Strategic advice when a dispute affects your business or personal interests

Disputes can disrupt business operations, commercial relationships, property interests and personal finances. Early legal advice can clarify your position, preserve evidence and identify the most effective path forward.

Summit Lawyers assists individuals, businesses, directors, shareholders, landlords, tenants, lenders, borrowers and guarantors with civil and commercial disputes. We assess the legal and commercial risks and develop a strategy suited to the value and complexity of the matter.

How We Can Help

◆ Contract, business, shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes

◆ Business sale, loan, mortgage, guarantee and debt recovery matters

◆ Property, commercial lease, retail lease and building disputes

◆ Misleading conduct, unconscionable conduct and trust claims

◆ Urgent injunctions, Court and Tribunal proceedings and judgment enforcement

Early Assessment and Resolution

Before proceedings begin, we assess the strengths and weaknesses of your position, the available evidence and remedies, relevant time limits and the likely cost and duration of the dispute. This allows you to make an informed commercial decision.

Where appropriate, we seek resolution through correspondence, negotiation or mediation. We can prepare letters of demand and responses, conduct without prejudice negotiations, represent you at mediation and record any settlement in an enforceable agreement or deed of release.

Litigation and Enforcement

If a dispute cannot be resolved, we act for parties commencing and defending Court or Tribunal proceedings. We manage the matter from pre-litigation advice and pleadings through to evidence, interlocutory applications, mediation and final hearing.

Available remedies may include payment, damages, declarations, injunctions, specific performance, possession of property or enforcement or termination of an agreement. We also advise on urgent protective action and the enforcement of unpaid judgments.

Courts and Tribunals

Depending on the nature and value of the dispute, we can assist in VCAT, the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, County Court of Victoria, Supreme Court of Victoria, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia and other relevant Courts and Tribunals.

Practical, Commercial Advice

Every dispute is different. We provide clear advice, realistic cost and risk assessments and a practical strategy focused on protecting your interests and achieving an effective resolution.