Why We Don’t Take On Certain Business Litigation Matters

‍Several times a week, a potential client contacts us because someone owes them a substantial amount of money—but not enough to make it worthwhile to litigate. It’s a frustrating position to be in. The amount is too large for small claims court (which in California is capped at $5,000 for businesses), but not large enough to justify the significant costs of full-scale litigation. This gap can feel like a legal wasteland.Some firms may still agree to take these cases, but we’ve found it’s almost always in the client’s best interest to be candid from the start. Rather than encourage someone to throw good money after bad, we believe it's better to shoot straight—even if that means saying we’re not the right fit for the matter.

‍Being Honest About the Legal Process

‍One of our core values is to give the same honest, practical advice we’d offer to close friends and family. That means being transparent not just about the legal rights of a potential client, but also being pragmatic about the risks, costs and potential outcomes.If you're weighing whether to pursue a dispute through the courts, it’s critical to understand what that process really looks like.

‍The Hard Truth About Litigation

‍The hard truth is that litigation is often long, expensive and comes with no guarantee of a favorable outcome—even if you’re in the right.  

Many business owners are surprised to learn that even relatively simple commercial cases can take two to three years to resolve in California. And that’s assuming everything goes smoothly.

Between discovery, depositions, pre-trial motions, expert witnesses, and multiple court appearances, the litigation process can quickly become time-consuming, expensive and emotionally draining.

That’s why it’s so important to think carefully about whether the amount at stake truly justifies the time, cost and uncertainty involved in pursuing a lawsuit.

Our Focus: Cases With $100,000 or More at Stake

Because of how intensive litigation is, we only take on business disputes where there’s at least $100,000 in dispute. That’s not because we don’t think smaller claims matter—they absolutely do. But focusing our practice this way allows us to:

• Give existing clients the level of service and responsiveness they deserve
• Avoid stretching our team too thin across too many active disputes
• Concentrate on the cases we’re best equipped to handle effectively

While this may not be the answer some potential clients want to hear, we believe our transparency provides real value—especially when other firms may not take the time to explain the true cost of litigation up front.‍

Why We Believe in Candor Over Short-Term Gain

‍In the short term, being selective about the litigation cases we accept sometimes means walking away from revenue. But we believe that being honest builds long-term relationships rooted in trust. Our job isn’t just to advocate—it’s to advise, and that includes telling someone when litigation may not make financial sense.

Considering Your Options?

‍If you're involved in a business dispute and trying to figure out your next step, contact us.

Whether we take your case or refer you to a firm that’s better positioned to help, our goal is to ensure you make informed, confident decisions based on the realities—not just the theory—of litigation in California.

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