Business Litigation & Avoidance Counseling

The lawyers at Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge are often called upon to represent clients in business-to-business disputes. Sometimes they arise out of a simple transaction and are relatively simple. Other times, a business dispute may arise years into a business relationship and involve a lengthy course of conduct and complicated transactional history. And, unfortunately, sometimes a business dispute may jeopardize the continued existence of a company and its employees. Whether it is a simple dispute or bet-the-company litigation, we will take the time to understand and accomplish your objectives and make sure that you get back to what it is that you do best—running your business.

Business disputes can require immediate aggressive action in the form of a restraining order or injunction. We are routinely hired, often on an emergency basis, to prosecute or defend against restraining orders and injunctions. Other times, a dispute may call for a tempered approach or a litigation avoidance strategy. In that event, what’s important is that we are not only experienced business litigators, we are also experienced in business. We understand the pragmatics and sensitivities involved in business-to-business disputes and have successfully navigated countless clients through the process.

Of course, often business-to-business disputes result in traditional litigation. In recent years, we have found that more and more business include arbitration provisions in their contracts. Our lawyers are particularly skilled at streamlining the arbitration process and delivering favorable results.

Additionally, businesses operating in Illinois, particularly those in the Chicagoland area, face mountains of paperwork, regulations, and licensing issues. Those who are not familiar with these issues, often face denials, appeals, delayed opening dates, and closed businesses. Our attorneys have assisted restaurants, bars, hotels, event planners, and retailers to obtain and renew licenses and permits. We also routinely defend clients in administrative matters and alleged regulatory violations. We are fully committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure that licensing and permitting issues do not interfere with our clients’ business operations. 

Whatever the case may be, we will work tirelessly to achieve your business objectives in a timely, efficient and economic manner. We have successfully handled a wide range of business matters, including:

• Antitrust
• Commercial Real Estate Disputes
• Condominium Disputes
• Contract Claim
• Fiduciary Duty Claims
• Fraud and Misrepresentation
• Intellectual Property
• Licensing
• Restraining Orders and Injunctions
• Shareholder and Member Litigation