If you own a company, ‘business as usual’ may be a term you sometimes take for granted as it denotes the routine and even tedious rhythm that can accompany so many days at the office. This is usually a sign of stability, amidst all the usual tasks that must be tackled, from keeping customers and employees happy, to ensuring that paychecks go out on time and vendors are paid, along with keeping a constant flow of new ideas percolating, marketing campaigns emerging, and more. A serious business conflict or dispute can completely throw off your equilibrium and must be both contained and handled as quickly as possible so damage to your company is minimized.

If you sense that a dispute may be growing and cannot be handled with a casual but frank discussion or meeting, it is time to consult with a skilled business attorney like Shane Coons, who can help you reach a resolution before the situation escalates further. During your years as a business owner, you will encounter numerous challenges, and most likely some disputes too—if you have not already. Here are some of the most common legal disputes entrepreneurs face:

1. Partnership and family disputes – while partnerships may seem like the best route initially, they can also become complicated later due to differences of opinion, conflict over expenditures or disbursement of money, and much more. As many of us know from experience too, working with family can be the best and worst of times also. While some families hand companies down throughout the generations, other couples, parents and children, and siblings find it exceedingly difficult to work together—with these rifts sometimes causing the most significant (and expensive) disputes of all.
2. Employee issues – the people you hire to work for you may be responsible for much of the success of your business, but they can also be the source of a wide range of legal headaches. You may have employees who quit but demand unemployment, potential discrimination or harassment suits to deal with, and a list of issues that could cause discord such as breaches regarding intellectual property, independent contractor agreements, non-compete clauses, and much more.
3. Problems with vendors – these types of disputes can be very difficult as you rely on your vendor to supply you with products for customers. And while the marketplace may sometimes be very competitive for such sales, in other cases there may only be one or two companies that supply what you need—and at the right price, on the schedule you need. If a conflict with a vendor is causing your business harm, finding a resolution must become an immediate priority, even if it involves making a compromise that you may find hard to swallow.
4. Landlord/real estate challenges – major headaches can ensue here too, whether you are the landlord or the lease. If you are renting property to others, you may be forced to deal with rent left unpaid, evictions, property damage, or breach of contract. If you are the tenant, you may find yourself in disputes over other businesses in the building that are in direct competition with you, sudden increases in rent, failure on the landlord’s part to do maintenance or keep up with repairs, the potential for losing your space, and more.
5. Contract issues – failure to provide the agreed upon services can result in a breach of contract for a variety of reasons. Whether you hired a building contractor to do work on your facility and they did not follow through, or a design firm did not come through with the agreed upon work, or you were a victim of fraud, breach of contract is all too common. Fighting for damages and working to right such a wrong can be expensive and time-consuming, which is why it is important to have an attorney on your side who is familiar with contracts and business litigation.

Do you have questions about a current legal dispute or another business matter? If so, contact Attorney Shane Coons. Our law office represents clients involved in a wide range of businesses and legal issues, and we would be glad to review your case and help you explore your options. Call now at 949-333-0900 or email us at Shane.Coons@seclawoffices.com.