Business Litigation
Experienced Judgment When Business Problems Become Legal Disputes
Business disputes can threaten revenue, relationships, confidential information, ongoing operations, and reputations. They require more than aggressive motion practice. They require an early understanding of the client’s objectives, the underlying business, the available evidence, and the practical consequences of each decision.
I prosecute and defend complex commercial cases for businesses, insurers, government contractors, employers, professional-services firms, and individuals. Drawing on more than 30 years of litigation experience, I help clients assess their options, control risk, and pursue the outcome that best serves their broader interests.
Business Disputes I Handle
Contract Disputes
I represent clients in disputes involving commercial agreements, service contracts, purchase and sale agreements, warranties, payment obligations, partnership arrangements, restrictive covenants, and other contractual relationships.
These cases frequently involve questions about contract formation, interpretation, performance, breach, termination, damages, and the parties’ course of dealing.
Fraud and Business Torts
Commercial disputes do not always fit neatly within the language of a contract. I prosecute and defend claims involving fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, interference with business relationships, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, unjust enrichment, and related business torts.
Trade Secrets and Confidential Information
The departure of a key employee, executive, contractor, or business partner can place valuable information and customer relationships at immediate risk.
I handle disputes involving alleged theft or misuse of trade secrets, confidential information, customer data, business methods, pricing information, proprietary materials, and other commercially sensitive assets. When necessary, I seek or defend against temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.
Government-Contractor Disputes
Government contractors operate within a distinctive combination of commercial, regulatory, employment, cybersecurity, and procurement obligations.
Drawing on my experience as a trial and appellate attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, I represent contractors in disputes involving teaming arrangements, subcontracts, proprietary information, certifications, employee departures, performance obligations, and potential False Claims Act exposure.
Insurance and Claims-Related Litigation
I represent insurers and related organizations in coverage disputes, complex claims, litigation-management matters, and cases involving alleged bad faith, contractual obligations, privilege, discovery, and claims-handling practices.
I understand the importance of early evaluation, clear reporting, coordinated strategy, and litigation decisions that reflect both the particular case and the client’s broader business concerns.
Employment and Executive Disputes
I defend employers and advise businesses in disputes involving discrimination, retaliation, compensation, termination, restrictive covenants, confidential information, employee misconduct, and the use of artificial intelligence or automated tools in employment decisions.
Construction and Professional-Services Disputes
My experience includes disputes involving construction projects, professional obligations, project performance, delay, payment, warranties, defective work, and allegations of professional negligence or malpractice.
Appeals and Post-Trial Matters
A business dispute does not always end with the trial court’s decision. I handle appeals involving commercial, procedural, evidentiary, and jurisdictional issues, as well as selected post-judgment and enforcement matters.
When to Call
The best time to involve litigation counsel is often before a lawsuit has been filed.
Consider calling when:
A customer, vendor, employee, partner, or competitor threatens a claim
A significant contract has been breached or terminated
Payments have stopped or a transaction is unraveling
A former employee may have taken confidential information
Your business receives a demand letter, subpoena, or preservation notice
A dispute may require emergency injunctive relief
Internal communications or documents could become evidence
A disagreement may affect insurance coverage or reporting obligations
Settlement discussions require an informed assessment of litigation risk
Your organization needs an independent evaluation before deciding whether to sue
Early involvement can preserve evidence, protect legal privileges, prevent avoidable communications, identify insurance or indemnification rights, and create opportunities for resolution before positions harden.
A Business-Focused Approach
Litigation is a means to an end, not the objective itself. At the outset of a matter, I work with the client to identify:
The desired business outcome
The strengths and weaknesses of the available claims or defenses
The evidence needed to prove the case
The potential costs and disruption
Reputational, regulatory, and operational concerns
Opportunities for early resolution
The point at which trial preparation becomes the most effective negotiating strategy
Some disputes should be resolved quickly. Others require immediate court intervention or determined litigation through trial and appeal. My role is to help the client understand the difference and proceed deliberately.
Prepared for the Courtroom
Effective litigation strategy begins with the assumption that important decisions may eventually be examined by a judge or jury.
I have more than three decades of commercial litigation experience, including service as a trial and appellate attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. I have litigated more than 100 bench and jury trials to verdict and have represented clients in federal and state courts in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and around the country.
That experience informs every stage of a case—from the first demand letter and witness interview through discovery, dispositive motions, expert testimony, trial, and appeal.
Why Work With Me
Clients call me for a combination of courtroom experience, practical judgment, and an understanding of how modern business risks intersect.
My work in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, employment, insurance, and government contracting provides an additional perspective when a commercial dispute involves technology, sensitive information, regulatory obligations, or emerging legal risk.
Discuss a Business Dispute
If your organization is facing a significant commercial dispute—or believes one may be developing—I would be glad to learn more.
An initial conversation can help identify the urgency of the situation, the principal legal and business considerations, and whether I may be able to assist.
Email: sean@lvglawfirm.com
Telephone: (202) 836-7828
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Visiting this website or contacting Sean C. Griffin does not create an attorney-client relationship.