Since its inception, a significant portion of the Firm's practice has consisted of litigation arising out of business transactions and relationships. This practice has entailed litigation in the New Hampshire Supreme, Superior and District Courts, as well as the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of New Hampshire and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
The Firm's focus on commercial litigation encompasses a wide range of civil litigation. Litigation in this category generally arises out of the alleged breach of a business agreement, and since the variety of such agreements is nearly limitless, the Firm's experience in this area is extremely broad. The Firm has represented individual and business clients in matters as varied as:
- Wrongful discharge, discrimination and employment disputes
- Corporate break-ups and disputes among business owners
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Misappropriation of trade secrets
- Violation of covenants not to compete
- Loan workouts, lender liability claims and disputes with lenders
- Debtor and creditor issues
- Hold harmless and indemnity agreements
- Fraudulent conveyances
- Title disputes and adverse possession
- Fraud and consumer protection
The Firm's litigation practice covers virtually the entire range of court processes and proceedings, including the filing of initial pleadings, motion practice, preliminary hearings, attachment hearings, bench and jury trials, and appeals. Alternative dispute resolution has become increasingly common, and the Firm is regularly involved in mandatory procedures required by the court system, as well as voluntary mediation and arbitration proceedings, whether privately arranged or conducted through the American Arbitration Association.