Madgett LawMinneapolis · Minnesota

Business Litigation

Minneapolis business litigation attorney for contract disputes, business torts, and shareholder & partnership conflicts across Minnesota. Message us for a free consultation.

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A business dispute usually starts the same way. A customer stops paying, a vendor stops performing, a partner stops cooperating, and the contract everybody signed and filed away suddenly matters a great deal.

We represent businesses and business owners in Minnesota state and federal court, from our office in the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis, for clients across the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. The firm’s founder, David J.S. Madgett, is a former U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate.

What we handle

  • Breach of contract. Enforcing your contract rights and pursuing the damages the breach caused.
  • Business torts. Unfair competition, deceptive practices, and other wrongful acts aimed at your business.
  • Shareholder disputes. Disagreements among the owners of a closely held company, and protecting your ownership rights.
  • Partnership disputes. Conflicts between partners, and protecting your interest in the partnership.
  • Employment claims against your business. Defending against claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, and other employment-related claims.
  • Real estate. Disputes over commercial leases, property rights, and construction contracts.
  • Intellectual property. Disputes over trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

How a case runs

  • Evaluation. We start with your realistic outcomes, your exposure, your bargaining position, and what each path will likely cost.
  • Negotiation and mediation. Where it serves you, we try to resolve the dispute that way before filing suit.
  • Discovery. Gathering the documents and deposing the witnesses.
  • Trial. Preparing you for trial and presenting the case to the court.
  • Appeal. Representing you on appeal if it comes to that.

We don’t litigate a case past the point where it stops making business sense.

What to do first

Preserve everything: the contract, emails, texts, invoices, and payment records. Don’t send the other side anything heated. Then talk to a lawyer promptly. Moving early is how you protect your bargaining position and your legal deadlines.

Talk to us

Facing a business dispute in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or anywhere in Minnesota? Use the Message Us button for a free consultation, or call 612-470-6529.

Common questions

How much does a business litigation attorney cost in Minneapolis?

It depends on the dispute's complexity and how far it goes before resolving. Madgett Law offers flexible fee structures, and we talk through the budget at the free initial consultation so you can decide before committing to litigation.

How long does a business lawsuit take in Minnesota?

Many commercial disputes resolve within months through negotiation or mediation. Cases that proceed through Minnesota state or federal court to trial commonly take a year or longer. An early case evaluation helps set a realistic timeline for your specific dispute.

Can I recover attorney fees if I win my business dispute?

Sometimes. Fee recovery generally depends on whether your contract contains a fee-shifting provision or a specific statute allows it. We evaluate fee recovery as part of every case assessment because it can significantly change the economics of a dispute.

Do I have to go to court, or can my business dispute be settled?

Most business disputes settle without a trial. We pursue negotiation and mediation first when that serves your interests — but we prepare every case as if it will be tried.

What should I do first if a business partner or vendor breaches a contract?

Preserve everything: the contract, emails, texts, invoices, and payment records. Avoid confrontational communications that could complicate the dispute. Then talk to a business litigation attorney promptly — early strategy protects your leverage and your legal deadlines.

Also under “I'm in a dispute”

General LitigationCivil litigation in Minneapolis, Minnesota: contract, real estate, insurance, employment, consumer, and estate disputes.