At KEW Legal®, we handle business litigation for companies and investors across Miami, Coral Gables, and Sunny Isles Beach when a contract falls apart, a partner walks, or an unpaid obligation turns into a real dispute.
For more than 10 years, we have represented clients in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, the Southern District of Florida, and arbitration, including cross-border. We work in English and Spanish, and you deal directly with the attorney on your case, not a junior associate. Hablamos español.
Timing and forum matter here. According to the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator’s 2022-2023 Annual Report, Florida circuit courts disposed of roughly 98,000 civil cases that year, with business litigation often taking 18 to 36 months to resolve. Your contract may also require arbitration you never noticed.
Before you spend a dollar on litigation, we give you a clear-eyed read on whether your case is worth pursuing and what it would realistically take to win.
What Florida Business Owners Say About KEW Legal®
“Rather than feeling like just another client, I felt like a priority.” Rodrigo A.
Business owners want to be heard, not processed. This is what that looks like.
“Their support as general counsel for my small company has been invaluable.” Valeria R.
Ongoing legal counsel that grows with your business, not just one-off fixes.
“Professional and knowledgeable legal team… outstanding legal services that exceeded my expectations.” Marco M.
Clear-eyed guidance that delivers on what it promises.
“As fellow legal professionals, we have consistently referred clients to KEW Legal… thoroughly impressed with their exceptional service.” Igor H.
When other lawyers send their own clients to a firm, that says something.
“Kristina and her team made my closing extremely seamless.” Erika F.
Real estate work handled without the stress, from start to finish.
Our Business Litigation Services in Florida
- Breach of contract litigation
- Partnership and LLC member disputes
- Shareholder oppression and derivative claims
- Business tort claims, including fraud, fraudulent inducement, and tortious interference
- Trade secret misappropriation
- Non-compete and non-solicitation enforcement and defense
- Injunctive relief and temporary restraining orders
- Commercial collections and judgment enforcement
- Real estate-related business disputes
- Construction contract disputes
- Unfair business practices claims
- Corporate dissolution disputes
How Business Litigation Unfolds in Florida Courts
Most business disputes never see a courtroom. They start with a demand letter and a negotiation, and many resolve there. Filing suit is a step, not the first one, and knowing when to take it saves money.
Federal court comes into play when parties are from different states or countries (diversity) or the claim involves federal law. Cross-border disputes often trigger this, which matters for contract enforcement against foreign counterparties.
According to the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator’s Uniform Case Reporting Data for 2022 to 2023, Florida’s 20 judicial circuits handled over 2.7 million case filings, which explains why timelines run long.
Expect 12 to 36 months to reach trial. Along the way comes discovery (depositions, document requests), motion practice, and court-ordered mediation, which is mandatory in most Florida civil cases under Rule 1.700.
Speed still matters. When a partner is draining accounts or a trade secret is walking out the door, Florida law allows emergency injunctive relief. And contract fee clauses plus Florida’s offer of judgment rule can shift costs to the losing side.
Why Choose KEW Legal® in Florida
Cross-border disputes handled routinely, in English and Spanish
Spanish-language contracts, counterparties with assets abroad, and competing narratives across jurisdictions are familiar ground here, not exceptions. You explain your situation once, in the language you think in.
Integrated business and real estate perspective
KEW sees your dispute in full commercial context, from the contract itself to the underlying real estate or partnership behind it. That means fewer blind spots and a strategy that protects the whole business.
A practical, cost-aware approach
KEW weighs cost against risk instead of defaulting to scorched-earth litigation. If a case does not justify the spend, you will hear that plainly before you commit.
Proven on high-value commercial matters
With 10+ years in practice and experience on deals like the $412 million JW Marriott Miami Turnberry refinance, KEW handles sophisticated, high-value disputes with confidence.
Direct attorney access and real recognition
You work with the named attorney, not a junior handoff, backed by bar admissions in Florida, New York, and D.C. and recognition as Bad Ass Woman of the Year in the Law category.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Breach of Contract in Florida?
Florida generally gives a party five years to file a lawsuit based on a written contract and four years for an oral or handshake agreement. The deadline usually begins when the breach occurs, although the exact starting date may depend on the contract terms and the nature of the dispute. Missing the applicable deadline can prevent an otherwise valid claim from moving forward.
Because both the filing deadline and the precise wording of the contract can affect the case, it is important to review the original agreement and any translations before filing or responding to a breach of contract claim.
Get to Know KEW Legal®
KEW Legal® has spent more than a decade representing business owners and investors across Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, and Coral Gables. The firm focuses on business, corporate, real estate, and litigation matters, including the cross-border disputes that come with operating between Florida and Latin America.
When a partner walks, a vendor breaches, or a deal collapses across two countries, this is the work the firm handles every day.
You get direct answers about whether your claim is worth pursuing, what resolving it would realistically take, and where it belongs, whether that means contract enforcement, a real estate matter, or arbitration. Spanish-language service is standard, not an exception.
The firm’s credibility is grounded in real work: bar admissions in Florida, New York, and Washington, D.C., a $412 million refinance of the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry, and recognition as Bad Ass Woman of the Year in the Law category.
Our Process for Florida Businesses
1. Case Assessment
We review your facts, contracts, and evidence, including Spanish-language agreements that may need a translated version accepted by a Florida court. You leave knowing where you stand.
2. Strategy Session
We weigh your options directly, file, negotiate, or seek emergency relief. We run a clear-eyed cost-benefit analysis so you never spend more chasing a claim than it can return.
3. Pre-Suit Demand or Preservation of Rights
Often a firm demand letter or litigation hold resolves things without a filing. When a contract requires arbitration you missed, we flag it now, not later.
4. Filing or Defense
Whether you are enforcing an agreement or answering a complaint, we handle the pleadings, motions, and any emergency relief in Miami-Dade Circuit Court or the Southern District of Florida.
5. Discovery, Mediation, and Trial
We manage document review, depositions, and experts, then push for settlement where it makes sense. If no resolution comes, we prepare and try your case.
6. Enforcement and Appeal
We guide post-judgment collection, including cross-border enforcement when assets sit abroad, and advise on appeals if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Litigation in Florida
How long does business litigation typically take in Florida, and what does it realistically cost to litigate a business dispute?
Most business disputes in Florida take anywhere from several months to two years, depending on how disputed the facts are and whether the case settles. Costs vary widely, which is why the first step is an honest assessment of whether litigating makes financial sense.
Can I recover attorney fees if I win my business dispute in Florida?
Sometimes. Florida follows the “American Rule,” meaning each side usually pays its own fees unless a contract or a specific statute says otherwise.
What is the difference between arbitration and litigation for a business dispute, and what if my contract requires arbitration I didn’t notice?
Litigation happens in public court before a judge. Arbitration is a private process before a neutral arbitrator whose decision is usually final. Many commercial contracts bury a mandatory arbitration clause that controls where your fight actually goes.
How does Florida’s mandatory mediation requirement work in a business dispute?
Most Florida civil courts require the parties to attend mediation before trial, where a neutral mediator tries to help you settle. It is confidential, and nothing you say there can be used against you later if the case moves forward.
Can U.S. courts enforce a Florida judgment against a business or partner whose assets are in Venezuela, Colombia, or another country?
Winning a Florida judgment is one step. Collecting across borders is another. Enforcement depends on treaties, the foreign country’s own laws, and where the assets actually sit, so recovery is possible but rarely automatic.
What can I do if my business partner is stealing from the company or freezing me out?
You have real options, including demanding an accounting, seeking a court order to protect company assets, and in some cases dissolving the partnership. Under Florida law, partners owe each other fiduciary duties, meaning your partner is legally required to act in good faith.
When can a Florida court grant a temporary injunction to stop harm in a business dispute?
A court can order a temporary injunction when you show a likely win, real harm that money cannot fix, no adequate remedy at law, and that the public interest is served. These are often used to stop a partner from draining accounts or to enforce a non-compete or restrictive covenant.
My contractor abandoned a buildout with my deposits unpaid, and now claims I breached the payment schedule. What are my options?
When both sides claim breach, the outcome usually turns on the contract terms, the payment records, and who failed to perform first. A half-finished project, unpaid deposits, and a Spanish-language construction agreement gets sorted through evidence, not accusations.
Local Resources in Florida for Business Litigation
- Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz): Provides business entity records, registered-agent information, annual reports, judgment liens, UCC filings, and certified corporate documents.
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal: Allows authorized users to electronically file civil pleadings and other court documents throughout Florida.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation: Maintains licensing and disciplinary records for regulated businesses and professionals that may be relevant to commercial disputes.
- Florida Attorney General Consumer Protection Division: Accepts complaints involving deceptive trade practices, fraud, and other unlawful business conduct.
- Florida Department of Financial Services: Provides information and complaint resources for insurance, financial services, and certain business-related disputes.
- Business Law Section of The Florida Bar: Provides business-law publications, educational materials, and information involving corporate, bankruptcy, franchise, technology, and commercial litigation issues.
- Florida Bar Board-Certified Business Litigation Lawyer Directory: Helps businesses identify attorneys who meet Florida’s requirements for board certification in business litigation.
- Florida Small Business Development Center Network: Offers business consulting, financial guidance, and operational support to Florida companies facing growth or management challenges.
Ready to Protect Your Florida Business
A breached contract, an unpaid invoice, or a partner who walked away does not get easier by waiting. The sooner you get a clear-eyed read on your situation, the more options you keep on the table, with Florida statutes of limitations and injunction deadlines running in the background.
KEW Legal® handles exactly these disputes for business owners and investors across Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Coral Gables, and statewide Florida, including cross-border matters and Spanish-language contracts.
Book a consultation to get a practical assessment before committing to full litigation. Video and Zoom appointments are available for busy or international clients.
Call us to schedule your consultation today.
