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04 · Business Litigation

Litigating contract, ownership, and payment disputes.

We represent businesses and their owners in California courts in disputes over contracts, ownership, and money owed. We handle cases in Los Angeles County Superior Court and other California state courts.

Request a ConsultationCommon questions

What we handle

  • Breach of contract and unpaid invoices
  • Partner, member, and shareholder disputes, including books-and-records demands
  • Fraud, interference, and unfair-competition claims between businesses
  • Construction payment and defect disputes
  • Demand letters, pre-suit negotiation, and settlement
  • Responding to lawsuits filed against your business

Common questions

We were just served. What now?

Note the date and how you were served. In California state court a defendant generally has 30 days after service is complete to respond (Code Civ. Proc. § 412.20(a)(3)). Personal delivery is complete that day; substituted service, where papers are left with someone else and then mailed, is complete 10 days after the mailing (Code Civ. Proc. § 415.20). If no response is filed in time, the plaintiff can ask the court to enter a default (Code Civ. Proc. § 585). Contact us right away.

Does every dispute end up in court?

No. Many resolve through a demand letter, negotiation, or mediation. If your contract has an arbitration clause, either side can usually ask the court to send the dispute to arbitration instead (Code Civ. Proc. § 1281.2).

What should I keep?

Everything: contracts, emails, texts, invoices, and photos, and turn off any automatic deletion. The duty to preserve evidence begins once a lawsuit is reasonably anticipated, not when one is filed. Destroying evidence can lead to court sanctions (Code Civ. Proc. § 2023.030) and allow a jury to infer that the missing evidence would have hurt you (Evid. Code § 413).

These answers summarize California law. They are general information, not advice for your situation.

Related briefings

Business Litigation Made permanent Jan. 1, 2026 Initial disclosures in California lawsuits are here to stay
In civil cases filed since 2024, any party can demand initial disclosures within 60 days, and discovery misconduct carries a mandatory $1,000 sanction. The rule is now permanent. Read the briefing →
Business Litigation Signed Oct. 10, 2025 · effective Jan. 1, 2027 New rules for serving lawsuits, effective January 1, 2027
The SPARE Act (AB 747) defines what a diligent attempt at personal service means and requires photo and GPS documentation in proofs of service starting January 1, 2027. Read the briefing →
Business Litigation Decided July 25, 2024 Litigate first, arbitrate later? You may have waived arbitration
In Quach v. California Commerce Club, the California Supreme Court held that a party who acts inconsistently with arbitration can lose the right to arbitrate, whether or not the other side was harmed. Read the briefing →
Business Litigation Decided June 28, 2024 Federal agencies no longer get the last word on what a statute means
In Loper Bright, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Chevron deference. Days later, Corner Post held that a business's time to challenge a federal rule runs from when the rule first harms it. Read the briefing →

Related practice areas

All Practice Areas
05 Arbitration & Mediation Representation in AAA, JAMS, and private arbitration, and at mediation.03 Contracts Drafting, review, and negotiation of the agreements your business signs.09 Employment & Discrimination For employers and employees: agreements, discrimination, harassment, wages, and terminations.

Facing a dispute, or just been served?

Tell us briefly what you need. The first conversation, up to 30 minutes, is free. Please do not send confidential or time-sensitive information through the form.

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