Commercial and Financial Services Litigation

Morris & Morris has an experienced commercial litigation team that can help businesses favorably resolve almost any type of dispute.  We are the only firm our size to be considered by Chambers USA as a “leading” law firm for commercial litigation in Virginia.  When presented with a new commercial litigation matter, we develop a plan to resolve the matter favorably for our client with minimum interruption to its business operations, and do so in a cost-effective manner.  Obtaining a favorable resolution in a commercial dispute requires lawyers with expertise in the area of law, experience in Virginia’s courts, and, perhaps most importantly, flexibility to handle different matters with attentive and responsive service.  Morris & Morris’ commercial litigation team has these qualities.

Our team has a broad range of expertise in the law impacting businesses in the 21st century.  This gives us the ability to handle many types of commercial matters.  Businesses often have complex legal relationships with agents, clients, employees, regulatory agencies, suppliers, competitors, distributors, and franchisees/franchisors.  They must navigate the complex world of local, state, and federal law.  We can help businesses resolve their commercial disputes that arise in these circumstances.  For example, we have represented clients with claims, disputes, and litigation involving antitrust matters, breaches of contract, breaches of fiduciary duties, collections, conspiracies, conversion of assets, corporate governance matters, defamation, derivative liability, franchisee/franchisor disputes, fraud, governmental investigations, injunctions, mechanic’s liens, mergers/acquisitions, officer/director liability, real estate contracts, landlord/tenant matters, punitive damages, tortuous interference allegations, trade secrets, Uniform Commercial Code matters, unlawful detainers, unfair competition, and warranties.

Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of lawsuits by consumers against financial institutions that invoke complex areas of federal regulatory law.  Businesses involved in such claims need experienced attorneys handling these matters, and our team has successfully represented clients in claims involving the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Truth in Lending Act, Fair Housing Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and, in many cases, related allegations under Virginia law.

Our experience extends beyond the subject matter of your dispute.  We have represented clients in a diverse array of industries.  In so doing, we have learned many unique aspects of these industries, what markets businesses compete in, who the clients are, and the legal concerns in the industry.  We apply our preexisting knowledge to the benefit of our clients.  Some of the industries include the following:

• Accounting
• Automotive
• Aviation
• Banking
• Construction
• Debt Servicing and Collection
• Distribution
• Energy
• Health Care
• Insurance
• Legal
• Lending and Financial Services Institutions
• Manufacturing
• Partnerships
• Pharmaceuticals
• Professional Services
• Real Estate, including Brokers
• Retail and Wholesale Distributions
• Schools, Colleges, and Universities
• Securities, including Brokers and Dealers
• Telecommunications
• Trucking and Transportation
• Wills, Trusts, and Estates

We believe that our experienced personnel combined with the size of our Firm can make a significant difference to the outcome of a commercial dispute.  Few law firms have as many experienced commercial litigators with trial experience as we do.  For example, one of our partners was listed as one of only three “senior statesman” for the entire state of Virginia for commercial litigation by Chambers USA.  Our lawyers know their way around the courthouses, and not just for motions practice.  We have extensive first chair trial experience that is invaluable to our clients (and increasingly rare).  Two of our partners are invited members of the American College of Trial Lawyers because of their success and experience trying cases.  Our size allows us to handle routine matters and large, more complex commercial disputes with experienced commercial litigators, and do so in a cost-effective manner. 

Regardless of the size of your suit, we make certain that our clients receive personalized service.  Our lawyers are always accessible and ready to respond to a client’s needs. 

Representative Engagements:

Some of our representative engagements include the following:

• After a multi-day trial that was affirmed on appeal, we successfully expelled a member from a Virginia LLC and obtained a judgment against him for, among other things, conversion and punitive damages. 

• After a two-week trial, we obtained a judgment in favor of a trust beneficiary against the trust, city, and county over a prospective land conveyance.

• After a multi-day trial and appeal, we successfully represented several local businesses seeking to avoid administrative licensure from the state.

• After a successful hearing before an administrative law judge, we obtained the right for a manufacturer to operate in Virginia without a franchised dealer.

• We obtained summary judgment on behalf of a bank accused of violating the Truth in Lending Act.

• We obtained dismissal on behalf of a lender of automobile loans accused of violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

• We obtained voluntary dismissal in favor of a debt collector accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

• We obtained dismissal, which was affirmed on appeal, of a student’s claims against a university alleging numerous violations of his rights.

• We successfully represented a CEO of a Fortune 500 company in an internal investigation.