Texas Business Dispute Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Texas business litigation attorneys who can navigate the new Texas Business Court, contract disputes, fiduciary breaches, and complex commercial cases in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and across the state. We’ll match you with the right Texas attorney — at no cost to get started.

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.

Four elements: a valid contract, your performance, the other side’s breach, and damages. Documents win. Texas recognizes the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in narrow contexts (insurance, special-relationship cases); it is generally not a default in commercial contracts.

Usually yes. The Federal Arbitration Act preempts most state-law challenges and Texas courts routinely enforce commercial arbitration clauses. Texas has also adopted the Texas Arbitration Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ch. 171).

Texas has adopted the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ch. 24). When a debtor moves assets to dodge creditors, TUFTA lets you claw assets back or get a judgment against the transferee.

Texas Business Court — operative Sept. 1, 2024 — has appointed judges with commercial experience, specialized procedural rules, dedicated dockets, and written opinions. For qualifying cases (over $5M or specific subject-matter categories like derivative actions and internal affairs), this is now the most sophisticated state forum in Texas for complex commercial litigation.

Often. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 38.001 awards fees to prevailing plaintiffs on contracts and certain other claims (recently expanded to apply to organizations, not just individuals). DTPA, contractual prevailing-party clauses, and specific statutes also shift fees. Texas is unusually plaintiff-friendly on contract fees compared to many states.

Why Do You Need a Business Dispute Attorney in Texas?

Texas has adopted the UCC in full (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ch. 2 et seq.) and just launched the Texas Business Court — a new specialized statewide trial court created by SB 27 (2023) and operative September 1, 2024. The Texas Business Court has jurisdiction over qualifying complex business cases (typically over $5M in controversy, with broader subject-matter jurisdiction over derivative actions, internal-affairs disputes, and certain securities claims) and is structured to hear them with appointed judges and dedicated rules. Texas’s Business Organizations Code (TBOC, Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code) is one of the most comprehensive entity statutes in the country, governing corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and limited partnerships. Texas’s DTPA (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ch. 17) can apply in some commercial contexts.

When Do You Need a Business Dispute Attorney in Texas?

Our network includes Texas business dispute attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Business Dispute Cases in Texas

From the moment you connect with a Texas business dispute attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Missing Texas’s 4-year SOL under § 16.051 — and the 4-year UCC § 2.725 deadline

Failing to preserve emails, Slack, texts, and contract files immediately

Talking directly to opposing counsel without your own attorney and giving away admissions

Accepting partial payment with language that operates as accord and satisfaction under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 3.311 and waiving the rest of the claim

Failing to timely file a UCC-1 financing statement or perfect a mechanic’s/materialman’s lien under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 53

Drafting non-competes that don’t comply with the Covenants Not to Compete Act (§ 15.50) — requires an otherwise enforceable agreement and supporting consideration

Missing Texas’s 4-year SOL under § 16.051 — and the 4-year UCC § 2.725 deadline

Failing to preserve emails, Slack, texts, and contract files immediately

Talking directly to opposing counsel without your own attorney and giving away admissions

Accepting partial payment with language that operates as accord and satisfaction under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 3.311 and waiving the rest of the claim

Failing to timely file a UCC-1 financing statement or perfect a mechanic’s/materialman’s lien under Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 53

Drafting non-competes that don’t comply with the Covenants Not to Compete Act (§ 15.50) — requires an otherwise enforceable agreement and supporting consideration

Common Texas Business Dispute Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Texas Business Dispute Attorneys Cost?

Hourly

Typically billed hourly with a retainer. Ethics rules in most states limit contingency arrangements in these matters.

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.

What Can Your Texas Business Dispute Compensation Include?

Compensatory / Actual Damages

Direct losses caused by the breach — the benefit of the bargain.

Lost Profits

Texas allows lost profits when proven with reasonable certainty (Holt Atherton v. Heine, ERI Consulting v. Swinnea). Established businesses with track records have the easiest path.

Consequential Damages

Foreseeable losses under Hadley v. Baxendale. For sale-of-goods cases, Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 2.715 governs buyer’s consequential and incidental damages.

Exemplary Damages

Available under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ch. 41 for clear-and-convincing evidence of fraud, malice, or gross negligence. Generally capped at the greater of 2x economic damages plus up to $750,000 noneconomic, or $200,000.

Attorney Fees

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 38.001 awards fees to prevailing plaintiffs on contracts. DTPA, contractual clauses, and specific statutes also shift fees.

Specific Performance / Injunctive Relief

Available when money damages are inadequate. Granted under Tex. R. Civ. P. 680 et seq.

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DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Texas Business Dispute Attorneys

Why Do You Need a Business Dispute Attorney in Texas?

When Do You Need a Business Dispute Attorney in Texas?

Types of Business Dispute Cases in Texas

Common Texas Business Dispute Mistakes

How Much Do Texas Business Dispute Attorneys Cost?

What Can Your Texas Business Dispute Compensation Include?

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