Legal Expert Highlights Risks of Scaling Without Structure in New Interview Feature
MIAMI BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / October 3, 2025 / In a newly published interview, Florida-based attorney Roland Sanchez-Medina is sounding the alarm on one of the most overlooked threats facing fast-growing companies today: poor internal structure.
The founding partner of SMGQ Law, Sanchez-Medina has spent more than 30 years advising companies on corporate law, tax strategy, mergers, and real estate transactions. But in this new feature, he shifts the focus from deals to discipline-encouraging founders, boards, and professionals to build smarter, not just faster.
“You can’t patch structure later,” Sanchez-Medina said. “You either build it right from the start or you pay for it down the line.”
A Hidden Weakness in Startup Culture
A 2022 Deloitte study found that over 70% of startups and early-stage tech firms lack formal governance structures – meaning no clear internal policies, unclear board roles, and no legal risk framework. In an economy driven by speed, that’s a liability hiding in plain sight.
Sanchez-Medina has seen it happen: “A founder gets funding. They grow fast. But when something goes wrong-tax issues, internal conflict, or compliance-they realise no one ever set up the controls.”
His message is direct: governance isn’t a luxury; it’s your defence system.
What Professionals Can Do Today
Sanchez-Medina isn’t just raising awareness – he’s advocating for proactive steps that anyone can take, regardless of industry or company size. He encourages people to ask three basic questions:
-
Do we have clear internal responsibilities and risk tracking?
-
Is our board active and informed – not just on paper?
-
Are we mentoring new leaders to avoid repeating past mistakes?
“Mentorship is the operating system of good leadership,” he said. “If we’re not teaching the next group how to lead well, we’re just recycling dysfunction.”
A Career Rooted in Structure and Service
The article traces Sanchez-Medina’s career from his early work at Holland & Knight and McDermott Will & Emery, to his leadership of SMGQ Law in Coral Gables. Along the way, he has chaired audit and budget committees for public institutions and served as President of The Florida Bar and the Cuban American Bar Association.
This experience has shaped his view that structure isn’t red tape-it’s clarity.
“People think governance is boring. But if your team doesn’t know who’s doing what, or what your exposure is, that’s not innovation. That’s chaos.”
The Cost of Avoiding Structure
A 2023 CB Insights report listed “legal and regulatory challenges” as a top-five reason why startups fail. Many of these issues come from lack of planning – not bad products. That’s why Sanchez-Medina wants founders, operators, and professionals to treat structure as a core part of the business model, not a legal afterthought.
Call to Action
Sanchez-Medina is calling on business leaders to do three things right now:
-
Review internal governance: Define board responsibilities, create internal checks, and understand your legal obligations.
-
Mentor actively: Create pathways for others to lead responsibly – especially in fast-moving industries like tech.
-
Speak openly about structure: Normalise conversations about governance and risk the same way we talk about growth.
“The law shouldn’t slow you down,” he said. “It should help you go further-and make sure you stay there.”
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Roland Sanchez-Medina
Roland Sanchez-Medina is a founding partner at SMGQ Law, based in Coral Gables, Florida. He specialises in corporate law, international tax planning, M&A, board governance, and real estate transactions. He currently serves as President of The Florida Bar and has held leadership positions in CABA, the Orange Bowl Committee, and multiple public and civic boards.
Contact:
info@rolandsanchezmedinajrlaw.com
SOURCE: Roland Sanchez-Medina
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
