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Civil & Commercial Law
A commitment was made and not kept. The work wasn't done, the invoice wasn't paid, the product wasn't what was promised. This is the heart of civil law, and it's where I most often step in.
Contracts
Whether the contract is a detailed document, a handful of emails, or purely verbal, it produces legal effects. The question is which ones, and what can be proven.
- Non-performance or partial performance
- Interpretation of a disputed clause
- Termination and penalties claimed
- Review of a contract before signing
- Service, sale and enterprise contracts
- Defects of consent, error, fraud
Business disputes
Commercial disagreements cost more than the amount at stake: time, attention, relationships. The goal is an outcome proportionate to what is actually involved.
- Disputes with a supplier or subcontractor
- A client refusing to pay
- Disagreements between partners or shareholders
- Unfair competition and duties of loyalty
- Breakdown of a business relationship
- Debt recovery
Civil liability
You have suffered damage caused by another person's fault, negligence or omission, and they refuse to answer for it. Or the reverse: a sum is being claimed from you for a loss you dispute.
- Property damage caused by a third party
- Work poorly performed by a contractor
- Liability of the owner or custodian of property
- Financial loss arising from a professional failure
- Defending against a claim you consider unfounded
The formal notice
This is often the first step, and sometimes the only one needed. A well-built formal notice sets out the facts, the legal basis for the demand, and a reasonable deadline. A great many files resolve at this stage without ever reaching a courtroom — which is almost always preferable for both sides.
A contractual or commercial dispute?
Fifteen free minutes to assess how strong your position is and what pursuing it would involve.
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.