The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) Program from San Miguel Attorneys gives growing companies ongoing access to a legal team for a single predictable biweekly fee, rather than a stack of unpredictable invoices. Our Greater Houston corporate attorneys built this program around a simple idea: the businesses that avoid the most legal trouble are the ones with counsel built into daily operations, not called in only after a dispute starts. Bilingual and dual-licensed in Texas and Mexico, San Miguel Attorneys works alongside owners, not around them.

Why Business Owners Choose the CLO Program

  • Protect what you’ve built. Corporate compliance issues rarely announce themselves. The CLO Program identifies gaps in your contracts, sales practices, and corporate records before they lead to a lawsuit.
  • Cross-border reach. If your company does business on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border, you get one bilingual team that understands both legal systems, instead of coordinating separate counsel in each country.
  • Partnership, not a meter running. The CLO Program replaces surprise hourly bills with a flat, predictable fee, so you can call with a question without watching the clock.

What’s Included in the CLO Program?

Every CLO Program membership includes the following services each month:

Corporate Governance & Compliance

  • Drafting of annual Member meeting minutes
  • Drafting of annual Manager meeting minutes
  • Basic legal audit of your Company’s corporate books
  • Up-to-date books

Contracts & Sales Practices Review

  • Legal review of purchase orders currently used by your Company for sales
  • Review of marketing and sales materials for compliance with the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act
  • Review of collection policies for compliance with the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
  • Review of credit sales policies for compliance with the Uniform Commercial Code and the Texas Business and Commerce Code

Corporate Filings & Registered Agent Services

  • Up to 3 corporate changes with the Texas Secretary of State per year (Secretary of State fees not included)
  • Filing of franchise taxes and the public information report (Secretary of State fees not included)
  • Change of company records with the Secretary of State, if necessary
  • San Miguel Attorneys serves as your Registered Agent

Additional Benefits Beyond the Monthly Plan

  • Special Discounts: 10% off our hourly rate for any additional legal services outside the plan
  • Reduced Retainers: Lower retainer rates if your company needs active litigation representation
  • Budget Billing: A fixed monthly payment option for litigation matters, so a dispute doesn’t disrupt your cash flow

One Optional Benefit, Every Month

Each month, choose one benefit that matches what’s on your plate:

  • One demand letter
  • One contract review under 10 pages
  • Legal review of a contract used by your Company to operate or make sales
  • A 1-hour strategy session with our attorneys to review your business plan and flag what your company needs next
  • Respond to a subpoena 
  • Other eligible legal services available

Is the CLO Program Right for Your Business?

The CLO Program is built for companies that have legal concerns every week, but aren’t ready to hire in-house counsel. It tends to make the most sense once you’re regularly signing new vendor or supplier contracts, hiring your first employees, extending credit to customers, or expanding operations into Mexico. 

Certain industries rely on the program especially heavily because contracts and compliance questions come up day to day. Our team has built dedicated resources for common CLO Program use cases, including for construction companies managing subcontractor agreements and change orders.

What Falls Outside the CLO Program?

The flat biweekly fee covers the recurring compliance, review, and filing work described above. It does not cover non-routine matters, such as filing or defending a lawsuit, negotiating a business sale or acquisition, or drafting agreements outside the plan’s scope. Those matters are billed separately, but CLO Program members receive the reduced retainer rate and the Budget Billing option described above, so costs remain predictable even when a larger issue arises.

The best time to protect your business is before something goes wrong. Contact San Miguel Attorneys today to talk with our team about whether the Chief Legal Officer Program is right for your Greater Houston area company, and let us help you build the legal fortress your business deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the CLO Program cost?

The CLO Program is billed as a fixed biweekly fee, so your legal costs stay the same regardless of how many questions you bring us that month. The exact fee depends on your company’s size and needs. Contact San Miguel Attorneys for a quote.

Can I use the CLO Program if my company also does business in Mexico?

Yes. San Miguel Attorneys is a bicultural, bilingual firm with attorneys licensed in both Texas and Mexico, so CLO Program members receive consistent legal guidance whether a question arises on the U.S. side of the border or the Mexican side.

What if I need legal help beyond what’s included in my plan?

You still get priority access to our team. Additional work outside the monthly plan is billed at a 10% discount off our standard hourly rate, and litigation matters qualify for a reduced retainer and our Budget Billing option.