Business disputes in Oregon often happen in many different areas. Frequently businesses disagree on the exact terms of prior contracts or arrangements. Also, billing issues and property matters can give rise to disagreements in the business setting.
What to Do in a Business Dispute?
If you are involved in a business dispute in Portland, Oregon you should first review all relevant documents, including past and current contracts. These documents might contain clauses that dictate how and where you should handle a dispute. If there are no relevant documents, or the contracts do not have resolution clauses, then the dispute might need to be taken to court. Oregon courts look to the individual cases in determining the best resolution. Where two parties have not agreed beforehand on how to handle a dispute, a specific set of legal principles is used instead. The laws designed to settle contract disputes are different in each state. Lawyers practicing in Portland are versed in the contract law of Oregon, and can help you to handle the dispute should it go to court. Negotiations might also proceed more smoothly when an attorney is consulted, which may even lead to a resolution outside of court.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Contracts occasionally have clauses that mandate resolution outside of court. Methods for reaching out of court solutions are often called Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR. Mediation and Arbitration are included in the concept of ADR. ADR is designed to reach the same conclusion as a court, but without the cost and inconvenience of actually appearing before a judge. Nevertheless, each form of ADR carries its own set of protocol, often involving a neutral third party that resolves the conflict according to the law. If your business dispute is to be resolved by ADR, an attorney experienced with these methods in Portland can counsel you throughout the process and develop the case you will present.