Florida Business Litigation Attorney

The globalization of our economy has had a tremendous impact upon corporations, often at the expense of entrepreneurs. In the last year alone, news reports have been filled with scandals exposing securities fraud and unfair financial management practices that have affected both big and small businesses. The litigation of commercial disputes has become a high stakes endeavor. Clearly, these kinds of disputes, which involve complex legal issues and large amounts of money, warrant representation by an experienced Florida business litigation attorney that you can trust.

Searcy Denney has more than 45 years’ experience, plus the resources to put you in the best position to fight commercial litigation disputes. Our team of business litigation attorneys is not afraid to challenge the most powerful corporate interests and, if your dispute is not resolved, to take on the most aggressive opposing attorneys in a court.

We Stand Up for Your Rights in a Business Dispute

We sometimes hear the business world described as “dog eat dog” because it is becoming increasingly competitive. If someone has breached a contract or agreement with you or used deceitful conduct or questionable representation in a securities or investment relationship, navigating the legal system and fighting for your rights can be a daunting experience.

Fortunately, a Florida business litigation attorney at Searcy Denney can lead you through the maze of business torts and serve as your advocates against even the most aggressive adversaries. Our experience ranges from land ownership disputes to corporate officer financial entitlements at termination to wholesale breaches of contract and employer discrimination.

Here are some areas of business litigation where the Searcy Denney team can help:

Commercial Disputes

We handle commercial disputes involving product and service transactions, real estate transactions, and the purchase or sale of businesses. We also handle disputes involving unfair trade practices, leveraged takeovers and other complex commercial issues.

Many of these disputes arise out of contractual relationships between the parties involved. Each Florida business litigation attorney at Searcy Denney has extensive experience representing companies in commercial disputes involving breach of contract claims. Whether you need to enforce your company’s contractual rights, or your company is facing allegations of breaching a commercial contract, we can develop and execute a targeted litigation strategy focused on securing a favorable resolution as efficiently as possible.

Along with contract-based commercial disputes, we regularly represent clients in disputes involving statutory and common law claims as well. This includes claims under both state and federal law. Here too, whether you need to assert your company’s rights or protect your company against substantial liability, we can use our experience to provide strategic, forward-thinking and cost-effective legal representation.

Employment Disputes

We represent companies in employment disputes involving employment contracts as well as employment discrimination and harassment claims involving race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics. When facing employment-related disputes, time is often of the essence. Employers must work quickly to assess the validity of their employees’ claims, and then they must approach these disputes with a focus not only on protecting the company’s interests in any ensuring litigation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings, but also on maintaining trust and morale within their workforce.

Financial Disputes

We handle business litigation arising out of loan transactions, investments, securities issuances and other financial matters. The issues involved in this type of litigation can be exceedingly complex, and discovery can be voluminous.

At Searcy Denney, we are sensitive to the fact that many of our clients do not have limitless litigation budgets, and we also understand that preserving financial relationships—even contentious ones—can be advantageous to our clients in many cases. With these considerations in mind, we work closely with our clients to understand their goals and priorities, and we craft case strategies that are focused on efficiently protecting our clients’ interests while preserving key relationships whenever possible.

Non-Compete Litigation

Dealing with a non-compete violation is another scenario in which taking legal action quickly can be critical. When an employee, contractor or customer violates a non-compete, seeking injunctive relief immediately can be essential not only for mitigating the company’s losses, but also for preserving the company’s ability to pursue all available remedies. If necessary, a Florida business litigation attorney at Searcy Denney can seek temporary emergency relief on your company’s behalf, and then we can shift our focus to building a case strategy focused on securing a favorable and final resolution.

While non-compete clauses are generally enforceable under Florida law, restrictions apply. As a result, assessing the enforceability of a non-compete clause is often the first step toward making informed and strategic decisions. If your company is facing a dispute involving a non-compete clause, our attorneys can assess the enforceability of the relevant clause, and then we can advise you accordingly.

Partner, Shareholder and Member Disputes

Disputes between partners, shareholders and members of limited liability companies (LLCs) can prove both costly and disruptive. Whether the best decision is to find a way to come to terms or for the parties to go their separate ways, the sooner you have a resolution, the better. We understand this, and we take a practical and business-oriented approach to helping our clients resolve these disputes whenever possible.

We handle all types of partner, shareholder and member disputes in Florida—including those involving capital contributions, distributions, management and control rights, and other issues. We handle cases involving conflicts of interest, tortious interference and other fiduciary breaches as well. Regardless of the specific issue (or issues) at hand, a Florida business litigation attorney at Searcy Denney can help you make informed and strategic decisions with your best interests (and your customers’ best interests) in mind.

Trade Secret Litigation

Losing control over a company’s trade secrets can have immense consequences. Even when companies take appropriate steps to protect their trade secrets, misappropriation and unauthorized use can lead to the loss of companies’ exclusive rights.

Here too, time is of the essence. If a former employee, a competitor or any other party is improperly using or has improperly disclosed your company’s trade secrets, it is imperative that you engage experienced legal counsel immediately. At Searcy Denney, we have extensive experience helping companies protect their trade secrets, and we can work quickly to help preserve your company’s valuable intellectual property (IP) rights by all means available.

Arbitration

In many cases, resolving a business-related dispute will involve going to arbitration. Commercial contracts often require arbitration in lieu of litigation, and these mandatory arbitration clauses are generally enforceable under Florida law. Even when a dispute is not subject to mandatory arbitration, the benefits of arbitration will often be desirable to all parties involved.

Arbitration is generally less costly and less time-consuming than litigation. It also provides more flexibility than litigation, and arbitration awards are just as enforceable as verdicts rendered at trial. If you have questions about arbitration—or if you are facing a dispute that is subject to mandatory arbitration—we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information.

Appellate Litigation

We provide representation for state and federal appellate litigation in Florida as well. Whether your company needs to appeal a verdict, or you need to fight to protect a decision rendered in your company’s favor, we can use our experience to help protect your company’s interests at the appellate level.

Appellate litigation and trial litigation are very different. When facing the need to file or defend against an appeal, it is important to choose a law firm that has the specific experience and capabilities required. At Searcy Denney, several of our attorneys have extensive appellate experience, and we can pair your company with a Florida business litigation attorney who has the substantive and procedural knowledge required to provide effective appellate representation.

Our Business Litigation Attorneys Have Won Precedent-Setting Cases in Our 40 Years of Practice

In the firm’s more than 40-year history, our Florida business litigation lawyers have demonstrated their skill in several precedent-setting cases.

• For example, in 2005 the firm served as co-counsel in a landmark case in which a major investment bank was ruled liable for its role in a fraudulent sale of a giant corporation.
• In another 2005 case, Searcy Denney clients’ rights were affirmed when a jury ruled that their patent on a medical device was violated by a multinational manufacturer.
• In yet another important case, the Searcy Denney team litigated against a large citrus grower on behalf of employees whose rights had been violated on the basis of race discrimination.

Contact a Florida Business Litigation Attorney Today

If someone has violated your rights in a business relationship, a skilled Florida business litigation attorney at Searcy Denney can talk through your problem, assess your potential claim, and help you protect your rights to the fullest extent of the law. Please fill out our Contact Form or call us at 1-800-780-8607 to learn more and arrange for a confidential free consultation.