Does S Deatherage Law serve as outside general counsel?

Yes. Scott Deatherage acts as outside general counsel for companies that need experienced senior counsel without a full-time hire. He co-founded and served as Chief Legal Officer of an electric vehicle charging company from 2018 to 2026, building the legal function from formation through growth.

What business and commercial matters does the firm handle?

Entity formation and governance, LLC operating agreements, membership interest purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, purchase and sale agreements, mergers and acquisitions, master services agreements, procurement and supply agreements, construction and engineering contracts, software and licensing agreements, and commercial disputes.

What kinds of companies does the firm represent?

Private equity firms, lenders, real estate companies, wind and solar developers, data center companies, manufacturers, defense contractors, and individuals and families.

Practice Areas

Business

Formation and governance, commercial contracts, transactions, and outside general counsel.

In brief: Formation, governance, contracts, and transactions for private equity, lenders, real estate companies, energy developers, data center companies, and families — from a lawyer who has also run a legal department.

From 2018 to 2026 Scott was co-founder and Chief Legal Officer of Rove Charging, an electric vehicle charging infrastructure company, and its sole in-house lawyer. He built the legal function from formation of the entity, which included governance, financings, commercial contracts, real estate and siting, interconnection, regulatory compliance, privacy, employment, disputes, and other legal matters. He supported a $150 million private equity raise and a Department of Energy loan application that received phase 1 approval for $225 million.

Formation and governance

Entity formation and corporate structuring
LLC operating agreements and shareholder agreements
Corporate governance, policies, and board support
Corporate reorganizations

Transactions

Real estate, lending, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity.

Real estate acquisitions, sales, and sale-leasebacks
Lending and project finance documentation
Mergers, acquisitions, and asset purchases
Private equity investment and portfolio company transactions
Purchase and sale agreements
Membership interest purchase agreements
Mergers, acquisitions, and project and portfolio sales
Letters of intent and memoranda of understanding

Commercial contracts

Master services agreements and long-term services agreements
Procurement and supply agreements
Engineering, architect, and construction contracts, including AIA forms
Software, licensing, marketing, and distribution agreements
Non-disclosure, non-circumvention, non-compete, referral, and independent contractor agreements
Contract playbooks, templates, and approval matrices

Outside general counsel

For companies that need senior legal judgment without hiring an in-house attorney, the firm acts as outside general counsel and manages the legal affairs of the company, bringing in other outside counsel where specialized expertise is required.

Questions clients ask

What does outside general counsel involve?

The work includes reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts, governance and board materials, employment and vendor questions, and identifying other outside counsel whose advice may be needed where specialized expertise is required.

How are costs kept down on routine contracts?

Document automation and structured playbooks. See Use of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.