Commercial Litigation Attorneys
Representing companies in disputes with customers, vendors, competitors, lenders, and former insiders, in court and in arbitration, in Florida and in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, and New York.
Commercial litigation is the resolution of disputes between businesses: the customer that will not pay, the vendor that did not deliver, the competitor that hired away a team with the client list, the lender calling a guaranty, the former partner running a competing business across the street. Industria Business Lawyers represents companies on both sides of those disputes, as plaintiff and as defendant, in Florida’s state and federal courts, in commercial arbitration, and on appeal.
This page explains the commercial disputes IBL handles, how a commercial case is assessed and run, the Florida statutes that decide deadlines and shift costs, and what a company should do first. Every statute cited was read on the Florida Legislature’s site on 16 September 2026. Disputes governed by the law of Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, or New York are handled through attorneys admitted in those jurisdictions.
Every matter is assessed on its own facts. A commercial dispute is a business problem before it is a legal one, and the resolution has to work for the business.
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Commercial Disputes We Handle
Commercial disputes come to IBL in these forms. Several often arrive together in the same matter.
Contract and Payment Disputes
Supply, service, distribution, licensing, and financing agreements; unpaid invoices; guaranties and notes. Covered in depth on IBL’s breach of contract page. A claim on a written contract carries five years under section 95.11(2)(b), Florida Statutes.
Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, and Trade Secret Disputes
Under section 542.335, Florida Statutes, a restrictive covenant is enforceable if it is reasonable in time, area, and line of business, set out in a writing signed by the person against whom it is enforced, and supported by a legitimate business interest the enforcing party proves. IBL enforces and defends these covenants and the trade secret claims that travel with them.
Tortious Interference
A competitor or a former insider who induced a customer, a supplier, or an employee to break a contract or walk away from a relationship. Malicious interference and other intentional torts carry a four-year period under section 95.11(3)(n).
Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices
Under section 501.204, Florida Statutes, unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce are unlawful, and section 501.211 gives an aggrieved business a claim for actual damages, fees, and an injunction.
Owner and Insider Disputes
Partners, LLC members, and shareholders in disputes over control, money, and exit, covered on IBL’s partnership and shareholder dispute pages.
Fraud, Fraudulent Transfers, and Collection
Deals induced by false statements, assets moved out of reach of creditors under section 726.105, and the judgment collection that follows a win. Covered further on IBL’s business fraud page.
How IBL Assesses a Commercial Case
Every commercial matter starts with the same questions, answered from the documents rather than from assumptions.
What does the governing document say? The contract, the covenant, or the operating agreement usually decides the forum, the governing law, the remedies, and whether attorney fees shift. Many commercial contracts require arbitration under AAA, JAMS, or other rules, and IBL represents parties there as well as in court.
What is the deadline? Section 95.11, Florida Statutes: five years for a written contract, section 95.11(2)(b); four years for fraud, section 95.11(3)(i); four years for an oral contract, section 95.11(3)(j); four years for intentional torts including malicious interference, section 95.11(3)(n); four years for any action not otherwise provided for, section 95.11(3)(o); two years for negligence, section 95.11(4)(a). When the period starts is often the real question.
What is at stake, and can it be collected? Under section 34.01, Florida Statutes, county courts hear cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000; circuit courts hear the rest under section 26.012. Whether the other side can pay a judgment decides whether a lawsuit is worth bringing at all.
What does the business need? Payment, an injunction that stops a competitor, a customer relationship preserved, a clean exit from a bad contract. The remedy sought determines the path. Injunctions in particular move fast and are won or lost on the evidence assembled in the first days.
The statutes that shape settlement. Section 44.102 requires a court to refer a civil action for damages to mediation on a party’s request, and Florida courts order it before trial in nearly every commercial case. Section 768.79 lets either side serve an offer of judgment that shifts fees and costs if rejected and beaten at trial. Section 57.105 allows fees against a party and its lawyer for a claim or defence with no support in fact or law. Together they mean most commercial cases in Florida reach a serious settlement conversation, and a party that prepares for it from the start settles on better terms.
Next question: How is a judgment collected in Florida?
What Our Clients Say About Us
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I would recommend working with Aaron and team.”
Julien Genestoux from Unlock, Inc
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Their expertise supports every aspect of our corporate legal needs, and they consistently deliver thorough, cost-effective, and timely work. For any small business looking for dependable and knowledgeable corporate counsel, we wholeheartedly recommend IBL.”
Felipe Pinto from Revolve Labs
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In a world surrounded by corporate lawyers, IBL stands out as a very human firm. As a result, we’ve continued to rely on them as our go-to legal counsel for ongoing corporate matters.”
Zachary Panos from Fourcaster LLC
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From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional expertise and a deep understanding of the complex legal landscape surrounding our Fund.
The attorneys were incredibly responsive, guiding me through every step of the process with clarity and professionalism.
They took the time to address all my questions and concerns, ensuring that I felt confident in each decision we made. Their attention to detail and thoroughness were evident in the documents they prepared, which gave me peace of mind knowing that everything was handled properly. What stood out most was their commitment to my vision. They not only provided legal advice but also offered valuable insights into the industry, helping me navigate potential challenges and seize opportunities. Their strategic approach was instrumental in setting up a robust fund structure that aligns with my goals.
Overall, working with IBL was a fantastic experience. They made a complex process manageable and stress-free. If you’re looking to establish a PE fund or need any legal assistance in this area, look no further than IBL Thank you for your outstanding support!”
Jeff from Solar Carbon Credit Fund
Tell Us About Your Matter
How We Work a Commercial Case
Written Assessment +
The claims, the defences, the forum, the deadline, the likely value, and the decision points ahead, with a budget for each phase that is revisited when the facts change.
Emergency Relief +
Where a competitor is using confidential information, a former insider is soliciting customers, or assets are moving, a request for a temporary injunction supported by the evidence assembled in the first days.
Demand +
A written statement of the claim and the amount, with a deadline, satisfying any notice and cure provision. Many disputes end here.
Filing or Response +
The complaint in the court or arbitral forum the documents point to, or the answer and counterclaim filed inside the deadline when IBL is defending.
Discovery +
Contracts, correspondence, accounting and bank records, and depositions of decision-makers. In covenant and trade secret cases, forensic review of devices and accounts.
Mediation and Offers of Judgment +
Court-ordered mediation with the evidence in hand, and a section 768.79 offer timed to shift the risk of trial.
Trial, Judgment, Collection, and Appeal +
Cases that do not settle are tried; judgments are enforced through post-judgment discovery, garnishment, and liens, or reviewed in Florida’s district courts of appeal.
FAQ
01 • Litigation What is the difference between commercial litigation and business litigation?
The terms overlap. Commercial litigation usually means disputes between businesses over contracts, competition, and money; business litigation includes those and the disputes among a company’s own owners. IBL handles both.
02 • Litigation Is a non-compete enforceable in Florida?
It can be. Under section 542.335, Florida Statutes, a restrictive covenant is enforceable if it is reasonable in time, area, and line of business, is in a signed writing, and is supported by a legitimate business interest that the enforcing party proves. Each of those is a fact question decided from the documents.
03 • Litigation Does a commercial dispute have to go to court?
No. Many resolve by demand letter, negotiation, or mediation, and many commercial contracts require arbitration. Whether to file, and where, is decided with the client once the facts are known.
04 • Litigation What does commercial litigation cost?
Court and arbitration fees are public. How an engagement with IBL is structured depends on the matter. Contact the firm to discuss your situation.
05 • Litigation My company has been served. What now?
The time to respond starts when the papers are served and it is short. Send them to counsel the day they arrive. A missed response date can lead to a default judgment.
Talk to a Commercial Litigation Attorney
Offices in Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York. Call (202) 860-1210 or send the governing document and a short description of the dispute through the form. Every matter is reviewed on its own facts.
This page provides general information about commercial litigation and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Last reviewed 16 September 2026. Florida statutes cited: sections 26.012, 34.01, 44.102, 57.105, 95.11, 501.204, 501.211, 542.335, 726.105, and 768.79, Florida Statutes (2025).