Brian Feldman is another of the countless lawyers who claim their first thoughts of joining the profession came from watching the TV show "Perry Mason." But he's gone a long way from dreaming about solving mysteries during cross-examinations like the TV lawyer.

Feldman spent just five years in a traditional law practice, shifting to public relations work. Today he is a senior partner at Allison + Partners, a 500-person international public relations agency where he also serves as general counsel.

Feldman estimates he splits his time equally between PR work and GC duties.

He grew up in South Florida, and after undergraduate and law school at the University of Florida, Feldman joined an Atlanta firm, Gray, Gilliland & Gold. He worked there for five years on business litigation, bankruptcy matters, family law matters—and met his wife, Michelle LaLonde, now at James-Bates-Brannan-Groover.

Feldman used his vacation time at Gray Gilliland to volunteer for the 1992 Bill Clinton presidential campaign. "I've always had the political bug," he said, and he left the firm to work for the Healthcare Leadership Council, which was related to Clinton's health care proposals.

The health care advocacy led him to form The Edison Group, which provided strategic public affairs counsel to corporate, major trade associations, unions and nonprofit clients. After 13 years, he sold the Edison Group to Allison + Partners.

Since then, the venture has grown from eight offices with 80 people to 30 offices with 500 people.

With that growth came more legal work, especially for the chief financial officer, as contracts became more complicated with bigger clients that often demanded using their own master services agreements. That change led Feldman back into the law, allowing the agency to spend less on outside counsel, although he frequently consults with his parent company's GC and deputy.

Issues include labor and employment law, intellectual property, digital privacy in the European Union and other issues. "I know what I don't know," said Feldman, regarding when he seeks outside help.

Another issue he deals with is who owns content that is created for PR campaigns.

Engagement letters with outside counsel are informed by his agency's own work as advisers for its clients, he said.

Feldman said his role lets him enjoy the "incredibly collaborative" atmosphere at Allison & Partners, as he counsels departments such as human resources, learning and education, tech, contracts and accounts teams.

Like many GCs, Feldman says his job is not to say "yes or no" to his internal clients' plans: "Our job is to solve problems."