Depending on the industry, nature of work, and the type of agreement, formal business agreements can be extremely complicated. It is not uncommon for a wide variety of legal claims to arise from many different scenarios. Commercial litigation is frequently the result of issues arising out of certain business relationships, and it is vital to have an experienced attorney represent you.
Business litigation can be very costly, and most parties will try to do whatever they can to minimize the potential expenditures, but matters need to be taken seriously whenever disputes arise or if litigation is necessary. Business litigation covers a vast field of possible claims, and the venues these cases are decided in can vary depending on the specific nature of your case.
If you or your company is facing the possibility of business litigation in a community in Jefferson County, you do not want to be trying to handle everything by yourself. Make sure you contact Portner Bond, PLLC so you can have an experienced attorney on your side.
Our firm understands the tremendous stress that litigation places on business owners, and we do everything we can to allow you to continue to operate your business without concerns or restrictions. You can have us assess your situation and provide thorough, honest counsel as soon as you call (409) 838-4444 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our Beaumont business litigation attorneys.
Do I Need A Business Litigation Lawyer?
Many business litigation disputes stem from one party’s alleged failure to abide by the terms of a contract, but specific disputes can always vary depending on a particular case. Any legal action can have a drastic effect on how a business performs day-to-day operations.
You are going to want to find yourself an attorney as soon as possible when it appears that you may be facing litigation because the lawyer will be able to immediately work to achieve a resolution that allows you to stay true to your goals. The attorney can focus on examining your case and handling all of the issues involved so you can continue to focus on your business.
Portner Bond, PLLC understands the ins and outs of all aspects of business litigation, so you can be sure that your case is in trusted hands. We are here to provide counsel to you when you need it most, and we’ll be ready to negotiate, mediate, or litigate whenever necessary. Our goal is to protect your interests and your business, so contact us for assistance.
Why Choose Portner Bond, PLLC To Handle My Case?
Portner Bond, PLLC represents clients in Beaumont as well as Houston, Port Arthur, The Woodlands, Orange, Groves, Nederland, Texas City, Port Neches, Friendswood, Baytown, Sugar Land, Humble, Jasper, Pasadena, Crystal Beach, Bronson, Galveston, Vidor, and Conroe. Our attorneys have more than 70 years of combined legal experience.
Chris Portner is a member of Jefferson County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and American Association for Justice as well as the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has been recognized as a rising star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters service) in Texas Monthly in 2007 and 2008.
Trent Bond is the current vice president of the Jefferson County Bar Association and a former director of the Jefferson County Bar Association. He was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Super Lawyers in Texas Monthly in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Portner Bond, PLLC helps many small businesses it the greater Beaumont area. We handle cases in Tyler County, Jefferson County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Liberty County, Jasper County, Orange County, Hardin County, and Fort Bend County.
Types of Business Litigation Cases We Handle
Our firm has experience with such business litigation issues as:
- Business Owner Disputes — When businesses have multiple owners, it is common for disputes to arise when one owner acts improperly or violates their duties. Larger companies may conduct internal investigations in some cases, but smaller companies may not have the necessary resources. Some disputes may concern who is considered a business owner.
- Partnership Disputes — Partnership disputes can arise because of many different kinds of arguments about business decisions, including cash flow shortages, declining revenue, or shareholder agreements. Some disputes may involve employment decisions, breach of contract, or employment decisions. Certain partnership agreements may specify how disputes must be resolved.
- Contract Disputes — Businesses may have numerous different contracts, including commercial real estate and leases, construction, and licensing. Some businesses also have franchise contracts. Various employment contracts are also common. Other possible contracts could concern sales and distribution of land use and property rights.
- Intellectual Property — Intellectual property concerns trademarks, copyrights, and patents, among many other creative aspects of a business. An intellectual property case could concern trade secrets, trade dress, or false advertising. Domain litigation and misappropriation are also types of intellectual property litigation.
- Securities Litigation — Some of the most common causes of securities litigation include stock fraud or securities fraud involving stock purchases based on false information. Similarly, stockbroker fraud also involves negligent investment advice causing financial losses. Investment professionals may violate federal and state securities laws if they provide misleading information or fail to disclose all relevant information when selling investments, and some claims could involve the illegal purchase or sale of securities. When a director or officer fails to defend or pursue a legal claim for a business, shareholders could bring a legal action known as a shareholder derivative lawsuit.
- Trade Secret Litigation — Confidentiality agreements are commonly used by many companies to protect certain kinds of valuable information that businesses do not want to be shared with possible competitors. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA), codified at 18 U.S. Code (U.S.C.) § 1836, broadly defines a trade secret as “all forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns, plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, whether tangible or intangible, and whether or how stored, compiled, or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing if (A) the owner thereof has taken reasonable measures to keep such information secret; and (B) the information derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable through proper means by, another person who can obtain economic value from the disclosure or use of the information.” DTSA grants legal immunity to corporate whistleblowers.
- Breach Of Fiduciary Duties — A fiduciary duty is one party’s obligation to act in the best interest of another party or act within a standard of care. Fiduciary typically means holding something, often money, in good faith, and a business or its employee could be accused of a breach of fiduciary duty if they engaged in self-dealing, negligently managed an account, or committed other fraudulent or illegal acts.
- Licensing Agreement Disputes — Licensing agreements may contain complicated patent or trademark issues. It can be challenging to transfer rights.
- Shareholder Disagreements — Shareholder disputes can arise in many different kinds of cases, including compensation disputes, franchise disputes, and merger or acquisition disputes. Some cases may be financial disputes over dividends and returns on investment, while others involve issues with executive compensation. Shareholder oppression or minority shareholder disputes can be especially challenging.
- Distribution Contracts — A distribution contract is typically a contract in which a manufacturer or supplier allows third parties to sell or distribute their products within set geographic areas. Complications can arise with payments or termination of these agreements.
- Commercial Lease Contracts — You want to get an attorney involved in any commercial lease negotiation process as soon as possible so you can avoid committing to any unacceptable terms before seeking legal counsel. A lawyer will be able to review the terms of your lease and help negotiate for the best possible deal.
- Real Estate Contracts — Real estate litigation could involve any one of several different kinds of disputes, such as construction, acquisition, and development, or management. Some cases may include title disputes, and real estate litigation could also involve the improper actions of a real estate broker or agent.
- Premises Liability Defense — Businesses can be subject to personal injury claims when people claim to have been injured because of unsafe or dangerous business premises. These claims may be based on slip and fall accidents, falling objects, or negligent security. Bars and restaurants could face possible “dram shop” claims connected to drunk driving accidents caused by intoxicated persons who were served alcohol at the bars or restaurants.
The list above is not all-inclusive, and your company may be dealing with another kind of issue requiring legal assistance. Do not hesitate to contact Portner Bond, PLLC to discuss your particular matter and see how we may be able to assist.
Contact a Beaumont Business Litigation Attorney Today
Do you need assistance with a business litigation matter in the greater Beaumont area? Turn to the experienced legal team at Portner Bond, PLLC for assistance. We have extensive experience helping businesses resolve complex matters, including disputes and litigation. Our team is ready to take action to protect your interests and help you get back to business-as-usual. Contact us at (409) 838-4444 or reach out to us online to schedule a consultation to discuss how we can assist you.