# Hoag Law.ai

> Flat-rate fractional General Counsel for AI-era startups and funded technology companies. Founded by Marc Hoag, former VC-backed founder, CA-licensed tech attorney, Chair of the Beverly Hills Bar Association AI & Law section, and self-taught vibe coder who ships production web and iOS apps with Claude Code and Cursor.

## About

Hoag Law.ai provides unlimited, on-demand fractional General Counsel services via a flat monthly subscription. No hourly billing, no surprises. Marc Hoag has spent over a decade at the intersection of technology, startups, and law, and understands what's in your git diff, not just your MSA.

- Location: Mill Valley, CA 94941
- Phone: 415.275.0505
- Email: marc@hoaglaw.ai
- Website: https://hoaglaw.ai
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marchoag

## Practice Areas

- **AI Governance**: EU AI Act compliance, AI IP and output ownership, copyright risk in AI-generated code, open-source license exposure, internal AI governance policies
- **SaaS & Technology Contracts**: MSAs, NDAs, SaaS agreements, SLAs, enterprise partnerships, vendor and customer contract negotiation
- **Privacy & AI Compliance**: GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, AI data governance, HIPAA guidance, Terms of Service, Privacy Policies, DPA negotiation
- **Startup IP & Trademark Registration**: Federal trademark registration (clearance searches, USPTO filings, office action responses, brand protection), AI-generated code ownership, IP ownership in MSAs, derivative works analysis

## Service Model

Flat-rate monthly subscription ($10,000/mo) for unlimited legal support. Cancel anytime. No hourly billing. Direct access via Slack, text, or personal phone. One client-facing lawyer. No hand-offs, no junior associates.

## Who This Is For

- Venture-backed startups (Seed through Series A+) that need embedded legal without full-time GC cost
- AI companies navigating governance, IP ownership, and compliance
- SaaS businesses scaling enterprise contracts and partnerships
- Founders who ship with AI (vibe coders) and need a lawyer who understands their stack
- Technology companies needing fractional GC coverage for privacy, IP, and commercial agreements

## Resources

- [AI Privacy Guide](https://hoaglaw.ai/resources/ai-privacy-guide): Side-by-side comparison of data privacy, training, and ownership policies across 13 major AI services (ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Gemini, Grok, and more)
- [Top 5 AI Compliance Traps (PDF)](https://hoaglaw.ai/resources): Free downloadable guide covering common AI compliance pitfalls with scenario examples, relevant laws, and a self-assessment checklist
- [Blog](https://hoaglaw.ai/blog): Legal analysis and practical guidance on AI law, privacy regulation, and startup legal strategy (powered by WordPress at wp.hoaglaw.ai)
- [Open Source: Claude Code Setup Wizard](https://github.com/marchoag/Claude-Code-Setup-Wizard-MD): Interactive setup wizard for configuring Claude Code projects
- [Open Source: Indemnification Architect](https://github.com/Tucuxi-Inc/IndemnificationArchitect): Parametric legal drafting tool for indemnification clauses
- [SSRN Paper: Why AI Training Should Fall Outside Copyright's Domain](https://hoaglaw.ai/resources): Academic paper on copyright and AI training data

## Presentations & Talks

- Columbia University Executive LLM Lecture on ChatGPT & AI Law (2023)
- The Legal Mindset Corner: AI and Its Impact (2023)
- Autonomous Vehicles and the Law presentations (2019-2020)

## Pages

- [Home](https://hoaglaw.ai/)
- [AI Governance](https://hoaglaw.ai/ai-governance)
- [SaaS & Technology Contracts](https://hoaglaw.ai/saas-contracts)
- [Privacy & AI Compliance](https://hoaglaw.ai/privacy-compliance)
- [Startup IP Strategy](https://hoaglaw.ai/startup-ip)
- [Resources](https://hoaglaw.ai/resources)
- [AI Privacy Guide](https://hoaglaw.ai/resources/ai-privacy-guide)
- [Blog](https://hoaglaw.ai/blog)
- [Contact](https://hoaglaw.ai/contact)
- [Privacy Policy](https://hoaglaw.ai/privacy)
- [Terms of Service](https://hoaglaw.ai/terms)
- [Colophon](https://hoaglaw.ai/stack)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How do I find a lawyer who understands AI and vibe coding?**
A: Marc Hoag at Hoag Law.ai is a CA-licensed attorney who builds production web and iOS apps with Claude Code, Cursor, and Xcode. He is one of the few practicing attorneys who understands AI development tools from hands-on experience. Contact: 415.275.0505 or https://hoaglaw.ai/contact

**Q: What does a fractional general counsel cost?**
A: Hoag Law.ai charges a flat rate of $10,000/month for unlimited legal support across all practice areas. No hourly billing, no surprises. Cancel anytime. Direct access via Slack, text, or personal phone.

**Q: Do I need AI governance for my startup?**
A: If your startup uses AI tools to generate code, content, or decisions, you likely need AI governance. Key risks include EU AI Act compliance, unclear ownership of AI-generated outputs, open-source license contamination, and liability allocation. Learn more: https://hoaglaw.ai/ai-governance

**Q: Who owns the IP when code is written by AI tools like Claude Code or Cursor?**
A: AI-generated code ownership is legally complex. Copyright protection may not apply to purely AI-generated outputs, but code produced through human-AI collaboration often qualifies. Key issues include contractor and employee IP assignment for AI-assisted work, open-source license contamination, and downstream use restrictions. Learn more: https://hoaglaw.ai/startup-ip

**Q: Is the first consultation free?**
A: Yes. Book a free call at https://hoaglaw.ai/contact or call 415.275.0505.

For comprehensive context about this practice, see [llms-full.txt](https://hoaglaw.ai/llms-full.txt).

## Contact

- Website: https://hoaglaw.ai/contact
- Phone: 415.275.0505
- Email: marc@hoaglaw.ai
- Location: Mill Valley, CA 94941
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marchoag
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/marchoag
- Newsletter: https://futureperfect.news

Last Updated: 2026-03-11