Chicago Commercial Litigation: Resolving Your Business Disputes

Last updated on March 26, 2025

Conflicts and disagreements can easily arise over the daily course of doing business. Dealing with these disputes can distract you from your daily operations. When disputes become contentious and threaten to lead to litigation, our commercial litigation attorneys can help.

Since 1990, our firm has assisted companies and business owners in the greater Chicago area with their business law needs. Our business lawyers have extensive experience negotiating resolutions and resolving conflicts in complex commercial litigation disputes. Whenever it becomes necessary, our litigators can also represent your interests in court.

When Business Conflicts Lead To Commercial Litigation

In any company’s day-to-day business operations, commercial disputes can easily arise. Some of the most common business conflicts can include:

• Contract disputes: Disagreements over the terms of a contract, such as payment obligations, delivery of goods or performance of services, are a frequent source of litigation. For example, a supplier might sue a company for not paying for delivered goods.
• Partnership disagreements: Disputes among partners about management decisions, profit sharing or the direction of the business often lead to conflicts. An experienced negotiator can help attempt to resolve management disputes before they disrupt business operations.
• Breach of fiduciary duty: When a business leader holds a position of trust, like a corporate officer or director and acts against the company’s best interests, it can result in litigation.
• Intellectual property disputes: Infringement of trademarks, patents or copyrights can lead to legal battles between companies.
• Real estate disputes: Disagreements about property lines, leases or purchase agreements can escalate into commercial litigation.

At Otubusin & Otubusin, our corporate lawyers will help you assess your situation, evaluate the conflicts and define your legal goals. It is important to identify and assess disputes early on. Identifying disputes before they escalate can lead to a faster resolution.

The Litigation Process: Taking Active Steps To Resolve Your Dispute

We take a customized approach to resolving commercial litigation challenges. Our commercial litigators will work with you to identify your legal goals and resolve conflicts in a cost-effective manner. This includes attempting to negotiate a resolution to your dispute. If a settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to court. As experienced litigators, our commercial lawyers will focus their legal strategies on negotiating a resolution to your dispute in the most cost-effective and timely manner.

Identifying Common Contract Disputes

There are several common reasons why contract disputes arise. Some of the most common include:

• Misunderstandings: Disputes often evolve from unclear or ambiguous contract language, leading to misunderstandings between the parties. For example, if a contract does not clearly define the scope of work to be performed, the parties may have different expectations that lead to a dispute.
• Nonperformance: Disputes can occur when one party fails to fulfill its obligations as outlined in the contract. If a supplier fails to deliver goods or services on time or if a buyer fails to make payment as agreed, a dispute can erupt.
• Misinterpretation: Even with seemingly clear contract language, parties may interpret the terms differently, leading to disagreements. If a contract contains a clause that is open to multiple interpretations, the parties can easily disagree on its meaning and application.
• Violating the terms of a contract: If one party breaches the contract, it creates a dispute. For example, one party may violate a noncompete clause.
• Failing to pay for goods or services received: When one party claims the other party did not pay for the goods or services received, it can cause a dispute. For example, a buyer might claim they do not owe the full amount because the goods were defective.

Early identification and assessment of disputes is important. The sooner you can address a potential dispute or a party’s concerns, the better the chance you can resolve the conflict in a timely manner.

Understanding Tortious Interference Claims

Tortious interference is a legal term for a situation in which one party interferes with an existing contract between two other parties. To prove a tortious interference claim, you must be able to prove that:

• A valid contract existed between the parties
• The third party knew about the contract
• The third party intentionally interfered with the contract
• The interference caused damages to the injured party

This interference can take various forms, such as persuading one party to breach the contract or making it impossible for them to fulfill their obligations. Anytime someone interferes with a contract between two parties, this interference can have a negative impact on contractual and business relationships.

What Are Examples Of Tortious Interference?

In the world of business, companies rely on contracts every day. There are a lot of ways these contracts can be breached or a contract dispute can erupt. However, tortious interference claims arise when a third party gets involved. Some common scenarios can include:

• A competitor convinces a key employee to leave their current company and violate their noncompete agreement.
• A supplier induces a customer to break their existing contract with another supplier.
• A landlord interferes with a tenant’s business operations to force them out of the premises.

If you believe that you have a claim for tortious interference with a contract, our experienced commercial litigators at Otubusin & Otubusin can help you evaluate your situation and assess your potential claims.

Consult A Chicago Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Our commercial litigation attorneys are available by appointment for consultations. To schedule an initial consultation with a business law attorney who has experience facilitating a resolution to all types of contract disputes, partnership disagreements or other business disputes, reach out to Otubusin & Otubusin today. To schedule an appointment, you can call us at 312-251-1480 or send us an inquiry through our website.