Litigation is something that you may find necessary at times, but it is rarely something that you enjoy in the business world. If your business is facing litigation, you need to work with a business litigation law firm. However, you should not choose the first business litigation law firm that you find and need to know how to choose the right one.
The Attorney Qualifications
When looking at a law firm, you need to know about the qualifications each attorney has. Ideally, you will want a firm with attorneys who have experience in the area of the law that relates to your case. Experience with cases similar to your own is also beneficial.
When you meet with a litigation firm, you need to find out who will handle your case. Many of these firms have senior partners who meet potential clients, but they will not actively work on your case. You need to find out the qualifications of the attorneys who will actively work on your case because this will affect the success of it.
An Honest Assessment
When your business faces litigation, you need to have an honest assessment of the case even when it is not what you want to hear. It is better to hire a law firm that is honest and accurate with their evaluation than to have a firm that only wants to tell you what you want to hear. If the assessment results in the attorney telling you that your case is a sure win, you need to reconsider working with them.
There are no cases that are sure wins because there is uncertainty about who will hear the case. Your case could go before a judge, a jury or an arbitrator. Each of these people will view the case differently and there is no way to predict what could happen.
The Costs
While you should never focus solely on the cost of the service, you do have to consider this. Before you enter litigation, you need to consider if it is financially viable to do so. There are times when fighting to the end will be worse than simply settling the case quickly.
An example if this will be a dispute for $40,000. You do not want to spend that amount or more fighting the case. In these situations, it might be better to settle the case as soon as possible.
Most business litigation law firms will charge you by the hour. When you first speak with them and outline your case, you should find out how long they estimate the case will take. This can give you a rough estimation of the potential costs of working with them.
There are times when business litigation is unavoidable. At these times, you will need to work with a business litigation law firm who meets your needs. They should have experience in the area of law that relates to your case, offer an honest assessment of the case and be clear about the costs. You should never work with a law firm who does not answer your questions or makes you feel uncomfortable.