San Diego Dispute Resolution and Business Litigation Attorneys

Legal disputes can arise in almost any situation involving business partners, corporations, individuals, neighbors, contractors as well as medical and healthcare providers.   Resolving a legal dispute requires a combination of experience, expertise, legal skill and effective negotiation tactics. The attorneys at the Watkins Firm have provided legal dispute resolution services to the San Diego region for decades. We work to help our clients to establish specific goals and objectives for the outcome they wish to achieve, and develop strategies to successfully achieve those goals.

The primary factors involved in the resolution of a legal dispute are time, damages, and money. Time is a critical ingredient for most of our clients. The longer a dispute continues, the greater the exposure in terms of distraction, resources and the potential for additional harm or damages. Resources that are committed to the dispute are not available for other purposes, and the contingent liability associated with the outcome of the dispute can be a distraction from primary business focus and limit other economic opportunities.

Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration, Litigation

The primary steps in the resolution of a legal dispute are:

  • Negotiation
  • Mediation and/or Arbitration
  • Litigation

Our clients have the most control and influence on the outcome during initial negotiations. This is often the fastest and least expensive strategy for resolving legal disputes in an effective manner. If the matter cannot be resolved through negotiation, the next legal step can be mediation or arbitration. Many personal and business contracts specify alternatives to open litigation in Court such as mediation and arbitration. In a mediation, a central party (the mediator) works with the parties to find common ground and to resolve as much of the dispute as possible. The recommendations of the mediator are not binding on the parties, however, this medium can be an effective alternative to litigation.

Arbitration is a much more structured legal environment where the parties agree upon a “neutral” or arbiter. The parties submit information to the arbiter and come together in the arbitration asking the neutral arbiter to render a decision. The decision rendered in this environment is binding upon the parties, and if one of the parties is dissatisfied with the outcome they must appeal it in Court.

Litigation involves the filing of a lawsuit, discovery and deposition, and ultimately trying the case before a Court of Law. Here in San Diego and Southern California Court dockets are heavily scheduled, and it can take months (often more than a year) to get into Court and resolve the dispute. Litigation is almost always the most costly in terms of time and financial resources, but it can often yield a much more profitable and satisfactory outcome that is unavailable through any other option.

Contact Experienced Legal Dispute Resolution Lawyers Serving the San Diego Region

The attorneys at the Watkins Firm understand the importance of resolving legal disputes in a timely and cost-effective manner. We work closely with our clients to understand their goals, and strive to create and maintain a productive atmosphere to maximize the opportunity to resolve the dispute through negotiation. We understand the nature of business and personal relationships and that it can be as important to preserve those relationships as it is to resolve the dispute. If you are involved in a dispute, we invite you to contact us or call for a free and substantive consultation at 858-535-1511. We help to develop a strategic plan with appropriate budgets before you ever have to pay a fee. We apply our decades of experience and expertise to bring about the best possible resolution to your legal dispute.