Once a company finds itself in the unfortunate position of facing litigation, that is just the beginning of its troubles. What comes next — and arguably more challenging — is finding an attorney who can not only represent the company competently but also help it achieve its objectives.
A corporate litigation lawyer has a decent amount of experience handling lawsuits against companies. They understand the intricacies of business law and will know how best to protect your company. A good attorney will have a strategic plan for defending your brand and its interests, as well as bring in expert witnesses or proof if need be.
In other words, finding someone who has both legal acumen and business savvy. Because there’s no point in hiring a lawyer unless he or she has your company’s best interests at heart.
What exactly should you be looking for when hiring a corporate litigation lawyer? Here are some helpful tips on what to consider when making that important decision.
An Attorney Who Knows How to Win Litigation
One of the most important factors to consider while hiring a corporate litigation lawyer is their win record. Are they someone with a track record of success in the courtroom? A lawyer who has a high win rate is more likely to help you achieve your desired outcomes.
If the lawyer you are considering has a low win rate and you find out about it too late, it could cost your company thousands of dollars or even its reputation.
You need to find a corporate litigation lawyer whose track record shows that they are truly committed to winning cases. At the same time, it’s important to note that every case is different. There’s no guarantee that any lawyer will win every case.
A winning percentage of more than 50% is a good indicator of a lawyer’s abilities.
But a low win rate necessarily means that the lawyer is incompetent. It could just be that their cases are being tried in courts that they’re not comfortable with.
Background Handling the Same Case
Another important factor to consider when hiring a corporate litigation lawyer is their experience with your type of case.
For example, if you’re being sued for breach of contract, the lawyer should have some experience handling cases like that before. Their level of experience with your case can help you determine how best to proceed and whether you’re on the right path.
You want to find an attorney who has experience working with the same type of business clients like you. At the very least, they should have experience working with businesses in your industry. This will enable them to apply their experience with other similar cases to yours.
Good Reputation and Track Record
A corporate litigation lawyer’s reputation is critical. If a lawyer has a good reputation, clients will usually have positive things to say about them. If they have a bad reputation, clients will rarely have good things to say about them.
Your lawyer’s reputation is important not only in terms of building trust with you as a client but also in terms of helping you find other clients. If other businesses or individuals in your industry know that you work with a lawyer with a good reputation, they might be more likely to hire your lawyer. This can be very helpful for your business in the long run.
Big Firm vs. Small Firm
Another important factor to consider when hiring a corporate litigation lawyer is their firm’s size. Is it a big firm or a small firm? Although there’s no guarantee that hiring a big firm will improve your chances of winning, it does provide certain advantages.
Bigger firms usually have more resources at their disposal, including other lawyers and paralegals. This can be very helpful in certain situations and can help you get the best outcome.
Bigger firms are also usually more established and have a higher public profile. This can be helpful in terms of gaining media attention or getting attention from potential jurors in the courtroom.
Smaller firms, on the other hand, may not have the same level of resources as big firms do, but they usually have lower costs. This can be helpful if your company doesn’t have the money to hire a big law firm.
Finding a Lawyer You Can Trust
Another important factor to consider when hiring a corporate litigation lawyer is whether you can trust them. Are they someone you can work with, trust, and be open with?
Your relationship with your attorney can make the entire process much easier. If you’re open with your lawyer, they will be able to help you better. If you’re not open with your lawyer, they won’t have all the information they need to defend you properly.
If you can develop a trusting relationship with your lawyer, they will be more likely to fight for you as hard as possible. This can be helpful in a number of different ways. It can help your lawyer come up with better strategies such as seeking out expert witnesses (which brings us to our next point).
Access to Expert Witnesses or Proof
Another important factor to consider when hiring a corporate litigation lawyer is their ability to access expert witnesses or proof if need be. Are you able to trust your attorney to find and utilize expert witnesses or proof if need be?
This is especially critical if you’re being sued for patent infringement. In such a situation, your lawyer may need to hire an expert witness who can testify on your behalf that your company did not violate another company’s patent.
To Sum It Up
When your company is facing a lawsuit, you might feel like the world is ending. But many corporations get sued on a regular basis and it doesn’t mean that these businesses are operating sub-optimally or something similar. In most cases, it’s just part of being in business, and owning a company comes with risk at every turn.
Fortunately, a corporate litigation lawyer can provide you the legal assistance you need. The tips covered in this article should provide you with a better understanding of what to look for in a corporate litigation lawyer if you ever find yourself in this unfortunate circumstance.
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