Strategic legal support, built into your team.
Embedded Counsel is a modern legal services firm designed for growing businesses and nonprofits that need practical, business-first legal guidance without the cost or rigidity of a traditional law firm.
Founded by John S. Pothier and Dylan C. Barrett, Embedded Counsel brings nearly two decades of combined in-house legal experience to organizations across Massachusetts and beyond. John and Dylan met while working together at a Boston-area software company and went on to lead legal, privacy, compliance, and operational functions at fast-growing tech companies. After years of navigating the gaps between traditional law firms and real business needs, they decided to build something different.
Embedded Counsel gives clients the benefit of in-house expertise through an embedded or fractional counsel model that prioritizes partnership, clarity, and long-term growth.
Meet the Managing Partners
John S. Pothier
Managing Partner, Embedded Counsel
Former VP of Legal and Compliance, Labster
John is a business-minded attorney who has built and led legal functions inside fast-moving technology companies. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Legal and Compliance at Labster, a global edtech company backed by Andreessen Horowitz, where he guided multiple fundraising rounds, an international acquisition, and the expansion of privacy, security, and compliance programs. He also oversaw IT and security operations and stepped in as interim CFO during a key leadership transition in 2024.
John works closely with executive teams to simplify complexity, manage risk, and support sustainable growth. His in-house background gives him a clear understanding of how legal can support smart decision-making rather than slow it down.
Admitted to Practice:
Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Education:
JD, New England School of Law
Practice Areas Include:
Corporate governance and equity management
Mergers and acquisitions
Commercial contracts and procurement
Employment matters and internal investigations
Compliance frameworks including SOC 2, ISO, and NIST
Fundraising including venture capital and private equity
Data privacy and security including GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and FERPA
Intellectual property and licensing
Legal operations and process development
📧 john.pothier@embeddedcounsel.com
Dylan C. Barrett
Managing Partner, Embedded Counsel
Former In-House Counsel at NetBrain and Labster
Dylan brings a sharp legal mind and a business-first perspective shaped by experience across software, healthcare, and technology-driven organizations. Before co-founding Embedded Counsel, he served as in-house counsel supporting commercial transactions, internal investigations, compliance programs, and data privacy initiatives.
Dylan began his career in software sales, negotiating contracts and working closely with product and security teams. That experience gives him a grounded understanding of how businesses operate and where legal input adds the most value. In addition to advising clients, Dylan designs efficient legal workflows, advises on AI policy and emerging technologies, and helps organizations build legal systems that scale.
Admitted to Practice:
Massachusetts
Education:
JD, Suffolk University Law School, with distinction
Concentration in Legal Innovation and Technology
Practice Areas Include:
Commercial transactions and vendor contracts
Data privacy and compliance including GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and FERPA
Intellectual property and trademark strategy
Legal operations and contracting workflows
Compliance frameworks including SOC 2, ISO, and HITRUST
Litigation and dispute resolution
Software licensing and SaaS agreements
Privacy policies and data processing agreements
Security and incident response readiness
📧 dylan.barrett@embeddedcounsel.com
A Partner in Growth
Together, John and Dylan created Embedded Counsel to offer something better than traditional outside legal support. A long-term partnership that is embedded in your business and built to provide clarity, confidence, and room to grow.
We are proud to partner with Embedded Counsel and grateful for their support of community-driven journalism through What’s Up Worcester.
Get in Touch
📧 info@embeddedcounsel.com
📞 (781) 317-0437
📍 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300, Waltham, MA 02451
🌐 https://embeddedcounsel.com
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