Commercial Litigation
Business disputes require attorneys who have actually tried them. We bring firsthand experience in partnership disputes, contract litigation, and fiduciary duty claims to every matter we handle.
What We Handle
Partnership and Shareholder Disputes
When business relationships break down, the stakes are not just financial. We represent partners, members, and shareholders in disputes over control, compensation, fiduciary obligations, and dissolution. These cases move fast and require attorneys who understand both the legal frameworks and the business dynamics at play.
Contract Litigation
Breach of contract claims form the backbone of commercial litigation. We handle disputes over commercial agreements, service contracts, purchase agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and complex multi-party transactions. Every contract case starts with a careful reading of the actual language, because that is where most cases are won or lost.
Fiduciary Duty Claims
Officers, directors, managing members, and partners owe fiduciary duties to their companies and co-owners. When those duties are breached through self-dealing, waste, usurpation of corporate opportunity, or mismanagement, we bring claims to recover what was lost. We also defend fiduciaries against meritless allegations designed to gain leverage in business disputes.
Business Torts and Fraud
Tortious interference, fraudulent inducement, conversion, and unjust enrichment. These claims often arise alongside contract disputes and require careful pleading to survive motion practice. We build cases that hold up under scrutiny.
Injunctive Relief
Some disputes cannot wait for a full trial. When a business faces immediate harm from a departing partner, a breaching counterparty, or a competitor using stolen information, we move for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to preserve the status quo while the case proceeds.
International Supplier Collections
We represent overseas manufacturers and suppliers collecting unpaid invoices from U.S. buyers, using New York's powerful prejudgment attachment and judgment enforcement tools. Learn more about collecting for overseas suppliers →
Our Approach
Commercial litigation is our foundation. Our attorneys have handled partnership dissolution proceedings, defended fiduciary duty claims, litigated complex contract disputes, and managed multi-party commercial cases in New York state and federal courts.
We are trial lawyers first. Every case is prepared as if it is going to trial, which is why most of them resolve before they get there.
Resources
In-depth guides on commercial litigation issues:
Common Questions
How long does a commercial lawsuit take in New York?
18 to 36 months is typical for a commercial case in New York Supreme Court from filing through trial. Cases in the Commercial Division may move faster due to dedicated judges, but discovery disputes and motion practice can extend timelines. Many cases settle before trial.
What is the Commercial Division in New York courts?
The Commercial Division is a specialized part of New York Supreme Court that handles complex business disputes. Cases must meet a minimum amount-in-controversy threshold, which varies by county: $500,000 in New York County (Manhattan), $100,000 in Kings County (Brooklyn), and $50,000 in several other counties.
Source: 22 NYCRR 202.70(a); Rules of the Commercial Division
What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in New York?
6 years from the date of breach for written contracts. Oral contracts also have a 6-year limitations period in New York. The clock starts running when the breach occurs, not when you discover it, with limited exceptions for fraud-based claims.
Source: NY CPLR 213(2)
Can I recover attorney fees in a commercial lawsuit in New York?
Only if your contract includes an attorney fees provision or a specific statute authorizes it. New York follows the American Rule, meaning each side pays its own legal fees unless there is a contractual or statutory basis for shifting fees. Always check your agreement for a fee-shifting clause.
What is a breach of fiduciary duty claim?
A fiduciary duty claim arises when someone in a position of trust, such as a business partner, corporate officer, or managing member, acts in their own interest instead of the interest of the person or entity they owe the duty to. Remedies can include money damages, disgorgement of profits, and equitable relief.