What Is Corporate Litigation?

Corporate litigation is the practice of trying or defending disputes between corporations or businesses. A corporate litigation attorney manages numerous minor to significant legal concerns that regularly occur during the course of business operations.

Corporate litigation differs from other forms of litigation in that it encompasses not only legal proceedings, but measures taken to avoid litigation as well. The bulk of corporate litigation involves tort and contractual legal matters, as well as:

• Breach of contract concerns with other businesses.
• Shareholder derivative lawsuits.
• Wage and hour and anti-discrimination law compliance.
• Wrongful termination lawsuits.
• New accounting and corporate governance law compliance.
• Corporate tax compliance issues.
• Labor disputes with boards, professionals, at-will, and union employees.
• Tort matters involving customer or client injuries due to products or services.
• Corporate real estate issues, such as premises liability or disputes with landlords or regulators.

Corporate litigation attorneys manage such activities and more on a regular basis. The most common types of corporate litigation cases include:

• Breach of contract: When one business entity fails to fulfill obligations specified in a contract, those actions are considered a breach of contract. There are many forms of violating the terms of a contract, such as failing to perform on time per the contract’s terms or not at all. Types of breach cases are different, as contractual duties are unique to each contract.
• Deceptive or fraudulent practices: Businesses that purposely use dishonest or fraudulent practices in describing their products or services in order to complete a trade or sale are engaging in deceptive practices. In corporate law, certain grievous practices pertain to:
  • Intellectual property: Revealing or illegally selling intellectual property or trade secrets in an effort to harm a business or to further advance a competitor.
  • Confidentiality: Leaking business information deemed valuable to competitors is considered a breach of confidentiality, particularly if the information demeans the source company in any manner.
  • Trust: A company employee leaking sensitive information to harm the business is considered a breach of trust.
• Employee disputes: Disputes between employers and employees that can be detrimental to the company occur for many reasons, such as:
  • Conflicts over discrimination claims, overtime wages, or health issues.
  • An employee departs to work for a competitor despite signing an agreement stating they would not.
  • Infringement of securities laws due to fraudulent practices during the sale of stocks and securities.

What Does a Corporate Litigation Lawyer Do?

Corporate litigation lawyers advise businesses on complying with laws and regulations, help craft and structure business plans and manage documents, review contracts, and develop business and legal strategies.

Many businesses and corporations turn to corporate litigation firms in lieu of in-house council for advice and representation. This is commonplace for businesses that are rarely involved in legal actions requiring the regular expense of in-house attorneys. Corporate litigation lawyers offer a range of professional services, some of the most common being:

• Managing disputes stemming from contract negotiations or interpretations.
• Representing clients in breach of contract lawsuits.
• Managing strategic interconnected business activities and partnerships.
• Consulting, representing, and litigating on behalf of the company regarding employment laws.
• Managing disputes with boards of directors or company shareholders.

Many business disputes are resolved quickly and out of the courtroom. Corporate litigation is complex, and a skilled attorney has the knowledge to resolve legal matters.

Maryland Business Lawyers at Oliveri & Larsen Can Help With Your Corporate Litigation Matters

Business lawsuits can be complex, and when you are facing a legal action, you need a top-notch team of corporate litigators. Our skilled Maryland business lawyers at Oliveri & Larsen have the knowledge and experience to defend your rights and your business. Call us at 410-295-3000 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation. Located in Annapolis, Maryland, we serve clients in Ocean City, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Calvert County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne’s County, St. Mary’s County, Worcester County, Kent County, and the upper and lower Eastern Shores of Maryland.