What Does a Corporate Litigation Attorney Do?
Intro:
A corporate litigation attorney represents businesses — and their owners, officers, and directors — in legal disputes. Unlike transactional attorneys who structure deals and draft agreements, litigators step in when disputes cannot be resolved by negotiation and formal legal proceedings become necessary.
Pre-Litigation Strategy
Effective litigation starts before a lawsuit is filed. A corporate litigator evaluates the strength of your position, assesses the risks and costs of proceeding, identifies settlement opportunities, and — where litigation is the best path — develops a strategy designed to achieve your objectives as efficiently as possible. Sometimes a well-crafted demand letter resolves the dispute entirely.
Types of Disputes Corporate Litigators Handle
- Breach of contract — when a party fails to perform its obligations under a commercial agreement
- Business partnership and shareholder disputes
- Trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition
- Fraud and business tort claims
- Non-compete and non-solicitation enforcement or defense
- Real estate and commercial lease disputes
- Corporate governance disputes between directors, officers, and shareholders
The Litigation Process
If a dispute proceeds to litigation, your attorney manages the entire process: filing or responding to the complaint, discovery (exchanging documents and taking depositions), pre-trial motions, settlement negotiations, and if necessary, trial. Many commercial disputes are resolved during or after discovery, once both sides have a clearer picture of the evidence.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Many commercial contracts include arbitration clauses that require disputes to be resolved outside of court. Arbitration can be faster and more private than litigation, but the process is binding and the ability to appeal is limited. Mediation — a voluntary, non-binding process facilitated by a neutral — can also resolve disputes efficiently while preserving the business relationship. An experienced litigator navigates all of these forums.
Angelini & DiLeo Law represents Chicago businesses and their principals in complex commercial disputes across Cook and DuPage Counties. Schedule a confidential consultation at 312.900.0100.
