Louisiana Commercial Litigation Lawyer

What to Know Before You Call a Louisiana Commercial Litigation Lawyer

A contract dispute, a partner who won’t honor an agreement, or a competitor misusing your trade secrets does not resolve itself, and every month it sits unresolved costs your business money, time, and negotiating position. What you need to know first is whether the dispute is worth pursuing and what waiting will cost you if you don’t move.

Gibson Law Partners has worked as commercial litigation attorneys in Louisiana since the firm’s founding in 2018. From our office in Lafayette, we look at your dispute early, tell you plainly whether to pursue it, negotiate, or walk away, and build the case that protects what you’ve built.

Tell us what’s happening in your business, and we’ll tell you where you stand.

Business Disputes Our Louisiana Commercial Litigation Attorneys Handle

Gibson Law Partners, LLC represents Louisiana businesses through complex commercial disputes, managing everything from internal ownership conflicts to high-stakes contract breaches.

• Breach of contract and commercial contract disputes
• Partnership, LLC, and shareholder disputes
• Unfair trade practices, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty claims
• Trade secret and non-compete litigation
• Oil and gas and mineral rights litigation

Charles Kreamer, the firm’s Managing Partner, has handled these categories of commercial disputes since 1994, and that specialization is what lets us tell you early which claims are worth pursuing and which ones will only add cost.

What Waiting on a Louisiana Business Dispute Can Cost You

Louisiana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (LUTPA) prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts in business dealings. If your dispute involves a competitor misusing confidential information, a vendor misrepresenting a contract, or a partner steering business away from the company, that statute can support a claim for your actual damages, and if the court awards damages, it must also award reasonable attorney fees and costs under La. R.S. 51:1409(A). Triple damages are available in a narrower situation: when the other side knowingly kept using the unfair practice after the Louisiana Attorney General put it on notice.

That path closes fast. A LUTPA claim must be filed within one year of the transaction or act that caused the harm, and once that year passes, the claim is usually gone, no matter how strong it was. Since a 2018 change to the law, the clock can be paused or restarted in limited situations, but you should not count on that happening.

Where a Louisiana Commercial Litigation Case Gets Decided

Most Louisiana commercial disputes start in state district court, in a parish where venue is proper. That is often the parish where the defendant is domiciled under La. C.C.P. art. 42, or, for a contract claim, the parish where the contract was signed or where the work was performed or was supposed to be performed under La. C.C.P. art. 76.1. Many business contracts also contain forum-selection or arbitration clauses that can change where the case is heard, so it pays to read yours before anyone files.

A case can move to federal court instead. If every plaintiff is from a different state than every defendant, and the amount you are fighting over is more than $75,000, the case may be filed in or removed to federal court. Federal law applying to your dispute can also open the door to federal court. 

Louisiana has three federal districts: the Western District, which covers most of the state, including Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport; the Middle District in Baton Rouge; and the Eastern District in New Orleans. Our attorneys litigate in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana and handle appeals to Louisiana’s appellate courts and the U.S. Fifth Circuit.

Commercial Litigation Questions Louisiana Business Owners Ask

Do I need a lawyer for a business dispute, or can I try to resolve it myself?

You can attempt to resolve a dispute directly, but doing so without understanding your legal position can cost you negotiating power, and in unfair trade practices claims, it can cost you the one-year window to sue at all. Talking to us early costs nothing and protects your options.

Do I have to be in Lafayette to work with Gibson Law Partners?

No. Our office is in Lafayette, but we represent businesses throughout Louisiana and handle cases in state and federal courts across the state. Much of the early work, including reviewing your contracts and correspondence, can happen by phone or video.

What happens if my dispute involves oil and gas or mineral rights?

Oil and gas and mineral rights disputes carry additional layers of state regulation and industry practice specific to Louisiana’s energy economy. We handle these disputes alongside general commercial litigation, so one team understands both the contract dispute and the industry surrounding it.

What is the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, and does it apply to my dispute?

The law prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts in business dealings, and it covers a narrower range of disputes than most business owners expect. Louisiana courts have said the law only reaches conduct that is fraudulent, deceptive, or otherwise unethical, not an ordinary breach of contract or a tough but honest business decision. Whether it applies to your situation depends on the specific facts.

What should I bring to a consultation about a Louisiana business dispute?

Bring any contracts, correspondence, invoices, or partnership agreements related to the dispute, along with a clear timeline of what happened and when. The more specific information we have upfront, the faster we can tell you where you stand and what your options are.

Does Gibson Law Partners handle disputes that cross state lines?

Yes. One of our partners is licensed in both Louisiana and Texas and has appeared before every judicial level in each state, which matters when a Louisiana business dispute involves an out-of-state supplier, customer, or competitor.

Every one of these answers changes once we know the specifics of your dispute, and that conversation is the fastest way to find out where you stand.

Talk to a Louisiana Commercial Litigation Lawyer Before You Decide

You don’t have to navigate a complex business dispute alone. Contact Gibson Law Partners to schedule a consultation, and we’ll help you understand your legal options, key statutory deadlines, and what it takes to protect your business.