Contracts, Liens, and Disputes, Handled Before They Cost You the Job

Construction projects run on paperwork and deadlines, and both can lead to legal exposure quickly. San Miguel Attorneys is a bicultural, bilingual team of construction attorneys representing contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and property owners from Greater Houston and Montgomery County to Mexico. We draft the contracts that prevent disputes, protect your right to get paid through mechanic’s liens, and step in when a payment fight, defect claim, or delay dispute needs a lawyer who already knows your project.

Why Construction Companies Choose San Miguel Attorneys

  • Protect what you’ve built. A subcontract with a vague scope-of-work clause or a missed lien deadline can cost you a payment you already earned. We build contracts and file liens in ways that actually protect your position.
  • Cross-border reach. Dual-licensed in Texas and Mexico, we’re one of the few Houston construction law teams that can review a contract with a Mexican material supplier or subcontractor without bringing in outside counsel.
  • Partnership, not a meter running. Construction companies with steady legal needs can move onto our Chief Legal Officer Program for a subscription fee, ongoing contract review instead of paying hourly every time a new purchase order or subcontract crosses your desk.
  • Contract drafting and negotiation: prime contracts, subcontracts, change orders, and purchase orders that spell out scope, payment terms, and change-order procedures before work starts
  • Mechanic’s and materialman’s liens: filing and enforcing liens for unpaid work, and defending owners against liens that are invalid, overstated, or filed late
  • Payment and breach of contract disputes: collecting on unpaid invoices, defending non-payment claims, and resolving disputes over delays, change orders, and scope creep
  • Construction defect claims: representing contractors and owners in disputes over workmanship, materials, and design issues
  • Regulatory and licensing compliance: keeping contracts and business practices aligned with Texas construction and licensing requirements
  • Cross-border supply and subcontractor agreements: contracts with material suppliers, fabricators, and labor providers based in Mexico

When Does a Construction Dispute Belong in the Texas Business Court?

Texas created a specialized Business Court for complex commercial disputes, and construction cases increasingly land there. As of September 2025, the amount-in-controversy threshold for most qualifying claims dropped from $10 million to $5 million, and claims from multiple joined parties can now be combined to meet that floor. The Eleventh Business Court Division, based in Houston, covers Montgomery County, which means many construction disputes involving The Woodlands-area companies may now qualify for this specialized court instead of the general civil docket. Whether that’s the right venue for a given dispute depends on the contract, the parties, and the amount at stake, and it’s worth raising with your attorney early rather than after a suit is already filed.

Many construction companies only call a lawyer once a dispute has already started. By then, the contract that could have prevented it is already signed. If your company is regularly issuing subcontracts, purchase orders, or change orders, our Chief Legal Officer Program builds contract review, compliance checks, and a reduced litigation retainer into one predictable biweekly fee, so legal guidance is part of how you run projects instead of something you call in only after something goes wrong.

Talk to a Greater Houston Construction Attorney Before the Next Contract Goes Out

Whether you need a subcontract reviewed, a lien filed, or a payment dispute resolved, contact San Miguel Attorneys today to talk with our team about your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a mechanic’s lien in Texas?

It depends on your role on the project. Original contractors on commercial projects generally have until the 15th day of the third month to send their notice and until the 15th day of the fourth month after the work is completed, terminated, or abandoned to file their affidavit. 

Subcontractors have earlier notice deadlines that lead up to that filing date, and residential projects run on a shorter timeline. Because these deadlines are calculated by month rather than a fixed number of days, it’s worth confirming your specific deadline with an attorney as soon as a payment dispute looks likely.

What’s the difference between filing a mechanic’s lien and filing a lawsuit?

A mechanic’s lien is a claim against the property that secures your right to payment; it doesn’t by itself force anyone to pay you. A lawsuit is how you actually collect if the lien and demand letters don’t resolve the dispute. Most construction payment disputes start with a properly filed lien and a demand, and escalate to litigation only if that doesn’t work.

Can San Miguel Attorneys help with contracts involving suppliers or subcontractors in Mexico?

Yes. As a bicultural firm licensed in both Texas and Mexico, we regularly review and draft agreements for Greater Houston-area construction companies working with material suppliers, fabricators, and labor providers based in Mexico, so you get one legal team instead of coordinating counsel in two countries.