Alex Koch
Founder,
Insight Legal
Called to the bar in 2014
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the main complaint that clients have about their lawyer is the cost. Not that it’s too high, necessarily, but that the final price tag is impossible to predict. No lawyer wants to promise how many billable hours it will take to solve a particular problem, so the client has to wait until the matter comes to a close and the invoice arrives.
Alex Koch, the founder of Insight Legal, is at the forefront of a predictable-billing revolution. Her client roster includes a wide range of startups and small businesses. And much of her work involves drafting legal documents, such as shareholder agreements and privacy policies. Her clients can choose to pay her by the hour, or they can purchase these products at a fixed fee. “If I’m drafting a document, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting and how much you’re getting it for,” says the 31-year-old. Clients who expect to have legal demands throughout the year, meanwhile, can buy a subscription. “This model allows clients to have access to a lawyer at all times for a manageable monthly fee.” The billing arrangement is always tailored to the exact needs of the client.
One of Koch’s most satisfied clients is Sina Hamidi, the CEO of the restaurant chain Crave Healthy Habits. “We’ve seen her firm grow,” he says. “And yet she always finds time for us when it matters most, even if it’s 11 p.m. on a Saturday.”
Outside the office, Koch is committed to mitigating climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time. Her legal skills are a valuable asset in her role as a volunteer board member of Transition Toronto, a not-for-profit that is helping the city transition away from fossil fuels. “I think people forget how beautiful this world is sometimes,” says Koch. “It’s an important thing to preserve.”
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This story is from our Summer 2020 Issue.
Photography by Steph Martyniuk; set design by James Reiger; hair and makeup by Michelle Calleja