Business Dispute Attorneys in Austin, TX

Startup co-founders in Austin sometimes discover their handshake deal meant different things to each of them, and the fight lands in Travis County court. A Texas-licensed business dispute attorney serving Austin will look at your situation for free.

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How we match your Austin business dispute case

When you submit a Austin business dispute matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A business dispute matter needs someone who handles business dispute work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Texas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Texas who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Business Dispute cases in Austin

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Austin’s startup scene, real estate boom, and thousands of small firms around downtown generate contract breaches, partnership splits, and vendor disputes every week. When a deal between two local companies falls apart, the lawsuit is usually heard in Travis County courts, where juries and judges see commercial cases very differently than their counterparts in Houston or a rural county. Deadlines depend on the type of claim, so waiting is risky. DearLegal matches you with a Texas-licensed attorney who handles business dispute cases in Austin, with a free review.

Commercial disputes from Austin companies are heard in Travis County courts.
Austin’s tech and startup economy produces frequent founder, equity, and contract disagreements.
Many Austin firms also do business in Houston, 146 miles away, which can affect where a case is filed.

Texas business dispute rules at a glance

Austin cases run under Texas law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Texas page.

Read the full Texas business dispute guide →

SOL — Written Contract: 4 years
4 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051)
SOL — Oral Contract: 4 years
4 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.051)
UCC Article 2 (Goods) SOL: 4 years
4 years from tender of delivery (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 2.725); UCC adopted in full
Business Court / Texas Business Court: Business Court
Texas Business Court — operative Sept. 1, 2024 (SB 27, 2023); statewide jurisdiction over qualifying cases (> $5M and specific subject-matter categories)
Long-Arm / Personal Jurisdiction: §§ 17.041-17.045
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 17.041-17.045 — extends to the full limits of federal due process
Typical attorney fee: Contingency
Hourly / Retainer (Contingency Available for Plaintiff Cases)

Exhibit D

How much do Austin business dispute attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Texas · Business Dispute

Fee modelHourly / Retainer

Contingency available for plaintiff cases

Rate & retainerset in your engagement letter

Estimategiven before you commit

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Business Dispute matters in Texas are usually billed hourly against a retainer, with the estimate spelled out before you commit.

Texas business litigation is typically billed hourly against a retainer at major-market rates (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio). Plaintiff-side commercial collections, certain fraud and DTPA cases, and contract cases with strong § 38.001 or contractual fee-shifting can be handled on 33%–40% contingency or a hybrid fee. Texas Business Court cases typically run hourly. A good Texas business litigator will walk you through fee structures and budgets upfront.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

Austin business dispute questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Texas attorney will review it for free.

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Most disputes between Austin businesses are filed in Travis County courts, though a contract may name a different county or require arbitration. Where the case lands matters because local juries view commercial claims differently. An attorney will read your agreement and tell you where and how the dispute should be handled.

Yes. Disputes over ownership, vesting, and duties between founders are common in Austin’s tech community. Whether you win depends on your operating agreement, emails, and how the company was run. A business attorney can review the documents and explain your options, including negotiation before any lawsuit.

Texas sets strict filing deadlines that vary with the type of claim, and evidence like invoices and messages can disappear. Acting early also gives you leverage in negotiation. An Austin business attorney can confirm your deadline and decide whether a demand letter or a lawsuit is the right first step.

Settle when the relationship matters and litigation costs would eat your recovery. Litigate when the other side won’t engage, you need an injunction, your case qualifies for the new Texas Business Court (over $5M or specific subject-matter categories), or you have a fee-shifting clause. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 38.001 also fee-shifts for prevailing plaintiffs on contracts — a key Texas advantage.

Move quickly. Texas Business Organizations Code (TBOC) gives you books-and-records rights, fiduciary-duty claims, and dissolution remedies. The Texas Business Court has subject-matter jurisdiction over many entity disputes regardless of amount. Demand records in writing, preserve everything, and get counsel before you’re locked out.