ESJ Legal, PLLC  /  Solo Practice
41.7370° N   111.8338° W
Cache Valley, Utah

Twenty years
of legal judgment.
One attorney & advisor.

I represent founders, operators, and closely held companies in the moments where the stakes are real and the playbook is thin. Litigation when it has to be. Quiet resolution when it can be. Deals when the work is the diligence, not the theater.

Practiced since 2005
GC tenures 02
Countries advised 20+
/ 002   Practice

Narrow on purpose.

I take the work I'm good at and pass on the rest. If your situation falls outside these lanes, I'll usually know someone who's a better fit than I am.

01
Disputes

High-conflict litigation

The cases other lawyers avoid. Bitter partner splits, post-closing disputes, business divorces, control fights, fraud claims. Steady hand, sharp pen, no theatrics.

02
Transactions

M&A due diligence

Buy-side and sell-side diligence with a former GC's eye for what actually breaks deals. Risk you can price, issues you can negotiate, surprises you don't want at closing.

03
Workforce

Employment & labor

Separations, executive transitions, restrictive covenants, internal investigations, policy work, and the occasional hard conversation that needs a lawyer in the room.

04
Commercial

Commercial transactions & litigation

MSAs, vendor and customer agreements, licensing, and the contract disputes that follow when something goes sideways. Drafted to be lived with, not just signed.

/ 003   Background

Two terms as General Counsel.

A SaaS exit. A global manufacturer across 20+ countries. Big law before that. The short version on the right; the longer one below.

I've built legal departments from zero, sat next to founders through fundraising and exits, and reported to a board through ISO 27001, SOC 2, and the kind of cross-border mess that doesn't show up in a textbook.

Now I work alone, by design. No associates to leverage, no partners to mollify, no billable target driving the recommendation. You get the lawyer you hired, on the matter you hired them for.

If you've worked with senior in-house counsel, that's the tone. Pragmatic, calm under pressure, allergic to inflated risk memos. I'd rather tell you the answer than write you a brief about it.

2025 ― ESJ Legal, PLLCSolo Practice / Outside Counsel
2019 ― 25 General Counsel, Global Manufacturing Parent Co.20+ Countries / Board Advisor
2013 ― 18 General Counsel, SaaS Legal & Fintech PlatformFounding Through Exit
2005 ― 13 Three National Law FirmsFinance & Healthcare / Commercial & Regulatory
/ 004   How I Work

A few ground rules.

Not negotiable, but the reason clients tend to stay.

/ a

Direct answers

You'll get a recommendation, not a survey of the legal landscape. If I'm not sure, I'll say so, and I'll tell you what would change my mind.

/ b

Honest scoping

Flat fees where the work is predictable. Hourly where it isn't. No padded estimates, no surprise invoices, no minimum monthly retainer to make the math work for me.

/ c

Real responsiveness

One inbox, one phone, one lawyer. If something is on fire, I answer. If it isn't, I'll tell you when I will.

/ 005   Contact

A short note about what's going on is all I need to figure out whether I'm the right fit.

Tell me what's
going on. I'll tell you
if I can help.

PhoneBy request, after a first note
MailCache Valley, Utah
BarDistrict of Columbia  ·  Utah  ·  Indiana

This website is for general information only. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Eric Jungbauer is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Utah, and Indiana. The information on this site is not directed to any person in any jurisdiction where such direction would be inconsistent with applicable rules of professional responsibility. If you are located in a state where Eric is not admitted, please consult counsel admitted in your jurisdiction.