Complex Business Litigation Attorneys in Florida, Georgia and Arizona
Complex Business Litigation and Commercial Litigation
If your business is faced with a legal issue, the unknowns of the matter can be intimidating. Seemingly simple disputes between businesses can become extremely complex very quickly. Your businesses response to the legal matter stems from the goals of your business. Your business may want to resolve the matter as quickly and favorably as possible, to get back to your company’s real work. Other businesses may seek to protect their reputation at all costs. Spire Law’s commercial/business litigation attorneys will seek to understand your business goals and needs, and develop a plan to deal with your business litigation issue that best achieves those goals.
Spire Law's Business/Commercial Litigation Group
Spire Law's complex business litigation attorneys represent businesses and business owners of all sizes. Spire Law practices complex business and commercial litigation in Florida, Georgia and Arizona state and federal courts. We’ve represented businesses and business owners from around the globe. Spire Law’s experienced team uses their legal acumen and knowledge of the client’s goals to resolve the issue as fast as possible while staying focused on the client’s desired outcome. During litigation, Spire Law attorneys stay in regular contact with their clients, keeping them up to date on case progress and obstacles.
Business Litigation Group Practice Areas
Spire Law’s business/commercial attorneys practice in the areas of:
- Breach of contract
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Fraud and deceptive practices
- Civil theft
- Tortious interference
- Regulatory compliance
- Unfair competition
- Breach of merger/acquisition agreements
- Corporate litigation
- Commercial contracts & financing
- Trade secrets
- Contract terminations
- Franchise and distributorship
When to hire a complex business litigation attorney?
If your business is facing a legal issue for any of the above reasons, your business likely needs to speak with an attorney who practices in the area of commercial and complex business litigation. Even if a lawsuit has not been filed, working with an attorney early can avoid costly mistakes.
How does business litigation work?
Before the Lawsuit
Often there will be communication about the legal issue before the suit is filed. A complex business litigation attorney can sometimes avoid having to file a lawsuit, often by convincing the other side that likely outcome of the suit would be more expensive than reaching a settlement. Documents regarding settlement amounts such as demand letters and settlement offers may be sent back and forth.
During the Lawsuit, Before Trial
After the suit has been filed, the two sides are likely to begin or continue to negotiate. A process called discovery will soon begin where the two sides can demand evidence from each other. A business must comply with discovery requests the non-compliant business risks being held in contempt or a default judgement. Discovery may include requests for related business documents, depositions of key personnel and demands for written answers to questions about the dispute, known as interrogatories.
As the case progresses, the parties, often at the request of the court, may engage in mediation and settlement conferences. There will usually be several hearings with the judge assigned to the case before trial. The vast majority of cases will settle before reaching a trial. In most cases we’ve handled, settlement negotiations continue all throughout the process.
The Trial Phase
If a settlement cannot be reached, the two sides will go to trial. There are two different types of trials: jury trials and bench trials. In jury trials a jury of between 6 and 12 people, depending on the court and the type of case, will decide the case and the damages, with oversight of a judge. In a bench trial, the judge enters a verdict and decides damages. Sometimes both sides will choose to have a bench trial for reasons including cost, speed, and anticipated outcome.
Trials in business litigation cases often go on for weeks. It can take an entire week just to pick a jury. During a trial each side will have a chance to make an opening statement, to call witnesses, to cross-examine the witnesses of the other side, to submit documentary evidence, and to make closing arguments. The judge or the jury will then deliberate, possibly taking weeks to reach a verdict.
Even after a verdict has been reached, the litigation may not be over. The losing side, and sometimes even the winning side, may want to file an appeal. It is common for cases to settle after a trial, but before the appeals process has finished.