Business Disputes & Commercial Litigation

When business relationships break down, the stakes are often existential. We handle disputes between business partners, contract breaches, vendor failures, and competitive interference — with an emphasis on practical resolution over prolonged litigation.

Types of Business Disputes We Handle

• Partnership & member disputes: Deadlocks, breach of fiduciary duty, unauthorized distributions, freeze-outs, and forced dissolution. Pennsylvania provides for judicial dissolution of LLCs when the managers or members are deadlocked and the business is suffering (15 Pa.C.S. § 8972).
• Breach of contract: Non-payment, failure to deliver goods/services, breach of warranty, and anticipatory breach
• Non-compete enforcement/defense: Emergency injunctive relief to enforce or challenge restrictive covenants
• Trade secret misappropriation: Under the PA Uniform Trade Secrets Act — injunctive relief plus damages including unjust enrichment
• Fraud & misrepresentation: In business transactions, asset purchases, and investment representations
• Shareholder derivative actions: When officers or directors breach their fiduciary duties to the corporation
• Commercial landlord-tenant disputes: Lease interpretation, CAM disputes, and commercial evictions
• Construction disputes: Payment disputes, defective work, mechanic's liens, and contractor-subcontractor claims

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Many commercial contracts require mediation or arbitration before litigation. We represent clients in both forums. Mediation is generally faster and less expensive than litigation and preserves business relationships. Arbitration is binding but can be faster than court — though the costs of arbitration (arbitrator fees alone can exceed $10,000) sometimes make it less economical for smaller disputes. If your contract has an arbitration clause, it will generally be enforced — review your agreements now to understand what you've agreed to.