Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers
Legal disputes are sometimes inevitable in the competitive and fast-paced world of business. When conflict arises, whether from a breach of contract, internal disagreements, or unfair competition, you need trusted legal counsel who understands the law and the realities of running a business. At Trembly Law Firm, our Fort Lauderdale business litigation lawyers will protect your bottom line while guiding you through complex legal challenges.
We provide strategic, results-oriented representation in all types of business litigation to small business owners, corporate executives, and stakeholders in larger commercial enterprises. We aim to resolve disputes efficiently, protect your rights, and minimize disruption to your operations.
What Is Business Litigation?
Business litigation is the legal process of resolving disputes arising from commercial and professional relationships. Unlike personal lawsuits, business litigation involves companies, partnerships, shareholders, and sometimes individuals in leadership roles. These disputes can arise from contractual disagreements, allegations of fraud, employment-related claims, or competition between businesses.
Business litigation is not just about resolving disagreements. It is also about minimizing risk, preserving commercial relationships where appropriate, and protecting a business’s long-term viability. Litigation can be disruptive for many business owners, but with experienced legal counsel, it becomes an opportunity to protect your rights, enforce your agreements, and secure your financial future.
In Fort Lauderdale, FL, where business is booming across industries like real estate, hospitality, technology, and international trade, companies of all sizes face increased exposure to legal disputes. Our firm helps businesses anticipate, manage, and resolve those conflicts skillfully and strategically.
Trembly Law Firm Handles Many Types of Business Litigation
Our Fort Lauderdale business litigation attorneys bring significant experience and versatility to a variety of commercial disputes. Our skilled team of attorneys combines courtroom experience with a deep understanding of Florida business law to resolve high-stakes matters strategically and efficiently. Below are some of the most common types of business litigation we handle.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Lawsuit Defense
Florida businesses, especially those with physical locations open to the public, are frequently targeted with lawsuits alleging non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These lawsuits may claim that a property lacks accessible features or that a website or digital platform fails to meet current accessibility standards.
Our firm defends large and small businesses against ADA claims. We assess the complaint’s legitimacy, explore available defenses, and, when necessary, negotiate resolutions that minimize exposure while ensuring compliance going forward. We also advise clients on proactive measures to reduce the risk of future ADA litigation.
Breach of Contract
Nearly every business operates on contracts. When a vendor, customer, employee, contractor, or business partner fails to uphold their contractual obligations, the business party may suffer serious financial consequences. Breach of contract claims may involve missed payments, failure to deliver goods or services, nonperformance, or disputes about interpreting a contract’s terms.
We assist businesses in enforcing contracts, negotiating settlements, and recovering damages. When someone accuses one of our clients of a breach, we build a strong defense to protect their legal and financial interests. We also assist with claims for anticipatory breach, rescission, and reformation.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Certain individuals within a business, such as officers, directors, partners, and managers, owe fiduciary duties to the organization or its stakeholders. A breach of fiduciary duty occurs when these individuals act in their own interest, fail to disclose conflicts, mismanage funds, or otherwise violate their obligations of loyalty and care.
Our business litigation attorneys prosecute and defend fiduciary duty claims involving misappropriation of assets, corporate waste, self-dealing, and abuse of power. These cases often arise in closely held corporations, family-run businesses, or professional partnerships where trust and transparency are essential.
Tortious Interference with Contractual Relationships
When a third party intentionally disrupts an existing business relationship or contract, it may give rise to a claim for tortious interference. These cases often involve competitors who deliberately lure away clients, employees, or vendors.
We represent businesses seeking to stop or recover damages for improper interference, and we defend against such claims where the conduct in question was lawful competition. Because these cases often involve high-conflict disputes and sensitive business relationships, we take a tactful but firm approach to litigation and resolution.
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes and Business Dissolution
Internal disputes between shareholders, partners, or LLC members can threaten a business’s continuity and profitability. Common issues include disagreements over profit distribution, management authority, capital contributions, and succession planning.
We represent the majority and minority stakeholders in disputes involving closely held businesses, family enterprises, and professional partnerships. Our attorneys assist with buyouts, business valuation disagreements, deadlock resolution, and, when necessary, judicial dissolution. Our goal is to resolve conflicts while preserving the underlying value of the business or ensuring a fair and orderly exit.
Injunctive Relief
Immediate legal action may be necessary to prevent harm in fast-moving business disputes. Injunctive relief is a court order that temporarily or permanently prohibits a party from engaging in certain conduct, such as disclosing trade secrets, soliciting customers, or breaching a contract.
Our team frequently seeks and defends against temporary restraining orders (TROs) and preliminary injunctions. These cases require swift legal action, strategic planning, and persuasive argumentation in court. We help businesses protect their confidential information, customer relationships, and competitive advantage during critical moments.
Life Insurance Disputes
Life insurance policies can become the subject of complex litigation when businesses are named as beneficiaries or when policies are used as part of succession planning, executive compensation, or buy-sell agreements. Disputes may involve denied claims, misrepresentations in the application, conflicting beneficiaries, or questions about policy ownership.
We represent business clients and stakeholders in litigation involving key person policies, corporate-owned life insurance (COLI), and policies used to secure commercial loans. Our business litigation lawyers work to protect and enforce our clients’ rights under these policies.
Professional Negligence
A claim for professional negligence, also known as professional malpractice, may be appropriate when a business suffers financial harm due to the misconduct or carelessness of another professional, such as an accountant, architect, attorney, or financial advisor.
Our firm represents businesses and professionals in high-stakes negligence claims involving financial loss, breach of standards of care, and failure to deliver services as promised. These cases require thorough knowledge of litigation and the applicable professional standards. We work closely with experts to assess liability, calculate damages, and pursue or defend claims aggressively.
Shareholder and Operating Agreements
Disputes involving shareholder agreements for corporations and operating agreements for LLCs are among the most challenging types of business litigation. These agreements define ownership rights, voting power, management duties, and procedures for resolving disputes or exiting the business.
When conflicts arise due to breaches of the agreement, changes in ownership, or financial mismanagement, we help our clients interpret and enforce these foundational documents. We litigate cases involving buy-sell clauses, valuation disputes, derivative actions, voting rights, and forced buyouts. We also help business owners draft or revise agreements to avoid future litigation.
Why Choose Trembly Law Firm’s Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers?
Choosing the right legal partner can significantly impact your business litigation matter. Here is why companies across Broward County trust our team:
- Experience that counts: Our firm brings extensive experience to the table, having successfully litigated cases in Florida State Courts and the U.S. Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida. Our attorneys have handled complex business disputes, including cases against Fortune 100 companies, demonstrating our capability to manage high-stakes litigation effectively.
- Focused on Florida business law: Our firm is deeply rooted in Florida’s legal landscape, with a strong presence in Fort Lauderdale and the broader South Florida region. We focus on business law, offering services that encompass contract formation, shareholder agreements, and business purchases.
- Client-centered approach: We prioritize open communication and transparency. Unlike many firms that provide updates sporadically, we update our clients after every hearing and filing to foster trust and allow them to stay engaged throughout the litigation process.
- Efficient and strategic: We adhere to strict measures and controls, including comprehensive checklists and weekly case meetings, to ensure that we overlook no detail. This disciplined approach allows us to move cases forward promptly and strategically, providing our clients with a significant advantage.
When you choose Trembly Law Firm, you are partnering with trusted business advisors who are committed to protecting what you have built and helping your business thrive.
The Business Litigation Process in Florida
Business litigation can be intimidating, especially if you have never been involved in a lawsuit before. Here is what to expect at each stage:
- Pre-litigation evaluation: We start with a comprehensive review of your legal position, which may involve examining contracts, correspondence, financial records, or previous legal agreements. We determine your position’s strengths and weaknesses and develop a strategy that aligns with your goals.
- Filing or responding to a lawsuit: Once litigation becomes necessary, we either initiate the lawsuit on your behalf or respond promptly to a suit filed against you. The initial pleadings set the tone of the case and frame the key legal issues.
- Discovery: During discovery, both sides gather evidence by exchanging documents, submitting written questions, conducting depositions, and issuing subpoenas. This is often the longest part of the case, but it is critical for developing your factual and legal position.
- Pretrial motions: Either side may file motions to narrow the issues or dispose of the case entirely before trial. Common motions include motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment, which can lead to a resolution without the need for a full trial.
- Settlement negotiations or mediation: Most business litigation cases settle before trial. Our attorneys engage in settlement discussions at appropriate times to explore favorable outcomes while remaining fully prepared to litigate.
- Trial: If the case does go to trial, we present your case in court through opening statements, witness examinations, and closing arguments. Our trial lawyers are skilled at presenting complex commercial issues in a persuasive, accessible way.
- Post-trial and appeals: After the trial, we can pursue or defend appeals and ensure that judgments are enforced. This includes collection actions or compliance monitoring to protect your interests.
While the litigation process can be complex and time-consuming, having help from our experienced legal team can significantly improve your situation. Trembly Law Firm guides clients through every stage of the process with strategic insight and unwavering advocacy, working toward the best possible outcome while minimizing disruption to your business.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Options
Many commercial contracts include dispute resolution provisions requiring parties to mediate or arbitrate before going to court. Our attorneys have extensive experience with ADR processes:
- Mediation: In mediation, a neutral third party facilitates settlement discussions between the parties. It is non-binding but can be highly effective in avoiding prolonged litigation. We help clients prepare thoroughly for mediation and negotiate from a position of strength.
- Arbitration: Arbitration is often binding and involves presenting your case before one or more arbitrators rather than a judge or jury. It can be faster and more private than litigation, but also less flexible. We also advise clients on arbitration clauses in contracts and help determine when to enforce or challenge those provisions.
ADR can offer a cost-effective and efficient path to resolution, often preserving valuable business relationships in the process.
Can You Recover Attorney Fees in a Business Dispute?
Florida generally follows the “American Rule,” where each party pays their own legal fees unless a contract or statute allows recovery. Many business agreements include fee-shifting provisions, and we will review your contracts to determine your rights.
What Happens If Someone Sues You and You Do Nothing?
Ignoring a lawsuit can lead to a default judgment, meaning the court will automatically rule against you. If you have been served with legal papers, contact our Fort Lauderdale business litigation attorneys immediately to preserve your rights and explore your options.
Contact Trembly Law Firm to Protect Your Business’s Future
If you are facing a potential or ongoing business litigation matter in Florida, seek experienced legal counsel as soon as possible. The sooner you involve our Fort Lauderdale business litigation lawyers, the sooner we can begin developing a strategic plan to protect your interests and achieve the best possible outcome.
We offer confidential consultations to discuss your legal needs and how we can help. Contact us today to schedule a meeting with one of our experienced Fort Lauderdale business litigation lawyers. We can be your trusted advocate and strategic partner in navigating the complexities of business litigation, allowing you to focus on running your business.