Litigation Lawyers in Cook County

In Cook County, Illinois, commercial litigation is any civil litigation that involves a business transaction. Commercial litigation can come up in practically any business context.

In Cook County, Illinois, you should expect any form of commercial litigation to be expensive and perplexing. While large and sophisticated companies are well-equipped to deal with civil litigation, and are usually the ones facing it, civil litigation in Cook County, Illinois can also arise between those who are not nearly as accustomed to handling it, such as individuals and small businesses.

Common Sources of Commercial Litigation in Cook County, Illinois

Commercial Leases: Even though more businesses than ever are relying on the internet to sell their goods, the majority of small businesses in Cook County, Illinois still have to operate from a physical location. The space from which most businesses operate is usually rented, and the terms of the rental agreement are documented in a contract called a commercial lease. These contracts, like any other, are sometimes breached. When, for example, the tenant fails to pay rent on time, or the landlord fails to perform required building maintenance, a dispute might arise, leading to commercial litigation.

Sales of Real Estate: When buying real estate in Cook County, Illinois, a lot of things can go wrong, possibly making commercial litigation imperative. In these cases, things like title defects (when the seller doesn't actually own the land or house that they're selling), physical defects in the property that weren't disclosed to the buyer, or a buyer's failure to tender payment on time, among other things, can all lead to commercial litigation.

Sale of Goods: In Cook County, Illinois, the sale and purchase of personal property is also a common source of commercial litigation. Just like any business transaction, things can go wrong in the sale of goods. For instance, the seller might deliver the wrong goods to the buyer, or deliver them late. Likewise, the buyer might fail to pay for the goods at the agreed time. Most of the time, business people are able to resolve these disputes without resorting to commercial litigation. In rare cases, however, they have to take their dispute to court, and settle it that way.

Business Loans: When a business is started up in Cook County, Illinois, one of the initial steps is usually to take out a loan from a bank. However, this is a perplexing process, and there are many things that can go wrong. If the borrower fails to make the required payments, or the lender attempts to defraud the buyer, civil litigation is a strong possibility.

Breach of Contract: Whenever a business in Cook County, Illinois agrees to provide a product or service in exchange for something of value (usually money), a legally-binding agreement, called a "contract," is created. If either party fails to perform their end of the bargain, they have breached the contract, and commercial litigation is a possible way to settle the dispute.

How Can a Cook County, Illinois Commercial Litigation Lawyer Help?

If you have a business in Cook County, Illinois, it should by now be obvious that there are many different situations from which commercial litigation can arise, and it rarely happens when it's expected. So, it's always smart to have a plan in place (and money or insurance set aside, if possible) to resolve a commercial litigation issue, should it arise.

And the best thing you can do on that front is to take steps to minimize the chances of disagreements leading to commercial litigation in the first place. Commercial lawyers in Cook County, Illinois can be very helpful with that. By advising you of your legal rights and obligations, your attorney can help you avoid making the mistakes that lead to legal disagreements in the first place.