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Business & Commercial Litigation

Overview

Business dispute resolution requires more than the ability to litigate. Successful business resolution requires the ability to quickly assess the merits of a client’s case, determine strategies for seeking a resolution, and negotiate effectively to reach a resolution.

As business litigation attorneys with decades of experience, we help clients pursue and defend all types of business disputes, ranging from small contract matters to multi-million dollar disputes and bet-the-company litigation. When clients need a commercial litigation law firm and lawyer, we understand they are also relying on us to serve as a strategic partner, crafting clear, cost-effective litigation plans.

Our primary goal is to extinguish fires promptly, ensuring time and money are not wasted on drawn-out litigation where it can be avoided. We are mindful of – and seek to minimize – the inherent internal costs associated with litigation, including managerial and executive time costs. When handling disputes, we strive to take on as much of the litigation burden as possible so our clients can focus on operating their businesses and avoid operational distractions.

We have significant experience in and excel in the complexities of both federal and state courts, along with administrative and alternative dispute resolution forums. If you are facing a business or commercial dispute, we invite you to contact our business dispute lawyers and commercial litigation attorneys to schedule a consultation to learn more about your legal options and how we can help.

Which industries do Karr Tuttle Campbell’s business and commercial litigation lawyers represent?

We represent clients covering a vast range of industries and involving all phases of corporate growth. A representative sample of our client industries includes:

  • Aviation
  • Aerospace
  • Biotech
  • Cannabis & Hemp
  • Construction
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Insurance
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Real Estate and Land Use
  • Technology, Cybersecurity & AI
  • Transportation, Trade & Commerce

Our strategic approach to business disputes and commercial litigation matters.

Business disputes will typically resolve in one of three ways:

  • initiating party will drop the lawsuit,
  • parties will resolve the dispute through negotiation or an alternative dispute resolution forum, such as mediation or arbitration, or
  • the dispute will be resolved through litigation.

In most cases, litigation will typically be considered the last option. It is almost always the most costly and time-consuming course. In many instances, the first approach to a business dispute is often a negotiated resolution which can occur prior to filing a lawsuit or after the lawsuit has been commenced.

When a client comes to us with a business dispute, we make every effort to facilitate resolution of the matter as promptly and efficiently as possible. If a resolution is not likely and litigation becomes necessary, our objective is to pursue the dispute vigorously and efficiently to allow our clients to resolve their case from a position of strength. This happens either through continued negotiations, mediation, or ultimately on the merits at trial or in arbitration.

Our client-centric approach – providing an unbiased case assessment.

Every dispute is as distinct as the businesses involved. Our approach at Karr Tuttle Campbell is customized and prioritizes each client’s goals, objectives and unique situation.

A critical aspect of serving as a commercial litigation lawyer is the need to quickly assess the merits of a client’s case.  This is based upon facts, evidence that might be introduced at trial, and the law. Clients deserve a full and unbiased assessment of their case as soon as possible. We provide such an assessment to illuminate the risks, prospects, and associated costs of a matter, empowering our clients to make informed decisions at every step of the process.

We always put the interests of our clients first. If it makes sense to vigorously seek settlement, instead of immediately pursuing all-out litigation, that will be our recommendation and focus.

Preparing for success through mediation.

Most business disputes go through the mediation process. During this path, our approach is to develop a comprehensive client position so the opposing party has a clear understanding of the risks they would face at trial. In our experience, many firms do not take this approach and instead only determine the strength of their client’s position when a trial appears to be inevitable. We believe it is imperative to determine this at the outset.

We are regularly involved in alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation and commercial arbitration before the American Arbitration Association and other alternative dispute service providers. Our attorneys have served as arbitrators and mediators through the courts, the American Arbitration Association, and other organizations.

Trial

Our business dispute lawyers are also veteran trial attorneys and practice in state and federal courts throughout Washington State. We are highly experienced and knowledgeable about what is required to prove the cases of our clients. We are also frequently retained to represent clients in other Pacific Northwest states including Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.

What commercial litigation challenges and cases do we represent?

Karr Tuttle Campbell represents clients in virtually every type of business dispute that could occur. We have substantial experience in representing clients in the following matters and more:

  • Contract disputes and breaches
  • Shareholder, LLC member, and partnership disagreements
  • Business acquisition and dissolution disputes
  • Misrepresentation and fraud claims
  • Business and property valuation matters
  • Trade secret, trademark, copyright, patent, and other intellectual property claims
  • Accounting, legal, and other professional malpractice issues
  • Non-compete agreement disputes
  • Real estate disputes involving matters such as leases, condemnation, contamination, liens, encroachment, adverse possession, and other property rights
  • Securities claims
  • Tortious interference with contracts or business relationships, and other business tort claims
  • Sale of goods and other Uniform Commercial Code disputes
  • Lender liability and other debt collection matters
  • Judicial and non-judicial foreclosure proceedings and lien rights enforcement actions
  • Franchise disputes
  • Creditors’ rights
  • Civil RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) actions
  • Claims involving charges of breach of fiduciary duties
  • Class actions
  • Corporate derivative actions

A legacy of distinction in business litigation.

As commercial litigation trial lawyers, Karr Tuttle Campbell has a long tradition of excellence in dispute representation. A snapshot of just some of our accolades include:

  • Leadership roles in esteemed organizations such as the International Association of Defense Counsel, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers’ Association, Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, and Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington.
  • Several fellows within the American College of Trial Lawyers.
  • Distinction of having one of our Commercial Litigation Shareholders serve as the First appointed Chair of the State Judicial Discipline Commission and members of the Supreme Court-appointed Washington Pattern Jury Instruction Committee.
  • Commercial Litigation Team members are regularly recognized as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers, and receive other regional and national recognition.

For uncompromised expertise and dedication, choose Karr Tuttle Campbell where your priorities become ours. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Seattle business and commercial litigation lawyer.

Representative Matters

Some illustrative cases involving our commercial litigation attorneys.

  • Represented a franchisee of a national rental car company in federal district court, achieving a jury verdict of $8,705,000.00.
  • Represented an outboard marine manufacturer in an antitrust suit against a marine trade association regarding the allocation of space at a major regional boat show.
  • Represented a large regional distributor in an antitrust investigation by the states of Washington and Oregon regarding wholesale pricing practices.
  • Advised a national retailer of electronics and technology products in a contract dispute regarding business interruption losses.
  • Represented a local construction-supply retailer in a dispute regarding alleged commercial disparagement and unfair trade practices.
  • Represented a regional contractor/gravel pit operator in a contract dispute with an asphalt contractor involving significant potential monetary damages and other commercial considerations.
  • Represented a local manufacturer of ultra-high-weight molecular polyethylene in a case involving product disparagement and unfair trade practices claims, which was brought in federal district court by its chief competitor, a Fortune 500 company. A full dismissal of all claims was achieved prior to trial, and all attorneys’ fees were recouped from the client’s insurers.
  • Defended an investment advisor client in litigation and arbitration involving securities and related claims of $57,000,000.00. We obtained dismissal of all claims and an award of approximately $1.5 million of attorney fees and costs against plaintiff after four-week American Arbitration Association commercial arbitration before a three-person panel.
  • Successfully tried plaintiffs’ securities case in King County Superior Court and obtained judgment on all claims, including damages for negligent infliction of emotional distress.
  • Successfully represented defendants in a San Juan County Superior Court trial involving a partnership dispute and prevailed on all claims, including award of attorney fees and costs against plaintiff.
  • Acted as special outside counsel for a board of directors of a publicly traded company to perform investigation and report back to the CEO and the Chair of the company’s audit committee regarding allegations of wrongdoing by senior management.
  • Successfully defended an agricultural cooperative against claims asserted by a terminated grower/member in a case filed in federal court in Eastern Washington. We obtained dismissal of all claims in the trial court, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal and awarded attorney fees and costs to our client.
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