercial, governance and compliance matters.

How is a Fractional GC different from an external law firm?

An external law firm typically advises on discrete matters and bills by the hour. A Fractional GC operates as part of the business — integrated into strategic discussions, managing external counsel where needed, coordinating compliance and governance, and acting as a senior in-house partner to leadership.

Which industries does Haak Legal support?

Haak Legal focuses on regulated and international corporate environments — primarily Pharma, MedTech, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Manufacturing, international corporate structures and Private Equity / transformation environments.

Is Heiko Haak admitted as a lawyer in Germany?

Yes. Heiko Haak is admitted as a Rechtsanwalt in Germany and a member of the Hanseatische Rechtsanwaltskammer Hamburg.

How can engagements be structured?

Engagements are typically structured as monthly retainers, project-based mandates, or interim full-time arrangements for defined periods. Each engagement is scoped individually with leadership.

Contact

Discuss a mandate.

For enquiries regarding fractional general counsel services, interim legal leadership or international legal advisory, please get in touch directly or use the form below.

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