Texas Business Litigation Attorney for Complex Commercial Disputes

When business relationships break down and negotiations fail, you need a trial-tested litigation attorney who understands both the courtroom and the boardroom. For over 20 years, Mark Alexander has protected Texas businesses through high-stakes litigation, securing victories in disputes ranging from straightforward contract breaches to complex multi-party commercial conflicts worth millions.

Texas business litigation isn’t just about winning in court—it’s about protecting your company’s future while managing costs, preserving relationships where possible, and achieving resolution on your timeline. Whether you’re facing a partnership dispute, defending against unfounded claims, or need to enforce your rights against a competitor, we bring the strategic thinking and aggressive advocacy your business needs.

When Business Disputes Demand Litigation

Not every business disagreement requires litigation, but when it does, acting decisively can mean the difference between a minor setback and a catastrophic loss. Texas businesses face unique challenges in our competitive market, where a single dispute can threaten years of hard work and investment.

Common Triggers for Business Litigation:

The phone calls we receive often start the same way: “We’ve tried everything else.” When informal resolution fails, mediation deadlocks, or the other side simply won’t honor their obligations, litigation becomes not just an option but a necessity. Courts throughout Texas see thousands of business litigation cases each year, ranging from simple payment disputes to complex corporate warfare involving multiple parties, jurisdictions, and millions in claimed damages.

In Texas’s business-friendly environment, courts understand commercial realities. Judges in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio regularly handle sophisticated business-litigation. They expect excellence from attorneys and have little patience for delays or gamesmanship. This demands an attorney who knows not just the law, but the local rules, judicial preferences, and strategic considerations that can make or break your case.

Types of Business Litigation We Handle

Partnership and Shareholder Disputes

When business partners fall out, the results can be devastating. We handle partnership dissolutions, shareholder oppression claims, and business divorce proceedings. These cases require delicate handling—aggressive enough to protect your interests, strategic enough to preserve value, and fast enough to prevent further damage. Whether you’re a minority shareholder being frozen out or a majority owner facing baseless accusations, we protect your investment and your rights.

Corporate Governance Litigation

Directors and officers face increasing scrutiny and litigation risk. We defend board members against breach of fiduciary duty claims, challenge ultra vires acts, and prosecute derivative actions. Corporate governance disputes often involve complex procedural requirements and tight deadlines. Missing a demand requirement or failing to plead with particularity can doom even meritorious claims.

Competitor Disputes and Unfair Competition

When competitors cross the line from aggressive to illegal, we take action. This includes cases involving theft of trade secrets, customer poaching, false advertising, and tortious interference with business relationships. Texas law provides powerful remedies for unfair competition, including injunctive relief and exemplary damages. We’ve secured emergency restraining orders within hours of discovering competitor misconduct.

Complex Contract Litigation

Beyond simple breach of contract claims, we handle complex commercial disputes involving multiple contracts, parties, and jurisdictions. This includes distributor agreements, franchise disputes, licensing conflicts, and major supply chain litigation. These cases often turn on careful contract interpretation, choice of law provisions, and sophisticated damage calculations.

Business Fraud and Deceptive Practices

When fraud infiltrates business dealings, the damages extend beyond money to trust and reputation. We pursue and defend claims involving securities fraud, wire fraud, fraudulent inducement, and fraudulent transfer. Texas’s strong anti-fraud statutes provide for actual damages, exemplary damages, and attorney’s fees—powerful leverage in settlement negotiations.

Commercial Real Estate Disputes

Real estate drives much of Texas’s economy, and disputes are inevitable. We litigate purchase agreement breaches, development disputes, lease conflicts, and title issues. These cases often involve specific performance remedies, lis pendens filings, and coordination with title companies and lenders.

The Texas Business Litigation Process

Pre-Litigation Strategy

Before filing suit, we conduct thorough investigation and analysis. This includes document review, witness interviews, asset searches, and strategic planning. Sometimes a strongly-worded demand letter from an experienced litigator can resolve matters without court involvement. When litigation is necessary, this preparation ensures we hit the ground running.

Filing Suit and Initial Proceedings

Texas litigation begins with the plaintiff’s original petition. Unlike federal court’s notice pleading, Texas requires fair notice of claims. We craft petitions that tell your story persuasively while meeting all technical requirements. For defendants, we analyze whether to challenge jurisdiction, venue, or pleadings through special exceptions or motions to dismiss.

Discovery Warfare

Discovery is where many cases are won or lost. Texas’s discovery rules are broad, allowing extensive document requests, interrogatories, and depositions. We use discovery strategically—not just to gather information but to increase pressure, expose weaknesses, and build settlement leverage. We also protect clients from abusive discovery through protective orders and objections.

Motion Practice

Strategic motion practice can narrow issues, eliminate claims, and even end cases entirely. We regularly file and defend:

  • Motions for summary judgment
  • Special exceptions challenging pleading deficiencies
  • Motions to compel discovery
  • Sanctions motions for litigation abuse
  • Emergency applications for injunctive relief

Trial Preparation and Execution

While most cases settle, we prepare every case for trial. This means developing themes, preparing witnesses, creating demonstratives, and crafting jury arguments. Mark Alexander has extensive trial experience handling complex commercial litigation matters. This experience in the courtroom provides leverage in settlement negotiations and confidence when trial becomes necessary.

Appeals and Post-Judgment Proceedings

Victory at trial is meaningless if you can’t collect. We pursue post-judgment discovery, asset seizures, and garnishments. When necessary, we handle appeals to Texas Courts of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. Appellate practice requires different skills than trial work—precise legal writing, issue preservation, and strategic thinking about which battles to fight.

Industries and Businesses We Represent

Business Litigation - Complex Commercial DisputesTexas’s diverse economy creates unique litigation challenges across industries:

Technology and Software Companies: IP disputes, licensing conflicts, development agreement breaches, and founder disputes. Technology moves faster than law, requiring attorneys who understand both.

Oil and Gas Operations: Joint operating agreement disputes, royalty litigation, and surface use conflicts. Energy litigation involves specialized contracts and regulations unique to Texas.

Healthcare Providers: Partnership dissolutions, non-compete enforcement, and billing disputes. Healthcare businesses face additional regulatory considerations that affect litigation strategy.

Manufacturing and Distribution: Supply chain disputes, product liability defense, and distributor termination conflicts. These cases often involve UCC issues and interstate commerce considerations.

Financial Services: Securities litigation, lending disputes, and fiduciary duty claims. Financial services litigation requires understanding of complex regulations and damage calculations.

Professional Services: Partnership splits, client disputes, and malpractice claims. Professional services firms have unique concerns about reputation and client relationships during litigation.

Why Texas Businesses Choose Mark Alexander

Trial Experience

Mark Alexander brings extensive trial experience to every case. This real courtroom experience—not just settlement negotiations—provides the credibility and leverage needed in high-stakes commercial litigation. Understanding how cases play out at trial informs every strategic decision from filing through resolution.

Strategic Business Understanding

We don’t just understand law—we understand business. Every litigation recommendation considers:

  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Impact on ongoing operations
  • Effect on business relationships
  • Public relations implications
  • Tax consequences
  • Insurance coverage issues

Responsive and Accessible

Business disputes don’t follow business hours. When urgent issues arise, you need access to decision-makers. Mark Alexander personally handles strategy decisions—you won’t be shuffled to junior attorneys for critical choices. We strive to return calls promptly and provide regular updates.

Efficient Staffing and Technology

We leverage technology to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Electronic discovery tools, case management systems, and virtual meeting capabilities mean lower bills without compromising results. We staff cases efficiently—you won’t pay for multiple attorneys at every hearing or deposition.

Immediate Actions When Litigation Threatens

Document Preservation

The moment litigation becomes likely, document preservation obligations attach. This means stopping automatic deletion policies, preserving electronic data, and securing physical documents. Spoliation of evidence can result in severe sanctions, including dismissal or adverse inference instructions.

Early Case Assessment

We quickly evaluate:

  • Strength of claims or defenses
  • Likely damages or exposure
  • Insurance coverage possibilities
  • Key witnesses and documents
  • Venue and jurisdiction issues
  • Settlement possibilities

Insurance Notification

Many businesses have insurance coverage they don’t realize applies to litigation. General liability, directors and officers, errors and omissions, and other policies may provide defense and indemnity. We help identify coverage and ensure proper notice to carriers.

Litigation Hold Implementation

Proper litigation holds require more than just telling employees not to delete things. We help implement comprehensive preservation protocols that satisfy legal obligations while minimizing business disruption.

Cost Considerations and Fee Arrangements

Traditional Hourly Billing

Most Texas business-litigation is handled on an hourly basis. We provide detailed billing statements and regular budget updates. Our rates are competitive with major firms while our efficiency often results in lower total costs.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

For appropriate cases, we offer:

  • Flat fees for specific tasks or phases
  • Contingency fees for plaintiff’s cases
  • Hybrid arrangements combining hourly and success fees
  • Capped fees for budget certainty

Cost Management Strategies

We help control costs through:

  • Early case assessment and budgeting
  • Strategic use of motion practice
  • Efficient discovery planning
  • Settlement evaluation at key milestones
  • Insurance coverage maximization

Mark A. Alexander, P.C. - Dallas, Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline varies significantly based on complexity and court dockets. Simple disputes might resolve in 6-12 months, while complex multi-party litigation can take 2-3 years. Texas’s expedited trial procedures can accelerate resolution when appropriate. We provide realistic timelines based on specific case factors.

Texas law allows recovery of actual damages, lost profits, consequential damages (if foreseeable), and sometimes exemplary damages. In certain cases, attorney’s fees are recoverable. We carefully evaluate all damage categories and develop proof to maximize recovery.

Mediation can save time and money when both parties genuinely want resolution. However, it can also waste resources if used as a delay tactic. We evaluate whether mediation makes strategic sense based on the specific dispute and parties involved.

Texas long-arm jurisdiction statutes often allow suits against out-of-state defendants who do business here. We analyze jurisdictional issues early and can coordinate with out-of-state counsel when necessary.

Texas follows the American Rule—each party pays their own fees unless a statute or contract provides otherwise. Many business contracts include fee-shifting provisions. Certain claims like breach of contract and fraud allow fee recovery. We evaluate fee recovery possibilities in every case.

Texas courts generally don’t seal court records without good cause. However, protective orders can shield sensitive business information during discovery. Settlement agreements typically include confidentiality provisions. We help balance transparency obligations with business confidentiality needs.

The earlier the better. Even if litigation seems unlikely, early consultation can help avoid mistakes that complicate later litigation. Once you’re served with a lawsuit, deadlines run quickly—Texas generally requires an answer within 20 days of service.

Take Action to Protect Your Business

Business litigation threatens everything you’ve worked to build. Whether you’re considering filing suit or defending against claims, decisive action and experienced counsel make the difference. Mark Alexander has the trial experience, business understanding, and strategic thinking to guide your business through complex litigation.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Texas litigation moves quickly, and early strategic decisions often determine outcomes. Contact us today for a confidential consultation about your business dispute.

Contact Mark A. Alexander, P.C.

The Gild
8150 North Central Expressway, 10th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75206

Phone: (972) 544-6968
Fax: (972) 421-1500
Email: mark@markalexanderlaw.com
Web: commerciallitigationtexas.com
Web: oilandgasfraudlawyer.com

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Serving businesses throughout Texas including Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Plano, Arlington, and all surrounding areas.

The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this information. Each business dispute is unique and requires individual analysis by qualified legal counsel.