San Miguel Law, P.C. represents Houston businesses in corporate law matters involving company formation, ownership agreements, commercial contracts, governance, transactions, and ongoing operations. We also advise U.S. companies doing business in Mexico and Mexican companies with business interests in Texas.
Our attorneys are licensed in Texas and Mexico, giving clients access to a bicultural, fully bilingual legal team that can address matters on both sides of the border. Whether you are forming a company, bringing in a new owner, negotiating a cross-border agreement, or expanding into Mexico, we will help you identify the legal issues that can affect your business and determine the right course of action.
Why Choose San Miguel Law for Corporate Law in Houston?
For Houston businesses with interests in Mexico, working with one legal team that understands both Texas and Mexican law can simplify cross-border transactions and operations. We combine corporate counsel with commercial litigation experience, giving us insight into both how business agreements are structured and how disputes can develop.
Our firm offers:
- A bicultural practice with attorneys licensed in Texas and Mexico
- More than 16 years of experience in corporate law and commercial litigation
- A 100% bilingual team serving clients in English and Spanish
- More than 5,000 successful cases
- Offices in The Woodlands, Texas, and Monterrey, Mexico
- A Chief Legal Officer Program providing ongoing legal support for businesses
- Veteran-owned leadership and former service members on our team
What Does a Corporate Attorney Do for a Houston Business?
Corporate law addresses how your business is formed, owned, managed, and governed. A corporate attorney can also help establish the terms that control important relationships with owners, customers, vendors, lenders, and other companies.
We assist businesses with documents such as operating agreements, bylaws, shareholder and buy-sell agreements, commercial contracts, financing agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other agreements affecting company operations.
Corporate counsel can also become particularly important when ownership changes, a company seeks outside investment, or an existing agreement no longer reflects how the business operates.
What Business Structure Should You Choose in Texas?
Your business structure can affect personal liability, management authority, taxation, ownership rights, and your ability to bring in investors. Texas businesses may operate through LLCs, corporations, partnerships, or other structures.
We help clients evaluate entity options and prepare governing documents that establish ownership, voting rights, management authority, distributions, transfers, and procedures for future ownership changes.
How Does Corporate Law Work Between the U.S. and Mexico?
A Texas company may face additional registration, tax, employment, and regulatory requirements before conducting business in Mexico. Because the two countries operate under different legal systems, businesses entering Mexico may also need to address entity structure, foreign investment requirements, tax registration, and corporate formalities. A Mexican notario público also has a substantially different legal role than a notary public in Texas.
What Should You Address in a U.S.-Mexico Business Contract?
Cross-border contracts require additional attention because an agreement may need to function under two different legal systems. Before entering a U.S.-Mexico commercial agreement, businesses should consider:
- Whether the parties legally exist and the individuals signing have authority to bind them
- Which country’s or state’s law will govern the agreement
- Where disputes will be resolved and whether arbitration is appropriate
- Which language controls if the contract is prepared in both English and Spanish
- How currency, payment terms, taxes, and withholding obligations will be handled
Addressing these issues when an agreement is drafted can reduce uncertainty if the parties later disagree about their obligations.
When Should Your Business Work With Corporate Counsel?
Bring in corporate counsel before committing to a major business decision. That may mean seeking legal guidance before signing a letter of intent, taking on a business partner, accepting outside investment, purchasing another company, or expanding operations into Mexico.
Growing businesses may need legal support beyond individual transactions. Through our Chief Legal Officer Program, we provide qualifying companies with ongoing counsel without requiring them to build an in-house legal department. Support can include contract review, governance, transaction planning, and guidance when business disputes develop.
Talk With a Houston Corporate Law Attorney
Corporate decisions made today can affect your ownership rights, business relationships, and future transactions. San Miguel Law, P.C. helps Houston businesses address those decisions under Texas law and, when necessary, Mexican law.
Contact San Miguel Attorneys to schedule a free intake session. We will review your situation, determine whether your matter is one we can assist with, and discuss the next steps for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of Company Should I Form in Texas?
The right structure depends on your ownership, management, tax, liability, and growth goals. LLCs offer flexibility and liability protection, while corporations may be better suited to businesses seeking outside investors.
What Are the Advantages of Incorporating in Texas?
Texas offers several advantages for businesses, including no individual state income tax and a regulatory environment that attracts companies across many industries. The specific benefits of forming your company in Texas will depend on its structure, operations, and tax circumstances.
What Is an Operating Agreement and Why Do I Need One?
An operating agreement establishes how an LLC will be managed and defines the rights and responsibilities of its members. It can address voting, profit distributions, ownership transfers, management authority, and what happens when a member leaves or a dispute develops.
How Can a Corporate Attorney Help With a Merger or Acquisition?
A corporate attorney can assist throughout the mergers and acquisitions process, including due diligence, negotiation, transaction structuring, drafting and reviewing agreements, and closing. San Miguel Attorneys can also advise on transactions involving businesses or assets in both Texas and Mexico.
What Is Corporate Governance and Why Does It Matter?
Corporate governance refers to the rules, policies, and processes used to direct and manage a company. Clear governance can establish decision-making authority, define responsibilities, protect shareholder rights, and reduce uncertainty when important business decisions arise.