Not to be confused with civil litigation, commercial litigation is an area in which we specialise at St Helens Law. Even though the two are very much similar in their premise, the difference can be found when discussing who exactly contests such cases. Commercial litigation usually involves a dispute between businesses or companies, where there is some sort of corporate involvement.
The range of issues that can be disputed is different to those between two people, as they may involve more assets or affect the livelihood of a greater number of people. The most common types of commercial litigation disputes we deal with here at St Helens Law are breach of conduct, partnership or joint venture class actions and shareholder issues.
Our team are experts in the field of commercial litigation in St Helens and elsewhere, and have dealt with a variety of commercial litigation cases over the years. We’ve got the expertise to work towards the most successful outcome as quickly as possible, so you can avoid a long, drawn out process that could damage both companies for the long term.
We understand the seriousness of any commercial litigation claim, and how it can affect both parties. This is why we deal with each and every case on its individual circumstance, allowing you to receive the best possible standards from our team on every occasion.
Unfortunately, commercial litigation cases usually take longer to resolve than their civil counterparts, which places even more importance on hiring a legal team that you can trust. We can effectively and efficiently evaluate each step of the process and provide a top class service that you can be happy with.
Contact our commercial litigation St Helens experts today
Would you like to find out more about how we can deal with your commercial litigation claim? Or do you want to start proceedings immediately? The team at St Helens Law are on hand to give you the assistance you need with sensible and professional legal advice.
To get in touch with a member of our team regarding commercial litigation in St Helens, give us a call on 01744 385171 or email us at info@sthelenslaw.co.uk. You can also fill out our online form for a swift response.
Regardless of what way you decide to contact us, you will be entitled to a FREE initial interview of 30 minutes to discuss your situation. Speak to one of our team today!
“St Helens Law do not accept service by electronic means.”
Commercial Litigation FAQs
Litigation is the process of taking someone to court for a final decision over a disputed issue.
ADR, on the other hand, stands for Alternative Dispute Resolution, and is a method in which all involved parties can reach a mutual agreement without the need for court proceedings.
ADR has always been preferable if individuals would like a swift, inexpensive solution to the debated issue. However, after recent changes in the law, courts are now mandated to impose ADR early on in the process where necessary.
This is an attempt to avoid unnecessary legal battles that are costly to the British justice system.
- Pre-action: The parties and their representatives attempt to solve the issue before court proceedings begin. This is where ADR would first come into play.
- Pleadings: If an agreement can’t be reached, a file is filed with the court and documents are created which outline each side’s legal arguments.
- Disclosure: Both sides share all documentation and evidence related to the case with each other.
- Trial: Again, if no settlement can be reached at this stage, court proceedings will begin, and a judge will deliver a final verdict.
- Enforcement: Should the losing party fail to comply with the judge’s order, further steps may be taken on behalf of the winning party.
The length of time commercial litigation takes depends on a variety of factors, including the specifics of the issue, how much money is at stake, etc. But, as a rule of thumb:
- Small claims (less than £10,000) take 3 to 6 months, or even less with a quick settlement.
- ‘Fast track’ claims (£10-25,000 in value) take between 6 to 9 months to get to court.
- ‘Multi-track’ claims (£25,000+) can take anywhere from 18 months to 3 years, or even longer, to be resolved.
For more information on how long your commercial litigation case will take, speak to the experts at St Helens Law today.
- Compensatory damages: Covering losses accrued through an inappropriate act or breach of contract.
- Expatational damages: Covering benefits or profits lost when compared to a situation where such an issue did not take place.
- Reliance damages: Covering losses that are incalculable for several reasons – these are estimated based on available evidence.
- Punitive damages: These are damages designed to punish a defendant had their conduct had been explicitly malicious, though they are exceptionally rare.
- Liquidated damages: Where a pre-determined figure, often outlined in a contract, is paid to someone in the event a contract is breached.
Do you believe you may be entitled to one of the above? Speak to St Helens Law today.