Miami, FL 
Florida Business Law & Commercial Litigation Attorneys
Strategic Counsel. Relentless Advocacy.
At Perez Mayoral, P.A., we represent business owners, investors, and partners in high-stakes commercial disputes. When problems arise, whether it’s a breach of contract, partnership conflict, or corporate misconduct, we act quickly and strategically to safeguard your interests and pursue lasting, business-minded solutions.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Your property. Your rights. Our fight. | Hablamos Español
Business Litigation Services
Millions Won for Florida Businesses
Contract Disputes
Handling breaches, interpretation issues, and enforcement of contract clauses to protect clients’ rights and obligations.
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes
Representing stakeholders in disputes over management, profit distribution, and breaches of fiduciary duties.
Business Torts
Addressing issues like tortious interference, unfair competition, defamation, fraud, and more to protect clients and recover damages.
Commercial Real Estate Litigation
Managing disputes involving lease issues, zoning, property rights, and eminent domain.
Employment Disputes
Representing businesses in cases of wrongful termination, discrimination, wage disputes, and breaches of noncompete or confidentiality agreements.
Corporate Governance and Fiduciary Duty Litigation
Focusing on disputes related to governance, breaches of fiduciary duties, mismanagement, and corporate integrity.
Construction Litigation
Dealing with breaches, construction defects, mechanic’s liens, and payment or performance disputes.
Intellectual Property Litigation
Assisting in the defense and enforcement of trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets.
Video Resources
FOR FLORIDA BUSINESSES
Strategic Counsel. Relentless Advocacy.
Protecting the interests of Florida businesses, investors, and shareholders through sophisticated representation in state and federal courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions Answered
How do I know if my business has grounds for a lawsuit?
Your business may have grounds for a lawsuit if you’ve experienced financial harm due to another party’s actions or failure to meet their obligations. Common indicators include breach of contract where the other party failed to deliver goods, services, or payments as agreed, fraudulent business practices that caused monetary losses, interference with your business relationships or existing contracts, trademark or copyright infringement affecting your brand, partnership disputes involving mismanagement of funds or breach of fiduciary duties, or employment issues such as trade secret theft by former employees. Additionally, if you’ve suffered damages from construction defects, real estate disputes, or unfair competition practices, you likely have viable legal claims.
The key factors Florida courts consider are whether you can demonstrate actual damages, establish the other party’s legal responsibility, and show a clear connection between their actions and your losses. To determine if your specific situation warrants legal action, gather all relevant documentation including contracts, correspondence, financial records, and evidence of damages. Contact our experienced business litigation attorneys for a consultation where we can evaluate the strength of your potential claims and discuss the most effective legal strategy for your case.
How long does litigation typically take?
Business litigation timelines in Florida vary widely based on the case’s complexity, court schedules, and whether parties reach settlement agreements. Simple contract disputes or straightforward business matters may resolve within 6-12 months, while complex commercial litigation involving multiple parties, extensive discovery, or involved legal issues can take 2-3 years or longer to reach trial. The discovery phase, where parties exchange documents and take depositions, typically accounts for the majority of litigation time and can last 6-18 months depending on the volume of information involved.
Factors that can extend timelines include crowded court dockets, motions practice, appeals, and the opposing party’s cooperation level. Many cases settle during mediation or negotiations before reaching trial, which can significantly shorten the overall process. Federal court cases often move faster than state court matters due to different scheduling practices and case management approaches. Emergency situations may qualify for expedited hearings or temporary injunctions that can provide quicker relief while the main case proceeds. For a realistic timeline estimate based on your specific business dispute, contact our office for a consultation where we can evaluate your case’s unique circumstances and provide a more precise timeframe for resolution.
Can my business recover attorney fees in litigation?
Whether your business can recover attorney fees in litigation depends on the specific circumstances of your case and applicable Florida law. Florida generally follows the “American Rule,” meaning each party pays their own attorney fees unless there’s a specific statute, contract provision, or legal principle that allows fee recovery. Common situations where businesses can recover attorney fees include contracts with prevailing party clauses, cases involving statutory violations like unfair trade practices or certain employment disputes, trademark and copyright infringement claims, and situations where the opposing party acted in bad faith or filed frivolous claims.
Additionally, Florida’s offer of judgment statute allows fee recovery in some cases where a party rejects a reasonable settlement offer and then receives a less favorable judgment at trial. The amount recoverable must be reasonable and necessary, and courts will review fee requests to ensure they’re appropriate for the work performed. To understand your potential for fee recovery in your specific case, contact our team for a consultation where we can review your contracts, assess applicable statutes, and develop a strategy that maximizes your chances of recovering attorney fees along with other damages.
What are the costs associated with business litigation?
Business litigation costs in Florida include several components beyond attorney fees, such as court filing fees ranging from $400-$500 to initiate a lawsuit, deposition costs of $500-$1,500 per witness, expert witness fees that can reach $200-$500 per hour, and expenses for document production, investigations, or forensic analysis when needed. Additional costs may include mediation fees, court reporter charges, and potential bond requirements for certain types of relief. The total expense depends heavily on factors like case duration, the amount of discovery required, number of parties involved, and whether the matter settles early or proceeds to trial.
Simple contract disputes might resolve for under $30,000, while complex commercial matters can cost significantly more depending on their scope and duration. Many cases settle during negotiations or mediation, which typically reduces overall expenses compared to full trial proceedings. To understand the potential costs for your specific situation and discuss our fee structure, schedule a consultation where we can evaluate your case and provide a detailed breakdown of expected expenses and available payment options.
What are my options if the other party isn’t upholding their end of a contract?
When another party breaches a contract, you have several legal remedies available under Florida law depending on the severity of the breach and your specific damages. Your options include seeking monetary damages to compensate for financial losses caused by the breach, requesting specific performance to force the other party to fulfill their contractual obligations, or pursuing contract rescission to cancel the agreement and restore both parties to their pre-contract position. You may also be entitled to consequential damages for additional losses that resulted from the breach, such as lost profits or costs incurred due to their failure to perform.
Before pursuing litigation, consider sending a formal demand letter outlining the breach and requesting compliance, as this can sometimes resolve the matter without court involvement and may be required under your contract terms. If the breach is ongoing, you might seek a temporary restraining order or injunction to prevent further harm to your business. In cases where the other party’s breach is substantial, you may have grounds to terminate the contract and seek damages for any losses incurred. The statute of limitations for contract disputes in Florida is typically five years for written contracts and four years for oral agreements, so timely action is important. Contact our attorneys for a consultation to review your contract terms, assess your damages, and determine the most effective strategy for enforcing your rights and recovering compensation.
Port St. Lucie Breach Of Contract Lawyer
Are you looking for a breach of contract lawyer in Port St. Lucie, FL?
At Perez Mayoral, P.A., we are trusted breach of contract counsel for businesses and individuals throughout Port St. Lucie.
If a contract you relied on has been broken in Port St. Lucie, you have legal options for recovering what you are owed. Our Port St. Lucie, FL breach of contract lawyer represents businesses and individuals in disputes over written and oral agreements. We enforce contracts, recover losses, and defend clients accused of breaching. At Perez Mayoral, P.A., our attorneys handle payment disputes, service failures, and broken promises that disrupt business or personal transactions. If a contract dispute has reached an impasse, contact us to arrange an initial case review.
Breach of Contract Lawyer Port St. Lucie, FL
A breach of contract lawyer represents a party seeking to enforce an agreement or defend against a claim that it was broken. A contract forms when parties exchange promises the law will hold them to, whether the terms are written, spoken, or shown through conduct. When one party fails to keep its promise, the other may have a claim, provided it acts before the deadline set by law.
Our Port St. Lucie breach of contract attorneys start by reading the agreement and the facts around it. We identify what was promised, how the promise was broken, and what our client can recover or defend. Many disputes settle once each side sees its exposure. Others go to court. Clients often reach us after a broken business contract has stalled every attempt at a resolution.
Types of Breach of Contract Cases We Handle in Port St. Lucie
A breach can take many shapes, from a missed payment to a deal that falls apart entirely. We represent businesses and individuals in Port St. Lucie and the surrounding communities across the following matters.
- Nonpayment and unpaid invoices. The most common breach is a party that simply does not pay. We pursue payment on unpaid invoices and defend clients accused of owing money they do not owe.
- Failure to deliver goods or services. When a party does not provide what the agreement promised, the other side has options. We act when a breach occurs and performance falls short of the terms.
- Written and verbal agreements. Enforceable contracts are not always signed documents. We handle disputes over written contracts and deals reached through texts or emails.
- Defective or incomplete performance. Partial or substandard work drives many disputes. We assess whether the shortfall justifies withholding payment or supports a claim for damages.
- Purchase and sale disputes. Deals for goods, equipment, or a business itself can collapse at closing or after. We pursue and defend claims that arise from purchase and sale agreements.
- Guaranty and small-business disputes. Owners often stand behind a company’s obligations. We represent small businesses and the individuals who personally guarantee their contracts.
- Restrictive covenant and non-compete breaches. Agreements that limit competition are frequently litigated. We handle non-compete disputes and act when a former employee takes protected relationships.
- Defense against contract claims. Being sued for breach is not the same as being liable. We raise the available defenses and test whether the other side performed its own obligations first.
Why Choose Perez Mayoral, P.A. as My Breach of Contract Lawyer in Port St. Lucie, FL?
A contract dispute can stall a project, freeze a payment, or damage a relationship you depend on. We work to resolve it on terms that protect what matters to you.
Both Sides of Contract Disputes
We represent the party enforcing a contract and the party defending against a claim, which gives us a full view of how these disputes are won and lost. Michael P. Mayoral co-founded the firm and tries breach of contract, business, and real estate cases. Erik A. Perez co-founded the firm and leads its Business Litigation Practice Group. Both attorneys earned their law degrees from the University of Miami and their undergraduate degrees from Florida International University, and both are members of the Florida Bar. When a contract dispute is part of a larger commercial conflict, our business litigation lawyer in Port St. Lucie, FL handles the broader matter.
Recognition and Track Record
Our case results include recoveries and enforcement outcomes in contract, business, and property matters, as well as an appellate victory in a multi-year commercial case involving real estate claims. Michael Mayoral is a member of The National Trial Lawyers, and our attorneys are consulted by local and legal media on business and contract disputes.
Understanding Breach of Contract Cases in Port St. Lucie
Proving a Breach and the Relief Available
A breach of contract claim comes down to four questions: was there a valid agreement, did the party bringing the claim hold up its end, did the other side fail to perform, and did that failure cause a loss. When the answer to each is yes, Florida law offers relief that may include:
- Damages designed to place the injured party in the position performance would have.
- Repayment of money or the return of property transferred under the agreement.
- Specific performance where the subject of the contract cannot be replaced with money.
- Cancellation of the agreement when the breach goes to its heart.
Relief is not automatic, and the strongest cases are built on documents rather than recollection. Disputes among owners or partners can add another layer, as when a partner breaches a joint venture.
What Are Important Aspects of a Breach of Contract Case?
The outcome usually rests on two things: what the agreement says, and what each party actually did. We look closely at several points before advising a client.
- The exact terms of the contract, including any conditions and deadlines.
- Proof that our client performed, or was excused from performing.
- The records that show how and when the breach happened.
- The red flags that may have signaled trouble in the agreement from the start.
A dispute can turn on a single clause, so we read the agreement line by line before taking a position.
What Is the Breach of Contract Case Timeline?
Contract cases move at a pace set by the amount in dispute and the parties’ willingness to settle. A common path runs as follows:
- A review of the contract and the events that led to the dispute.
- A demand letter stating the breach and the relief sought.
- Negotiation, and where it helps, mediation.
- Filing suit if the other side will not resolve the matter.
- Discovery, motions, and trial when a settlement is not reached.
Many disputes settle after the demand or during discovery. Others are tried. The other side’s willingness to engage sets much of the pace.
What Should You Bring to Your Breach of Contract Consultation?
The more you can document, the faster we can evaluate the claim or the defense. Please bring the following, even if your file has gaps.
- The contract, along with any amendments or related agreements.
- Records of payments made or received, and of your own performance.
- Emails, texts, and letters exchanged with the other party.
- A short timeline of how the dispute unfolded.
During your initial case review, we will read the agreement and explain the options open to you. There is no obligation to proceed.
Important Florida Legal Resources for Breach of Contract Cases
Florida keeps the statutes and court resources that govern contract disputes in a few official places. The sources below let a party confirm the rules that apply to an agreement.
- Interest, lending terms, and the limits on what a contract may charge appear in Chapter 687.
- The rules for entering and enforcing a money judgment are set out in Chapter 55.
- The general procedures that govern a civil lawsuit, including settlement offers, appear in Chapter 45.
- Contract cases in Port St. Lucie are heard in the Circuit Civil Division of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.
These sources point to the governing rules. They are not a substitute for advice about a specific contract.
Reach Out to Perez Mayoral, P.A. to Schedule a Consultation
If a contract has been broken, or you stand accused of breaking one, the attorneys at Perez Mayoral, P.A. are ready to help. Our Port St. Lucie breach of contract lawyer represents businesses and individuals across the Treasure Coast. Contact us to request an initial case review. We will read the agreement, explain your options under Florida law, and recommend the course that best protects your interests.
