Civil & Commercial Litigation
Understanding the interconnected legal and commercial landscape that shapes a dispute,
rather than viewing the dispute in isolation.
Lead Attorney
Lina Li, Esq.
Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2024–2026
Most legal problems don’t stay within one area of law. Our strategies don’t either.
Litigation rarely exists in isolation. A lawsuit can affect business operations, ownership, commercial relationships, regulatory obligations, and future opportunities. We develop litigation strategies with those broader consequences in mind—not simply the next court filing.
Some matters should be tried. Others are best resolved before years of costly litigation. Whether negotiating a shareholder deadlock, defending a commercial claim, or pursuing emergency injunctive relief, our objective remains the same: achieving the outcome that best protects our clients’ long-term interests.
We represent businesses, executives, investors, and individuals in commercial, civil, and intellectual property disputes in New York State and Federal Courts.
Featured Matters
Recovering Withheld Real Estate Commission
A New York brokerage faced more than an unpaid commission dispute when a property owner attempted to avoid commission obligations owed to numerous brokers after years of successful leasing activity. Resolving the matter required a strategic litigation approach—not just a mere letter of demand for payment.
A large New York-based real estate brokerage engaged Alpha Law after a property owner refused to pay substantial commissions earned through numerous successful leasing transactions, transforming what should have been a routine payment into complex commercial litigation. Rather than pursuing recovery through a single avenue, we developed a coordinated litigation strategy targeting multiple defaulting parties simultaneously. The resulting leverage facilitated favorable settlements while preserving our ability to obtain enforceable judgments where necessary, ultimately recovering a substantial portion of the commissions owed.
Shareholder Deadlock Resolved Before It Became Litigation
Resolved a closely held company’s shareholder deadlock by addressing the underlying legal, commercial, and governance issues—not merely the claims in dispute.
When shareholders of a closely held company reached a deadlock over dividends and corporate control, we understood that the most significant risks were not confined to the courtroom, but to the future of the business itself. Years of litigation would have consumed management attention, increased costs, and diminished the company’s value. Rather than allowing the dispute to follow that course, we orchestrated complex multi-party negotiations and structured a comprehensive settlement framework that aligned the interests of all shareholders. The result was a durable resolution that avoided protracted litigation, preserved enterprise value, and enabled the company to continue operating without disruption.
Trademark & Domain Injunction
A restaurant group’s brand faced ongoing unauthorized use across multiple platforms, requiring immediate legal action after repeated demands failed to stop the infringement.
A high-end restaurant group retained Alpha Law not simply to send cease-and-desist letters, but to stop unauthorized use of its trademarks and domain names before the infringement would further damage its brand. After the infringers failed to respond, we launched an emergency action seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that immediately halted the unlawful use of the client’s trademarks and domain names. By stopping the infringement at its source, we protected the client’s brand, customer goodwill, and strategic position for the litigation that followed.
Construction Liability Defense
Achieved dismissal of a construction injury action by looking beyond the accident to the contractual, insurance, and statutory framework governing liability.
Following a serious construction-site injury, Alpha Law defended a contractor facing substantial exposure under New York Labor Law and common-law negligence claims. By analyzing the project’s contractual risk allocation, insurance obligations, indemnification provisions, and statutory framework—not merely the accident itself—we identified dispositive legal defenses that formed the foundation of our litigation strategy. The court ultimately dismissed the action in its entirety, sparing the client the cost, uncertainty, and disruption of prolonged litigation.
Notable Results
- Settled approximately 90% of litigation matters through strategic negotiation, motion practice, mediation, and arbitration—successfully avoiding trial.
- Successfully moved to vacate a default judgment in a federal trademark action, avoiding a significant adverse judgment and saving the client hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential liability.
- Represented a logistics company in AAA arbitration involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and diversion of a key business relationship, developing the evidentiary record that positioned the matter for a favorable mediated resolution.
- Secured complete dismissal of a high-exposure construction injury lawsuit through strategic analysis of contractual risk allocation, insurance coverage, and dispositive statutory defenses.
- Recovered substantial unpaid brokerage commissions through coordinated litigation against multiple liable parties, resulting in a series of negotiated settlements and enforceable court judgments.
Scope of Representation
Commercial & Business Litigation
- Breach of contract
- Partnership, shareholder, and LLC disputes
- Business torts
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Fraud and misrepresentation
- Unfair competition
- Trade secret and restrictive covenant disputes
- Corporate governance / shareholder disputes
- Commercial debt collections and creditor’s rights
Real Estate & Construction Litigation
- Construction defect claims
- Payment disputes and mechanic’s liens
- Construction contract disputes
- Project delays and change orders
- Commercial landlord-tenant disputes
- Purchase and sale disputes
- Title and boundary disputes
- Zoning and land use
Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trademark infringement
- Trade secret misappropriation
- Domain name disputes
- Licensing disputes
Civil Litigation
- Fraud and financial misconduct
- Defamation
- Business interference claims
- Consumer disputes
- Injunctions and emergency relief
Appellate Practice
- Appeals in state and federal courts
- Post-judgment motions
- Writs and extraordinary relief
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a typical civil lawsuit take to resolve?
It depends on the complexity of the case, whether parties are willing to negotiate settlement, and the court’s calendar. A straightforward dispute may resolve in 6 to 12 months; complex commercial litigation involving extensive discovery can take considerably longer.
Do all litigation matters end up going to trial?
No—the large majority of civil cases settle before trial. However, being genuinely prepared to try a case is often what makes an early, favorable settlement possible.
What’s the difference between litigation and arbitration?
Litigation takes place in court under formal procedural rules with a right of appeal; arbitration is a private out-of-court process, typically faster and more limited in scope, with a decision that is usually final.
Related Practice Areas
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Immigration
Business and compliance experience helps us design strategies that support personal and commercial goals together.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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