Retainer-Based Strategic Engagements
For organizations requiring immediate strategic guidance, direct founder engagements provide executive-level AI governance expertise without the constraints of tiered service models. These retainer-based partnerships are designed for leaders who need proven frameworks, not experimental approaches.
About Juanita Alvarez
I've spent 13+ years building legal operations infrastructure at scale. I started as a patent paralegal managing global patent operations for high-tech clients like Google, then moved to Amazon Lab126 where I managed a ~1,400+ patent portfolio and oversaw 10+ outside counsel law firms—conducting performance reviews and optimizing legal spend.
From there, I transitioned into legal operations at Apple and Okta, where I specialized in AI governance—integrating AI into compliance frameworks, developing governance playbooks, and creating cross-functional decision structures that enabled innovation without sacrificing integrity.
Now, as Founder and CEO of Ciph Lab, I'm bringing that same expertise directly to organizations ready to build Intelligence Resources™—the standalone function that ensures AI readiness is treated as a strategic priority, not an ad-hoc experiment.
My approach is practical, not theoretical. I build governance systems that move at the speed of business—architecting decision frameworks, designing approval workflows, and embedding oversight mechanisms that enable your teams to innovate responsibly.
Professional Credentials
13+ years handling confidential IP, proprietary business data, and regulated information across Fortune 500 organizations.
Background-verified professional with security clearance for sensitive enterprise environments. 13+ years handling confidential IP, proprietary business data, and regulated information across Fortune 500 organizations.
Legal operations background with expertise in regulatory frameworks, privacy compliance, and governance policy. Managed ~1,400+ patent portfolios and $10M+ in legal spend across global operations.
Proven capability operating within complex enterprise environments including global tech companies, high-growth startups, and multinational organizations. Experience with cross-functional leadership and executive stakeholder management.
What People Say
Recommendations from leaders I've worked with across legal operations, AI governance, and enterprise partnerships.
"I highly recommend Juanita Alvarez, who was an outstanding student in my AI for Management course this fall. Juanita demonstrated exceptional strategic thinking, consistently translating complex AI frameworks into actionable, executive-ready governance strategies while integrating ethical considerations as competitive advantages rather than constraints. Her entrepreneurial vision was evident in how she bridged academic rigor with real-world application through her venture, Ciph Lab, showcasing a rare ability to operate at the intersection of theory and practice."
"Juanita supported my team for less than a year, but accomplished a great deal while she was here. One of the projects she led was an LLM pilot for our team. Her vision for the project and deep experience in this area were evident from day one, transforming a theoretical project into a high-value reality. Juanita is uniquely skilled at AI-enabled business solutions and had a positive impact on the team. She is strategic, collaborative, and future-focused and is someone I would highly recommend."
"I was fortunate to work closely with Nita during the many years our law firm partnered with her in-house patent group. Nita managed many aspects of this relationship with both incredible skill and remarkable grace—a rare and valuable combination. First, she excels at creating and maintaining relationships, providing the solid foundation on which everything else rests. Next, she communicates expectations clearly, while also identifying how those expectations are being met and where improvements can be made. Finally, she delivers this feedback with clarity and in a constructive manner that consistently leads to excellent outcomes and strengthens the underlying relationship. I wholeheartedly endorse Nita—her skill set, her approach, and the positive impact she brings to every collaboration."
Retainer Engagement Options
Monthly retainers provide predictable costs and guaranteed access. You pay a fixed monthly fee and receive dedicated time, priority scheduling, and ongoing strategic guidance—not billed hourly.
Limited Evening/Weekend Advisory
5-10 hours per month of strategic guidance during evenings and weekends. Includes unlimited async support (Slack/email with 24-hour response), 2 evening video strategy sessions per month, and monthly governance check-ins.
Available: Start immediately
Minimum: 3 months (can transition to full retainer Q4 2026)
AI Governance Advisory Retainer
15-20 hours per month of strategic guidance during business hours. Includes bi-weekly strategy sessions, unlimited async support, monthly governance assessments, and quarterly executive reporting.
Available: Q4 2026 (September onwards)
Minimum: 6 months
Strategic Partnership Retainer
25-30 hours per month for hands-on implementation support. Includes everything in Advisory plus active governance architecture, policy development, team training, and process integration.
Available: Q4 2026
Minimum: 6 months
Fractional VP of Intelligence Resources™
30-40 hours per month of executive leadership during business hours. Act as your interim VP of AI Governance—leading strategy, attending leadership meetings, managing cross-functional initiatives, and building the IR™ function from the ground up.
Available: Q4 2026
Minimum: 12 months
How Retainers Work
Payment: Invoiced monthly in advance (quarterly billing available for extended engagements). This is not hourly billing or temp staffing. Retainer engagements are strategic partnership models designed for organizations that need consistent, executive-level AI governance leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Retainer Engagements Are Best Suited For
✓ Organizations with:
- Active AI deployment initiatives requiring governance oversight
- Compliance requirements (EU AI Act, NIST RMF, sector-specific regulations)
- Cross-functional teams needing unified AI risk frameworks
- Board-level reporting requirements on AI governance posture
✓ Leadership roles including:
- Chief Legal Officers / General Counsel
- Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)
- Chief Risk Officers / Chief Compliance Officers
- VPs of Engineering / Product with AI initiatives
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a retainer and project-based work?
Retainers provide ongoing access to strategic guidance on a monthly subscription basis. You're not paying per project or per hour—you're paying for guaranteed availability, priority access, and continuous partnership as your AI governance needs evolve.
Do you offer hourly consulting or W-2 contract work?
No. Ciph Lab engagements are retainer-based strategic partnerships only. I don't offer hourly consulting, W-2 temp staffing, or short-term project work. This ensures I can provide the depth of strategic support your organization needs to operationalize Intelligence Resources™ effectively.
Why is availability limited through September 2026?
I'm currently completing a contract engagement through early September 2026. During this period, I can accept limited evening/weekend advisory engagements (5-10 hours/month). Full-capacity retainer engagements (20-40 hours/month) are available starting Q4 2026. Submit your request now to secure priority placement in the Q4 pipeline.
What if we only need help for 2-3 months?
AI governance transformation requires sustained engagement to build durable systems. Minimum commitments are 3 months for evening advisory, 6 months for full advisory retainers, and 12 months for fractional executive roles. This ensures we can design, implement, and operationalize frameworks that outlast the engagement and create lasting organizational capability.
How are retainers billed?
Monthly retainers are invoiced at the beginning of each month, with payment due within 15 days via ACH or wire transfer. For longer engagements (12+ months), quarterly billing is available. All retainer agreements include clear scope of work, deliverables, and cancellation terms.
Can we start with evening/weekend advisory now and transition to full retainer in Q4?
Absolutely. Many organizations start with limited evening advisory engagements to establish the relationship and build strategic alignment. When full capacity becomes available in Q4 2026, we seamlessly transition to full retainer engagement with priority scheduling. This approach allows us to hit the ground running in September with deep organizational context already established.
Submit an Engagement Request
Tell me about your AI governance needs and I'll respond within 24 hours