Commercial and Business Litigation

Commercial litigation can undo a business. And while winning a case is paramount, litigation costs must be controlled effectively in order for a “win” to not be a “loss."

WSHB combines years of trial experience with in-depth and wide-ranging business knowledge to successfully handle commercial matters. We focus on middle market companies and are sensitive to a business’ reputation within an industry, the need to preserve existing relationships and the potential to resolve litigation for long-term benefits.

Our philosophy is to use strategies such as mediation and other alternative-dispute-resolution options. But, when necessary, we don't hesitate to take a case to trial. Our fee structure delivers greater flexibility in managing smaller matters, allowing clients to avoid resolving disputes based solely on litigation costs.

WSHB's attorneys include several MBA's, a licensed general contractor and several licensed real estate brokers. It is often this experience outside the courtroom that leads to successful results in court.

We handle a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including enforcement of clients' contractual, statutory, and common-law rights against other entities:

• Breach of contract
• Licensing disputes
• Interference with contract
• Other business torts
• Labor and employment matters
• Real property
• Intellectual property
• Secured transactions
• Insurance
• Defense against claims

• Obtained a complete defense verdict following a two-week jury trial involving allegations of intentional interference with a contract involving two competing businesses
• Successfully represented a major developer against hundreds of plaintiffs alleging SEC violations in the sale of condo-hotel real estate development
• Obtained defense verdict for large window and blind manufacturer against claims brought by a competitor for fraud, trade secret violation, employee “raiding” and interference with business
• Obtained multi-million dollar settlement for the creator of a successful infomercial who had been wrongfully cut out of the profits
• Successfully negotiated a significant increase in lease payments and partial payment of our attorneys’ fees on behalf of our client, a commercial landlord. The defendant tenant was a large multi-state bank that disputed its obligation to pay for utilities under the terms of the parties’ lease
• Successfully handled both civil and criminal allegations made against our client, a developer of office facilities for public agencies, arising out of a failed joint venture. After we successfully filed a number of motions challenging the sufficiency of plaintiff’s complaint, the lawsuit was dismissed
• Obtained defense verdict for our client, a commercial developer, accused of discrimination, breach of lease agreements and habitability claims by dozens of retail tenants
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of a client sued for breach of contract by a commercial real estate broker
• Defended a client against a former employee who sued over multiple theories after deciding to go out on his own. Plaintiff originally sought in excess of $1.2 million from our client; case settled during deliberations for $75,000, well below the last offer before trial of $200,000

Publications