Contentious Commercial Dispute Advice
A commercial dispute can affect payment, contracts, trading relationships and your ability to make decisions.
You may be dealing with a failed agreement, unpaid sums, disputed services, a claim against your business or a commercial relationship that has broken down. My Commercial Lawyers reviews suitable contentious commercial and civil disputes where there is a clear commercial reason to proceed. The first step is to understand what happened, what the documents show and whether legal action is commercially sensible.
Prefer to speak to us? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177
Is this the right service for your dispute?
This service may be suitable for businesses dealing with a serious commercial disagreement.
You may be a:
- Business owner
- Company director
- Partnership
- Supplier
- Service provider
- Professional practice
- Commercial landlord or tenant
- UK business dealing with an overseas party
The matter should involve a clear legal and commercial issue.
It should also have a reasonable commercial reason to proceed. This may depend on the amount at stake, the available evidence, the other party’s position and the likely cost of the next step.
This service is not intended for every disagreement between businesses.
Prefer to speak to us? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177
Commercial disputes that may be reviewed
My Commercial Lawyers may review suitable matters involving:
- Breach of contract
- Unpaid business invoices
- Disputed agreements
- Failed commercial arrangements
- Supplier or service disputes
- Business-to-business disputes
- Misrepresentation issues
- Settlement disputes
- Professional services disputes
- Claims made against your business
- Disputes that may require a formal response
- Litigation where suitable
Some unpaid invoices are straightforward. Others form part of a wider dispute about performance, delivery, scope, quality or contract terms.
The right route depends on what was agreed, what happened and what the evidence shows.
Get in Touch
Not ready to complete the form? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177 or email reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
Know where you stand before taking action
You may be thinking:
“We need to know where we stand.”
“The contract is not clear.”
“Is it worth taking legal action?”
“I need clear advice before this costs us more.”
The contract is not clear.
Before sending another email, making a formal demand or starting court proceedings, it helps to understand:
- What each party agreed to do
- Whether an obligation was breached
- What evidence supports your position
- Whether financial loss can be shown
- What the other side may argue
- Whether the dispute is worth pursuing
- What legal routes may be available
- What the next instruction could involve
The aim is to help you make a commercial decision based on the facts and evidence.
Barrister-led commercial dispute support
My Commercial Lawyers provides barrister-led dispute support. Suitable businesses may receive help with:
- Reviewing the legal position
- Advising on a claim or defence
- Drafting formal correspondence
- Preparing statements of case
- Reviewing evidence
- Supporting settlement discussions
- Conducting litigation
- Advocacy and court-related work
Litigation conduct is available where suitable. The scope depends on the dispute and the work required. Not every matter needs court proceedings.
The available route may include negotiation, a formal response, business debt recovery, settlement discussions, litigation or another step suited to the facts.
How My Commercial Lawyers reviews a commercial dispute
My Commercial Lawyers starts by reviewing the facts, documents and commercial reason to proceed. The aim is to help you understand whether the dispute is suitable, what the likely route may be and what the next instruction could involve.
1. Clarify the dispute
The team reviews what has happened, what is being claimed and what outcome you are trying to achieve.
This may involve unpaid sums, disputed contract terms, failed obligations, disputed services or a claim made against your business.
2. Review the contract and evidence
The relevant documents are reviewed to understand your position.
These may include:
- Contracts
- Terms and conditions
- Proposals
- Purchase orders
- Invoices
- Payment records
- Emails
- Messages
- Settlement agreements
- Formal notices
- Claim documents
- Evidence of work completed
3. Review the available routes
The right route depends on the dispute.
Possible next steps may include:
- Direct negotiation
- A formal response
- A letter before action
- Settlement discussions
- Business debt recovery
- Court proceedings
- Defending a claim
- Another step suited to the facts
The route should support the commercial objective.
It should also be proportionate to the value, evidence and risk involved.
4. Make the next step clear
If the matter is suitable, the next instruction is scoped before work begins.
You should know:
- What work will be carried out
- What information is needed
- What the fee is
- What is included
- What is not included
- What the expected timeline is
- Whether a further instruction may be needed later
Commercial dispute experience
Relevant experience includes:
- Negotiating debt settlements
- Advising on Part 36 offers
- Preparing Particulars of Claim
- Preparing defences and counterclaims
- Acting in debt and commercial disputes
- Advising property brokers on commission disputes
- Advising overseas clients in disputes involving UK banks
- Advising on disputed settlement agreements
- Handling commercial payment and contract matters
Each dispute depends on its own facts. Previous experience does not guarantee a particular outcome.
Know the scope, fee and timeline before work begins
My Commercial Lawyers works on a fixed instruction fee basis. The scope and fee for each instruction are confirmed before that instruction begins.
A contentious commercial dispute may involve more than one instruction. For example, separate instructions may be needed for:
For example, separate instructions may be needed for:
Reviewing the contract and evidence
Advising on the legal position
Preparing a formal response
Issuing a letter before action
Considering settlement
Preparing a claim or defence
Taking litigation steps where suitable and each instruction is scoped separately. This does not mean the whole dispute has one fixed fee.
The aim is to give you clear scope, clear fees and practical next steps before you spend money on the wrong action.
Prefer to speak to us? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177
What happens after you enquire?
You do not need to know the legal route before you enquire. Start by sharing what has happened.
1. Complete the website form
Share the main issue, the parties involved and the result you are seeking.
2. Join your Trello matter board
After submitting the form, follow the instructions to download Trello and join your matter board.
This gives the team one place to collect the key facts, documents and updates.
3. Upload the key documents
Share the contract, emails, notices, invoices, payment records, drawings, specifications, project records and any evidence linked to the dispute.
4. The team reviews suitability
The team reviews the facts, agreement and evidence. The review also considers whether there is a clear commercial reason to proceed.
5. The next instruction is confirmed
f the matter is suitable, the proposed next step, fixed instruction fee, client care letter and invoice are arranged before work begins.
You can find out whether your matter fits before committing to the next instruction.
Contentious commercial dispute FAQs
What is a contentious commercial dispute?
A contentious commercial dispute arises when businesses or commercial parties disagree about their rights, obligations, payment or legal responsibility.
The dispute may relate to a written contract. It may also involve emails, terms and conditions, invoices, representations, settlement documents or an agreement reached through conduct.
Common issues may include:
- One party failing to perform its obligations
- Payment being withheld
- Goods or services being disputed
- A commercial agreement breaking down
- A party denying what was agreed
- Loss being caused by another party’s actions
- A settlement agreement not being followed
- A claim being made against a business
- A disagreement becoming too serious to resolve informally
Not every dispute needs court proceedings.
The appropriate response may involve negotiation, a formal letter, settlement discussions, a defence, litigation or another route.
Can My Commercial Lawyers help with a commercial dispute?
My Commercial Lawyers may review suitable commercial and civil disputes where there is a clear commercial reason to proceed.
This may include breach of contract disputes, business debt recovery matters and other disputes where the facts, contract, evidence and commercial objective support taking the matter further.
The team will review the available information before confirming whether the matter is suitable.
Can you help with a breach of contract?
Suitable breach of contract disputes may be reviewed.
The team will need to consider the agreement, alleged breach, evidence, loss and commercial reason to proceed.
Can you help recover an unpaid business invoice?
Suitable business debt recovery matters may be reviewed.
The issue may be a straightforward debt or part of a wider contract dispute.
Can you defend a claim against my business?
Suitable claims may be reviewed.
Send the claim documents, relevant agreement, correspondence and response deadline when you enquire.
Do I need to go to court?
Not necessarily. The available routes may include negotiation, a formal response, settlement discussions, business debt recovery or litigation.
The right route depends on the facts, evidence and commercial objective.
Is the dispute worth pursuing?
Having a legal argument does not always mean legal action is the right commercial decision.
Before proceeding, consider:
- The value of the claim
- The strength of the agreement
- The available evidence
- The loss that can be shown
- The other party’s likely response
- The other party’s ability to pay
- The likely legal costs
- The effect on the trading relationship
- The time the dispute may require
- The business outcome you want
The aim is to understand whether there is a practical commercial reason to proceed.
You may decide to negotiate, make a formal demand, defend the claim, litigate or take another step.
You may also decide that further action is not commercially sensible.
What evidence may be needed?
Commercial disputes often turn on the quality of the available documents.
Relevant evidence may include:
- Signed contracts
- Terms and conditions
- Purchase orders
- Statements of work
- Proposals
- Invoices
- Payment records
- Emails
- Messages
- Meeting notes
- Delivery records
- Reports
- Complaints
- Notices
- Settlement documents
- Earlier legal correspondence
You should also prepare a short timeline.
Explain what was agreed, what went wrong, what action has already been taken and what result you are seeking.
Will I know the fee before work begins?
Yes. The scope and fixed instruction fee for each instruction are confirmed before that instruction begins.
Can you guarantee the outcome?
No. The available options can only be assessed after reviewing the facts, contract and evidence.
What should I send with my enquiry?
Send the agreement, key emails, invoices, payment records, formal notices and any claim documents.
Include a short timeline and explain what result you are seeking.
Contact Our Barristers & Solicitors
Whether you are facing a construction dispute, unpaid invoice, contract issue, adjudication concern or suitable civil or commercial dispute, the first step is to understand the facts, evidence and next step.
Email Address
reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
Phone
+44 (0) 208 087 4177
Office Address
7 Bell Yard, London, WC2A 2JR