Civil Litigation: Corporate and Business Entities, Commercial, Business and Financial Matters
Hardt, Stern & Kayne, P.C.’s attorneys are “business” lawyers—even our litigators. Our litigators’ knowledge of business is particularly valuable when conducting commercial, business and financial litigation. They have years of experience in litigating all the varied types of suits and disputes that any one in business today is likely to confront. The types of litigation and factual situations involved are as varied as the transactions and predicaments businesses in this age confront on a daily basis. At Hardt, Stern & Kayne, through a true working partnership with our clients, we endeavor to efficiently and economically provide effective, quality, result oriented, litigation services, and we keep a watchful eye on the bottom line in order to make the litigation process as cost efficient as reasonably possible. Our litigators have successfully prosecuted actions for damages and to enjoin wrongful, unfair trade and unfair competition activities in violation of non-compete and customer non-solicitation agreements, as well as statutory obligations and, sometimes, fiduciary commitments; claims to judicially enforce contracts for the sale of land and to compel the parties to close the transaction; and litigation to resolve disputes among business owner/operators over matters such as attempted ousters and efforts to enforce shareholder or member buy-sell agreements. Our experience is not limited to Plaintiffs’ representation, prosecuting claims but extends, as well, to defending our clients when they are confronted with claims. Ensuring that our clients are ready for trial does not preclude our attorneys from pursuing potential opportunities for reasonable settlement on terms commensurate with the degree of risk inherent in the particular case. Likewise, our attorneys accept and will undertake alternative dispute resolution procedures if there is a fair likelihood for a successful resolution and the client is willing to participate.
The firm’s strong presence among, and representation of, automobile dealerships has lead our litigators to become experienced in the highly specialized area of automobile dealership protests and administrative hearings before the Illinois Motor Vehicle Review Board. Such protest proceedings are available to dealers in connection with the installation of new dealerships, relocations of existing dealerships, terminations of dealer franchises, and manufacturers’ treatment of and dealings with dealerships. Of course, resort to a Motor Vehicle Review Board protest is not always possible or recommended, so that traditional legal suit, at times, proves to be the optimum alternative. Our attorneys can consult with you and devise the plan that is most suited for you automotive franchise situations, just as they can in other types of commercial, business or financial litigation.