Breach of Contract Solicitors
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Breach of Contract Solicitors
Breach of
Contract Solicitors
Commercial contracts are essential to the operation of a business, defining expectations and providing security that your business interests will stay protected. Where a contract is breached, it can be very frustrating with the potential to cost you a lot of time and money.
However, with an expert breach of contract solicitor on your side, it is usually possible to resolve contract disputes quickly and cost effectively. And with Summit Law on your team, we always do this in a way that aligns with your overall business goals.
A boutique, Lexcel accredited law firm, our team have over 100 years of combined experience in pursuing and defending all types of breach of contract claims. And, as a result, we have a strong track record of success. Helping our clients to achieve positive outcomes, usually without the need for expensive and time-consuming court proceedings, we give you the best chance of success. But we don’t expect you to take our word for it. Instead, we invite you to read the reviews left by our many happy clients.
For more information on how we can help you with a breach of contract claim, please call us on 020 7467 3980, or make an online enquiry where one of our specialist breach of contract lawyers will be in touch.
Common breach of contract claims
At Summit Law, our breach of contract solicitors put the needs of your business first. And we always take the time to understand your priorities. Furthermore, we will devise a litigation strategy that helps you to succeed in the short term, while also matching your overall business interests and long-term commercial goals.
We can help with all types of breach of contract claims, including:
- Construction contract disputes
- Employee contract disputes
- Misrepresentation claims
- Commercial lease and building contract disputes
- Contracts of sale/hire
- IP disputes
- International contract disputes
- Supplier/service agreement disputes
- Warranty and indemnity matters
- And more.
How breach of contract claims work
A breach of contract claim will normally fall into one (or more) of four categories: minor, material, fundamental and anticipatory. When you appoint us, we will establish the type of contractual breach you are dealing with.
- With a minor breach of contract, one party may not even be aware that they caused a breach, and it is often simple to agree on a compromise.
- A material breach of contract could have serious consequences if not fixed. Nevertheless, open discussions and mediation often help both parties to come to a resolution.
- A fundamental breach means that the contract can be legally terminated, and the innocent party can seek damages.
- An anticipatory breach of contract occurs when one party explicitly states that they will not be carrying out a term/condition of the contract.
How we deal with your claim depends on both the type of breach and the parties involved. Often mediation and negotiation from an expert breach of contract solicitor can help to get things back on track. In more serious breaches, we may need to make or defend against claims for damages.
After we have reviewed your circumstances, we will outline the options available to you. With strong expertise in alternative dispute resolution, we can often help to conclude breach of contract disputes quickly, without formal proceedings. However, where this is not possible, we have the requisite experience and resources to support you through every stage of court litigation.
How to prove a breach of contract
Sometimes, it is difficult to know whether a contract has been breached. Especially as many commercial contracts are complex and frustratingly vague.
Whether you are concerned that a commercial partner has not honoured a contract, or you have been accused of a breach, our breach of contract lawyers will establish if a violation has occurred, and, if so, how serious it is.
To do this, our commercial team will review your contract, establish the facts and give a clear, honest opinion on whether the terms have been breached. This includes:
- Proving that a legally binding contract existed in the first place
- Proving that one party did or did not perform their part of the contract as expected
- Clarifying what part of the contract was breached, and how it was breached
- Looking at whether the breach caused any loss (a loss has to be suffered before any compensation payment would be awarded)
- Examining whether reasonable steps were taken to mitigate the impact of the breach.
Once a breach of contract has been established, we will advise you on your legal options.
Reasons to choose Summit Law
Summit Law’s team of expert commercial litigation lawyers will work closely with you to understand your goals and take a practical, business-minded approach to finding the right strategies for your priorities. By putting your business needs at the heart of everything we do, our expert breach of contract solicitors will always find the best solution for you.
Exceptional client service
Client care is very much at the forefront of our service. Accordingly, when you choose us as your breach of contract lawyers, you can be sure that you will always receive the very best proactive legal advice and a genuinely personal service.
We are a partner-led firm, so we also guarantee that your contract dispute will be handled by an experienced lawyer with the involvement of a partner who will apply their own knowledge and wealth of experience.
Over 100 years’ combined experience
At Summit Law, our breach of contract lawyers have all the experience necessary to resolve your contract disputes as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible. Our team of expert breach of contract lawyers will work closely with you to understand your goals and take a practical, business-minded approach to finding the right strategies for your priorities.
Providing a cool head in a tense situation, we also think outside of the box. So, when you work with us, we might give you options you haven’t even thought of to resolve your breach of contract claim.
Transparent pricing
Our breach of contract solicitors believe in an honest, transparent and jargon-free approach, so you always know where you stand. And this transparency relates to our fees too.
Indeed, we provide various funding options and make sure you understand the likely cost. We’ll give you an estimate of the cost at the outset of your case, and, so you always feel in control, we’ll update the estimate at regular intervals as your case progresses. This means that there are never any nasty surprises. We will always be entirely upfront about the likelihood of successfully bringing or defending any court action, making sure you do not waste time, money and effort on court proceedings that are unlikely to get you the outcome you need.
Industry recognition
With our level of knowledge and experience, we are recognised leaders in the legal industry. Our team includes members of the London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA), reflecting our commitment to developing and maintaining best practices in the field of civil and commercial litigation.
In addition, we have received the much-coveted Law Society Lexcel accreditation for the high standards of our legal practice. We are also independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Breach of contract lawyers - FAQ's
A breach of contract can happen for one of any number of reasons. For example:
- – If one party refuses to execute their duties as set out in the terms of the contract
- – If the work carried out is sub-standard
- – If one party does not pay within the limits specified in the contract
- – If one party fails to deliver goods or services as agreed in the contract
- – If one party is late to perform their duties without a reasonable excuse.
- Where you are not sure if a contract has been breached, our expert commercial solicitors will clarify the situation and advise on the actions available to you. For further advice, please do call our experienced solicitors today on 020 7467 3980.
- If another party to a contract has breached the terms, we can assist you with making a claim for appropriate restitution. Our commercial litigation team will carefully discuss the outcome you need to achieve, then explain the various options available to you.
- In the first instance, we typically attempt to negotiate an amicable outcome as this is usually the best option for everyone involved. However, where a contract dispute cannot be settled out-of-court, we will advise on whether court proceedings are likely to achieve a positive result – and at what cost.
If you are accusing another party of breaching a contract, we will look at how to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible. If we believe that damages are due, we will claim these to put you back in the position you would have been in if the contract had been met as agreed. The type of damages we help you to claim will depend on your specific circumstances but are likely to include special damages (for quantifiable losses) and general damages (unquantifiable losses). Depending on what you want to achieve, we may also seek to obtain a court order to force the other side to carry out their contractual obligations.
Should you be accused of breaching the terms of a contract, we can advise you on whether we believe this is truly the case and your legal options depending on whether a breach has occurred or not. Where a breach has occurred, it is often in your best interests to offer a swift settlement, saving you time, money and potential damage to important business relationships and your reputation. Where we believe a breach has not occurred, we will robustly defend your position, including in court where required.
No, a contract does not have to be a written document to be breached. A breach of contract can be of a verbal, written or implied agreement between parties.
A contractual agreement is based on the terms of ‘offer’ and ‘acceptance’. In this, one party (the offeror), makes a proposition which, once accepted by another party (the offeree), creates a binding contract (as long as there is an intention on both sides to do so). So a contract does not have to be in writing to be legally binding.
Our breach of contract fees
Our commercial litigation fees are determined by the amount of time spent dealing with your matter and the level of expertise required. Each of our commercial lawyers has an individual hourly rate ranging from £195 to £450 plus VAT, depending on their level of experience. By working as a team and using technology to streamline tasks wherever possible, we aim to save you legal fees.
Of course, for any business, the cost and time involved in pursuing legal action is always an important consideration. By offering timely intervention and pragmatic advice, we can typically find a positive outcome to your contract dispute.
To find out more about the likely costs involved in dealing with a breach of contract dispute, please get in touch, and we will be happy to advise you.
Contact our breach of contract solicitors
Based in the heart of legal London, we are just a stone’s throw away from the Royal Courts of Justice, the Employment Appeal’s Tribunal and Inns of Court. We are also members of the International Legal and Accounting Solutions (ILAS) – an international network of trusted professional advisors. As a result, we are perfectly situated to support clients in London, across the UK, and all over the world.
For more information, please call us on 020 7467 3980, or complete our online enquiry form and one of our specialist breach of contract solicitors will be in touch to find out more about how we can help you and your business.