Business Disputes Case Checklist
Is your business facing a high-stakes dispute over $100,000? It may be time to litigate or send a demand letter.
We guide the process.
Many business owners do not have in-house general counsel. It is normal to feel overwhelmed when a dispute hits. Our team will guide you through the evidence during your consultation and help evaluate the strength of your claim or defense. You do not need perfect files. Bring what you can, and we will focus on what matters.
Trusted by businesses of every size.
Lieb at Law represents small and mid-sized companies, as well as national publicly traded companies, in complex commercial litigation.
What to bring to your consultation
- The basics. Bring the names of all parties, including your company, the opposing company or individual, and any guarantors. Be prepared with a short description of the dispute, such as breach of contract, vendor nonpayment, or shareholder oppression. Estimate the amount at stake, which should exceed $100,000.
- The agreement. Provide copies of any written contracts, statements of work, purchase orders, or amendments that apply. If no contract exists, be ready to describe oral terms, invoices, email threads, or a course of dealing that shows the relationship.
- Timeline. Identify when the dispute started. Note key dates such as contract signing, missed payments, notices, and demands. Include any upcoming deadlines, such as court dates, arbitration responses, or statutory time limits.
- Evidence and communications. Bring important emails, letters, texts, and business records. Include invoices, payment histories, and bank or ledger records. Provide the names of potential witnesses such as employees, contractors, or accountants.
- Damages and exposure. Be prepared to show the money lost, withheld, or demanded. Note whether the agreement allows recovery of attorneys’ fees, interest, or penalties. Identify any counterclaims made against your business.
- Special issues. Consider whether the dispute involves breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misrepresentation, restrictive covenants, non-competes, trade secrets, veil piercing, guaranty liability, or securities and investor claims. Bring any arbitration clauses or court filings that may apply.
- Resolution efforts. Share notes on settlement talks. Include any demand letters received.
- Urgency. Explain if your business faces risk to customers, assets, or goodwill. Identify if you may need emergency court relief, such as an injunction.
Why prepare this checklist
Gathering these points helps our attorneys confirm viability, identify urgent filings, and assess whether litigation above $100,000 makes financial sense for your company.
Where we litigate. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, New Jersey, Connecticut, and more.