Miami-Dade Executive Protection & Security Logistics Firms: A Legal Playbook for Confidential Contracts, High-Risk Operations, and On-Time Cash Flow
Executive protection and security logistics companies operate where discretion, speed, and liability intersect. Your teams move principals, secure venues, coordinate drivers and advance teams, and sometimes manage crating, custody, and chain-of-possession elements for sensitive cargo. One poorly drafted scope, one NDA that doesn’t actually cover the right data, or one disputed invoice after a midnight deployment can erase a quarter’s profit.
I’m Attorney Yoel Molina. Our firm has worked with security and service companies like yours in South Florida, including Miami-Dade. Below is a practical, Florida-focused playbook you can use to tighten contracts, protect confidentiality, allocate risk, and keep receivables clean—while preserving the agility your clients expect.
Who This Guide Is For
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Executive protection (EP) and close protection firms serving principals, VIPs, and corporate travelers
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Security logistics and transport teams coordinating drivers, escorts, and time-critical movements
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Venue, nightlife, and event security providers (front-of-house and backstage/BOH ops)
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Hybrid security + logistics operators that also arrange packing, crating, and custody workflows for valuables or exhibits
Why this matters locally: Miami-Dade’s mix of private aviation, hospitality, nightlife, art fairs, and international business creates unusual demand spikes and confidentiality expectations. Many firms publicly emphasize strict privacy, EP offerings, and discreet venue coverage—your contracts should reflect that reality and your brand promise. (
axissecuritylogistics.com)
Executive Checklist (Start Here)
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Use service-specific agreements: EP details belong in one template; venue/event coverage in another; secure transport/custody in a third.
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Bake in confidentiality correctly: NDAs that define
what is confidential,
who can receive it (need-to-know), retention/destruction rules, incident notice, and liquidated damages that are actually enforceable.
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Clarify licensure, supervision, and use-of-force policies under Florida law; align training and vendor onboarding accordingly.
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Define scope precisely (principal, family, entourage; zones; hours; vehicles; comms; advances; protective intelligence; third-party coordination).
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Allocate risk with balanced indemnity, additional insured status on a primary/non-contributory basis, waiver of subrogation, and tight limitations of liability.
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Payment mechanics that fit reality: retainers, call-out minimums, surge pricing, per-diem, and expenses; card-on-file/ACH with late-fee and attorney’s-fees provisions.
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Incident documentation culture: contemporaneous logs, photos/video handling protocols, and privileged after-action reports.
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Subcontractor control: written agreements with background/credential requirements, COIs, confidentiality, IP assignments (for reports/plans), and response-time SLAs.
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Dispute triage: escalation ladder → executive meeting → confidential mediation in Miami-Dade → arbitration/litigation as last resort.
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Data hygiene: device and message retention, redaction standards, and client-owned data return at termination.
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Contract Moves That Protect Discretion and Margin
1) Executive Protection (EP) Master Services Agreement
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Scope & Deliverables: Specify principal(s), coverage windows, static vs. mobile, advances, venue sweeps, protective intelligence, and liaison with hotels/aviation/venues.
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Team Composition: Minimums (detail lead + agents/driver), relief rotations, language skills, gender-specific requests, and weapon status per client and venue rules.
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Travel & Logistics: Air/ground coordination, route planning, convoy rules, parking/egress, and contingencies for diversions or medical events.
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Client Responsibilities: Accurate itineraries, timely change notices, authorized points of contact, and approvals for deviations.
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Confidentiality: Prohibit sharing itinerary, principal identity, and patterns; define secure channels; require post-engagement deletion/return of data; prohibit marketing use of client names/logos (many Miami firms highlight this commitment publicly). (
axissecuritylogistics.com)
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Use-of-Force & Compliance: Reference Florida law, SOPs, and continuous supervision; disclaim law-enforcement authority unless contracted separately with sworn officers.
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Pricing: Retainer + hourly/day rates with call-out minimums (e.g., 4–8 hours), surge premiums for off-hours/holidays/expedited mobilization, and reimbursable expenses (travel, lodging, rentals, protective equipment).
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Liability Limits: Cap damages (e.g., fees paid in prior 6–12 months), exclude consequential damages; carve-out for willful misconduct.
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Cancellation/Standby: Transparent thresholds for standby rates and late-cancel fees when itineraries shift.
2) Venue, Nightlife, and Event Security Agreement
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Venue Profile & Zones: Front door, VIP areas, cash rooms, loading dock, BOH corridors; crowd-control strategy and patron ejection protocol.
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Incident Reporting: Immediate incident notices to venue management; evidence handling; integration with CCTV and third-party staff.
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Alcohol & Safety: Coordination with staff on over-service, ID checks, and refusal strategies; documented refusal logs.
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Hours & Headcount: Minimum staffing by risk tier and occupancy; price escalators for last-minute increases.
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Reputation Management: Confidentiality and social-media bans; no photos or posting from site; no disclosure of client list (again, consistent with what many local firms promise). (
axissecuritylogistics.com)
3) Secure Transport & Custody (Security Logistics)
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Chain-of-Possession: Detailed custody logs, seal numbers, hand-offs, GPS parameters, and exception reporting; who can break seal and under what conditions.
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Routing & Deviations: Pre-approved routes, geofencing, and live exceptions; risk-based rest/stop rules; weather and protest contingencies.
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Coordination with Crating/Carriers: If you arrange packing/crating or partner with logistics vendors, your agreement must state who is the carrier of record, who bears transit risk, and how claims are noticed and documented.
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Insurance: Verify cargo vs. security services coverage; require vendor COIs naming you as additional insured; clarify subrogation.
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Evidence-Quality Documentation: Photo/video capture standards with retention, client access, and lawful disclosure limits.
Florida Compliance & Licensing Touchpoints
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Maintain proper Florida business registrations and local business tax receipts for Miami-Dade and any municipalities where you operate or stage.
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Ensure security personnel credentials and supervisory requirements are met; confirm any armed assignments track Florida law and client policies.
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Align advertising and proposals with true capabilities; avoid using client names/logos without permission (some Miami-based firms explicitly state they never do—mirror that in your marketing/contract terms). (
axissecuritylogistics.com)
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Keep incident, training, and equipment logs organized. In disputes, contemporaneous documentation wins.
Pricing Structures That Match Real-World Ops
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Call-Out Minimums: Four- to eight-hour minimums for short-notice deployments; travel door-to-door billed.
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Retainers: Evergreen or event-specific retainers to cover readiness and planning.
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Surge & Holiday Rates: Pre-priced multipliers for peak windows (Art Week, holiday season, major events).
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Per-Diem: Flat daily for out-of-county assignments covering meals/laundry; client covers travel and lodging.
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Expenses: Define reimbursables and receipt thresholds; use per-diem tables where possible for speed.
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Late-Cancel & No-Show: Protect labor you can’t reassign on short notice.
Documentation: The Quiet Advantage
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Daily Logs & After-Action Reports: Use objective, time-stamped notes; avoid commentary.
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Photo/Video Handling: Encrypt and restrict access; log who viewed/downloaded; purge per policy at closeout.
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Client Brief-Backs: Short, executive-friendly briefs after major movements or incidents—these build trust and justify renewals.
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Privileged Reviews: For critical incidents, route analysis through counsel to preserve privilege where appropriate.
Subcontractors & Partners: Trust, But Paper It
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Onboarding: Background checks, credential verification, training attestations, weapons qualification where applicable.
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Subcontractor Agreement: Mirrors your confidentiality, IP, safety, insurance, and documentation duties; includes response time SLAs and step-in rights if they miss a deployment.
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COIs & Endorsements: Additional insured (ongoing and completed ops), primary/non-contributory language, waiver of subrogation; audit annually.
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Non-Solicit/Non-Circumvent: Protect your client relationships from poaching.
Collections That Preserve Relationships
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Clean Invoicing: Tie invoices to shift IDs, dates, team count, and incident numbers; attach logs or redacted proofs on request.
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Card-on-File/ACH: Authorization forms at onboarding; triggers for charging retainers or post-service balances.
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Late Fees & Attorney’s Fees: Enforceable terms encourage timely payment without endless chasing.
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Stop-Work Rights: After notice, suspend future deployments for delinquency—critical for preserving cash flow without escalating publicly.
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Releases: Exchange conditional releases for payments in process; issue unconditional releases only on cleared funds.
Five Costly Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
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Vague confidentiality: Generic NDAs that don’t address itineraries, locations, or device data. Fix with clear definitions, need-to-know recipients, and deletion protocols.
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No call-out minimums: Short-notice requests devour staffing capacity; implement minimums and surge multipliers.
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Unclear custody: Without chain-of-possession detail, disputes over damage or timing become “he said, she said.” Use seals, GPS, and sign-offs.
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Marketing missteps: Posting client names or photos without consent contradicts your discretion brand—codify a zero-disclosure rule. (
axissecuritylogistics.com)
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Loose subcontractor control: If a partner misses a detail or leaks intel, your brand takes the hit. Mirror your obligations downstream and audit.
Local Context: Why Miami-Dade Details Matter
Many EP and security-logistics firms here highlight confidentiality, EP readiness, and venue coverage; they list a Miami office and contact channels tailored to rapid mobilization. If you’re competing in this market, your contracts and SOPs should reflect the same focus on privacy, speed, and precision. (
axissecuritylogistics.com)
How Our Firm Helps Security & Logistics Companies
At the Law Office of Yoel Molina, P.A., we have worked with companies like yours across Florida, including Miami-Dade. We routinely:
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Draft and negotiate EP, venue/event security, and secure-transport agreements that align with your SOPs and risk profile
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Build NDA, data-handling, and deletion frameworks that match your confidentiality promise
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Structure insurance/indemnity packages and subcontractor agreements with real-world enforceability
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Create pricing playbooks (retainers, call-outs, surge rates) that improve margin without scaring clients
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Design documentation kits (logs, after-action templates, custody forms) your teams will actually use
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Preserve lien/bond leverage when site security is tied to construction or build-out projects, and pursue delinquent accounts professionally
Let’s Talk
For legal help tailored to executive protection and security logistics—confidential contracts, secure transport, and clean collections—contact Attorney Yoel Molina at
admin@molawoffice.com, call
(305) 548-5020 (Option 1), or message via
WhatsApp at (305) 349-3637.
Educational Notice: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Your situation may require specific guidance under Florida law and your client agreements.