Chicago Business Litigation Lawyers - Fighting for Justice and Just Compensation

Business litigation is defined as business law, or commercial law that governs the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and businesses engaged in commerce, merchandising, trade, and sales. That is the definition of litigation on paper, but we know when we’re fighting for a cause, real people are involved with very real impact on lives. So we fight aggressively, but conscientiously with a driving will to win, but not at all costs.

Maintaining ethics and morality are essential caveats to us and we are not advocates of pyrrhic victories. If the cost of winning in court is too steep, either financially or ethically, we recommend a settlement, but that’s not necessarily a “next best win.” Settlements can often be lucrative and emotionally satisfying and they can certainly make our fees affordable, which is important to us.

Typically, legal actions fall into two categories: protecting your rights during internal disputes, as well as legal conflicts with parties outside your business entity.

The non-compete lawyers at Lubin Austermuehle, P.C. handle all types of internal disputes that may take shape during the course of a company’s formation, management, or dissolution. (Beginnings and endings are always tough.) When it comes to managing a family business, complications may arise that are perhaps unforeseeable. For instance, when spouses who co-own a company decide to divorce, the entity’s value as well as who retains ownership and managing responsibilities must be determined either through negotiations leading to an agreement or by a judge in court. These matters get tricky and often intense.

Internal conflicts may occur including questioning of duties of loyalty, care, disclosure, or confidentiality that an individual owes to another individual or business. Directors, executives, and owners may owe each other or the company these duties, depending on their relationships and roles within a business. Partners operating a business owe each other a duty of loyalty as well as to act in good faith and fair dealings. Additionally, board directors of corporations are prohibited from putting themselves in positions whereby their individual interests conflict with those of the company, and they may not use their status for personal gain. How many examples of that have we seen? If a breach occurs or is alleged to have occurred, the result is usually complex litigation.

Often, protecting your company can be a matter of business survival. Many disputes result from a party’s alleged failure to uphold its obligations under an agreement. Breach of contract claims may be based on misinterpretations of a contract’s terms and conditions, issues concerning an offer or acceptance, or claims alleging fraud or coercion with regard to an agreement. With the many types of breach of contract suits, which can involve owners, vendors, or customers, come different forms of recovery. If a plaintiff proves that a contract has been breached, a defendant may be subject to enforcement of a contract’s term, cancelation of a contract, or other damages. Consequential damages may also be awarded. These are calculated in terms of losses to future business or harm to an entity’s reputation.

When it comes to business and commercial disputes, our 35 years of experience is virtually unsurpassed, but the fact that we’ve fought and won the good fight before, doesn’t mean we rely on past winning strategies and arguments without in-depth investigation, examination and consideration of the facts. To us, every case is fresh, new, a challenge to be meticulously examined. When it comes to the law, precedents change, politics shift, new attacks must be always be devised.

But we do have and rely on no-fail resources and skills, including mastery of the evidence and our own unique abilities with examinations and cross examinations in the courtroom. Our track record speaks for itself (though we sometimes point out the details), including the scope of corporate cases we’ve handle. Among other matters, our firm handles shareholder, member, or partner freeze-out claims, stolen corporate opportunity cases, excessive compensation claims, UCC litigation, and trade defamation actions. We can also represent business owners and professionals in issues involving business operations, employment, real estate transactions, taxes, and matters regarding bankruptcy.

As you can note, if you’re counting, there are business litigation cases we’ve pursued and successfully litigated for years. What’s more important for our purposes is not our past history, but our current and future work on your behalf. Ultimately, peace of mind is what you can count on if we are fortunate and honored enough to represent you in a critically important legal dispute.

If someone is infringing on your intellectual property, or breaching a copyright, or disclosing information that’s confidential and vital to your success, you may need our experienced litigation services to seek an injunction. At Lubin Austermuehle, we’ve petitioned the court for many different kinds of injunctions designed to make someone do something or stop an individual or business from doing something that is harmful to another. The labeling of different kinds injunctions is essentially a matter of timing. There are preliminary, temporary and permanent injunctions. There are also emergency injunctions, and strategic ploys like “declaratory judgements” which our Lubin Austermuehle attorneys can seek for you if we can prove delay would be extremely costly to your business.

The main factors in anyone’s ability to successfully obtain a permanent injunction depend on the attorney’s ability to demonstrate irreparable injury or harm, as well as the insufficiency of legal and monetary remedies to provide adequate relief and justice. It’s encouraging to note that even seeking an injunction can mean a win for you and get the ends you wish, including monetary gain. Most wrongdoers will settle long before an injunction can be issued. At Lubin Austermuehle, we never settle for less than the best possible result for you.

Click here to find additional information on injunctions and examples of the kind of infractions that cause businesses to seek injunctive remedies with LA. Use our FREE consultation to find out if your specific circumstances qualify you for help. Call us at 630-333-0333 or Contact us today.

Sometimes, a court settlement, whether monetary or otherwise is not enough to reverse irreparable harm to a business’s financial well-being or their public image or the image of their brand. Suppose someone has stolen a patent, or you’re experiencing a hostile takeover, or there’s a construction dispute and you can’t move in to your new offices? These are just a few of the instances when you may need emergency litigation by our experienced attorneys at Lubin Austermuehle. We’ve put out hundreds of serious fires that are consuming client assets and placing their company in jeopardy.

Under emergency situations we work fast. A Preliminary Injunction may be the answer to these situations, but a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) can be issued immediately and it isn’t even necessary to notify the opposing party. We can inform you of other injunction options, including a Permanent Injunction, and Declaratory Injunction. Click here for more info on injunction definitions and possibilities.

As Chicago Business Litigators, it’s our legal obligation and passion to assist clients facing legal trials, literally and personally. We fight on your behalf with the full power of our experience and dedication to upholding the law and righting wrongs.

Call us today at 630-333-0333. We hope you will take advantage of our FREE consultation to determine if we’re the best legal fit for you and if you have a legitimate case. We can also discuss fees at that time. Contact us today!

The healthcare landscape has shifted in recent years. Many independent physicians are merging their practices and forming groups. These unions are beneficial in many ways, but the positives and efficacy of these relationships can come with potential adverse reactions that are dangerous to the medical practices’ health, wealth and very survival. Disputes can arise over any number of issues, including employment contracts, compensation, or a partner’s departure with ensuing non-compete violations. You and your practice partners may wish to pursue justice and just compensation for a seeming transgression, or you may be on the receiving end of a claim from a current or previous colleague or employee. It may well be you need a strong voice and advocate to rise to your defense.

Whatever the issue, the experienced litigation attorneys at Lubin and Austermuehle can help you navigate, negotiate, settle or litigate your dispute with a moral victory as well as financial and emotional success. Take a look at more litigation information regarding physician group disputes by clicking here . For now, take two Advil then call us in the morning.

As a physician joining a group practice, it’s wise and protective to closely examining restrictive covenants that may be part of a medical practice partnership agreement. At Lubin Austermuehle, we help ensure solid agreements, but we’re also frequently called into action if partnership relationships become “dis-agreeable” and parties seek litigation assistance. This is where our firm excels with many successes on behalf of our clients. Our goal is to reduce your financial exposure and liability.

If your medical practice is acting as plaintiff or defendant, we’ll work with you to intelligently to discuss options-- negotiation, arbitration, settlement or the full court press of litigation. In trials, we are fierce advocates dedicated to justice and just compensation. Click here to learn more about restrictive clauses and medical group disputes. And contact us for a FREE consultation. We’ll discuss your issues and our ability to passionately and professionally act on your behalf.

1. Disputes regarding management practices and perceived incompetencies
2. Emergency response services of super-fast Lubin Austermuehle

There’s an saying we embrace at Your Chicago Litigation Lawyers, “Nobody remembers who finished second except the person who finished second.” That hits home with how we proceed at Lubin Austermuehle. As noted, we don’t seek to win at all costs, but we do celebrate our client’s triumphs, which are much better than settling for second place.

We’re honored to have earned a reputation for honesty and success in the Chicagoland area and among our peers. Some distinctions we value include that fact that:

• There’s no greater feeling than fighting a just cause and winning.
• Peter Lubin earned the distinction of “Super Lawyer,” and Patrick Austermuehle was named a “rising star” by the prestigious rating service that includes peer nominations and evaluations.
• Based on Peter Lubin’s commitment to the ideals of the legal profession, the DuPage Bar Legal Association awarded him the designation of the DuPage County Law Firm of the Year.
• The Largest Class Action Settlement of the Year Was Attributed to Peter Lubin by Crain’s Chicago Business.
• Our lawyers have acted as lead or co-lead counsel national or Illinois wide class actions. We’ve argued significant class action appeals to the state and federal appellate courts.
• We've assisted owners, LLC members or shareholders in closely held companies to vindicate their rights, and in some instances obtain multi-million-dollar recoveries in fraud, shareholder oppression or breach of fiduciary duty claims.

Honed, analytic and sharp legal minds are fine, but an attorney’s greatest asset is his or her ears. As your Chicago Litigation Lawyers, we know that listening is not necessarily hearing. Hearing promotes a greater ability to assimilate understand and ultimately, empathize. How can a lawyer or firm expect to win a business dispute if every shred of evidence and data has not been devoured and digested? That begins with ears—perked up ears. not necessarily attractive ears, but highly functional and inestimably valuable.

We happily offer a FREE CONSULTATION when you can come in and talk to us openly and tell us what’s going on and what kind of help would serve you best. With our experience, we’re frequently able to assess our ability to help you even with a limited introduction to the facts of the case and to you personally. Naturally, we seek to correct that.

Lubin Austermuehle has experience handling the following types of business litigation matters:

• Shareholder owner, LLC member and partnership disputes
• Shareholder and LLC member freeze outs and squeeze outs in closely held businesses
• Stolen trade secrets
• Copyright and trademark infringement
• Business fraud
• Non-compete agreements and restrictive covenants
• Defense of businesses facing class action suits
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Wrongful franchise, dealer and distributor terminations
• Real estate and all other types of contract disputes
• Shareholder oppression and business dissolution claims
• Partnership disputes
• Real-Estate fraud

In addition to business litigation, Lubin Austermuehle has successfully taken on cases in the following areas:

• Consumer class action litigation
• Consumer fraud
• Auto-Fraud
• Libel Defamation and Slander
• Wrongful employment terminations
• Civil rights violations

Though the content presented on this website, we hope you’ve gained a sense of the distinctions Lubin Austermuehle brings to the practice of trial law and litigation. With us, it’s not business as usual, it’s business as unusual in support of your cause. We hope you’ll consider our vast and varied business law and litigation experience, recognized accomplishments, client victories, zealous advocacy and ability to hear rather than simply listen, as reasons to reach out and contact us now. Call us at 630-333-0333 or via our website by clicking here . We look forward to speaking with you.

At Lubin Austermuehle, we are known as “The Business Litigators” all across Chicago. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a good case for arbitration versus litigation. In fact, we have participated in many arbitrations on behalf of clients and are proud of substantial results and rewards on their behalf.

In arbitration, all parties agree to let a neutral third party decide after the arbitrator has heard arguments and any evidence gathered during a “discovery period.”

• It usually costs less because attorney time is less.
• It’s faster because you don’t have to get on the court docket.
• It’s less formal and can be more relaxed.

• The decision is final. No appeals are allowed.
• The decision could impact the rest of your life.
• While there are arbitration rules governing the number of arbitrators, how they will be chosen and submission of evidence, rules are more relaxed, which may require swift legal adaptation.

With so much at stake in terms of the potential irreversible impact of judgement, you want attorneys with vast experience in arbitration and the ability to think fast and be persuasive. We’ve faced and won against the toughest opponents – even huge corporations. Check out success record for businesses facing fraud, deceptive practices, wrongful termination suits. And for consumers we’ve handled and won many automobile fraud cases, wrongful termination, breach of contract cases and more.

Take advantage of our FREE consultation to see if you case is suited to arbitration, litigation and our firm. Call us at 630-333-0333 or Contact us today.