About
Our Mission: Deliver exceptional legal coverage to growing businesses, at a reasonable cost.
Growing businesses often need senior legal judgment and added capacity before another full-time hire or traditional law firm solution is economic or practical. Efficient Counsel was built to meet that need with experienced, practical support that flexes with the work, helps control legal spend and keeps business priorities moving.
Efficient Counsel grew out of Cynthia Martinez’s experience building and leading high-performing legal teams in growing energy and infrastructure companies. She has worked through every stage of growth—from serving as the first legal hire with a limited budget to coordinating legal teams across multiple business units, dozens of outside firms and tens of millions in annual spend.
That experience shaped Cynthia’s vision for a lean law-firm model that uses modern technology to deliver experienced support more efficiently and cost-effectively. She teamed with her longtime colleague Edward Aviles, a veteran business lawyer known for a business-minded approach to complex legal issues and an ability to turn them into clear, actionable advice.
Together, they bring more than 40 years of experience at large law firms and in senior in-house leadership roles. Their extensive network of legal professionals allows the firm to source and coordinate the right resources and specialized support when needed.
Efficient Counsel supports businesses across industries, with particular depth in energy and infrastructure, especially renewable energy.
Founder & Principal
View profileA strategic general counsel and executive adviser with deep energy and infrastructure experience, Cynthia advises CEOs and boards, builds legal and compliance functions, and oversees complex transactional and project work.
Managing Counsel
View profileA seasoned corporate and transactional business lawyer with large-firm and senior in-house experience, Edward has particular expertise in cross-border transactions and is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian.
How the Firm Works
Cynthia serves as the client’s central point of coordination. Based on the client’s needs, Efficient Counsel may draw on independent attorneys and other professionals and coordinate other law firms as appropriate. Roles and scope are discussed with the client and defined for each engagement.