Business Disputes Need Business Solutions.
The Skeen Firm represents Pennsylvania businesses, entrepreneurs, partners, members and shareholders in serious commercial disputes. From breach of contract and unpaid obligations to ownership fights, fiduciary duty claims and business acquisition litigation, we focus on the legal strategy and the economics behind it.
Pennsylvania Business Litigation Built Around the Business Objective
A business lawsuit should never be evaluated in a vacuum. The legal claims matter, but so do the amount at stake, the likelihood of collection, the cost of litigation, management distraction, the importance of the relationship and the company's long-term objectives.
The Skeen Firm helps Pennsylvania business owners evaluate those issues together. Before deciding whether to negotiate, send a formal demand, seek emergency relief, mediate or file suit, we work to understand what actually happened and what outcome would create value for the business.
Sometimes that means pursuing a substantial financial recovery. Sometimes it means enforcing a contract, protecting ownership rights, stopping misconduct, forcing access to company information, negotiating a buyout or ending a deteriorating commercial relationship.
The objective is not litigation for litigation's sake. The objective is progress.
If substantial money, ownership or an important commercial relationship is at risk, get the facts organized early.
Pennsylvania Commercial Litigation Matters
Business disputes arise from contracts, ownership relationships, commercial transactions, acquisitions and misconduct. Matters we evaluate include:
Breach of Contract
Disputes involving payment, performance, termination, purchase agreements, service contracts, warranties, guarantees and other contractual obligations.
LLC & Partnership Disputes
Conflicts between owners involving management rights, voting, distributions, records, control, duties and the future of the company.
Shareholder Litigation
Claims involving closely held corporations, minority shareholder rights, distributions, corporate records, control and alleged misconduct.
Fiduciary Duty Claims
Allegations involving self-dealing, misuse of business assets, conflicts of interest, diversion of business opportunities and related conduct.
Business Fraud
Claims involving material misrepresentations, concealed information, fraudulent transactions and financial misconduct causing measurable business losses.
Acquisition Disputes
Post-closing disputes involving seller representations, hidden liabilities, earn-outs, purchase price adjustments, restrictive covenants and purchase agreements.
Unpaid Commercial Obligations
Significant receivables, unpaid invoices and contract obligations where ordinary collection efforts have failed.
Unfair Competition
Commercial claims involving interference, competitive misconduct, confidential business information and damaged commercial relationships.
Complex Commercial Litigation
High-value disputes involving multiple parties, substantial economic losses or intertwined contract, ownership and misconduct claims.
What Pennsylvania Business Owners Should Do First
Many litigation mistakes happen before the lawyer ever becomes involved. A disciplined early response can preserve options and prevent an already difficult business problem from getting worse.
Preserve the Evidence
Preserve contracts, emails, text messages, accounting data, invoices, photographs, corporate records and other potentially relevant information.
Build the Timeline
Identify what was agreed, what occurred, when performance changed, what communications followed and when the dispute became serious.
Stop Emotional Communications
Angry emails and text messages can become evidence. Communicate deliberately once litigation becomes reasonably foreseeable.
Review the Agreement
Look for notice provisions, dispute procedures, forum clauses, limitations, indemnity provisions and other terms that may affect the next step.
Define the Objective
Decide what the business actually needs: payment, performance, leverage, information, control, a buyout, an injunction or an exit.
Evaluate the Economics
Consider damages, collectability, litigation cost, business disruption and the realistic value of resolving the matter.
An Alternative to Open-Ended Hourly Litigation
For qualifying plaintiff-side Pennsylvania commercial disputes, The Skeen Firm offers a hybrid success-fee structure designed to make early-stage litigation costs more predictable and align a significant portion of the fee with the recovery.
How the Success-Fee Model Works
- Initial flat fee generally between $5,000 and $15,000.
- A fixed $10,000 discovery fee applies if the matter reaches discovery.
- No separate standalone trial fee under the qualifying success-fee model.
- A decreasing success fee applies to amounts recovered.
- Qualifying flat fees are credited against the calculated success fee.
- If the amount collected does not exceed the initial flat fee, the calculated success fee is $0.
Fee structures are subject to the written engagement agreement and are not available for every matter. Case expenses may be separate. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Commercial Litigation Across Western Pennsylvania
We work with businesses and owners throughout Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on the western Pennsylvania markets where many of our clients operate.
Allegheny County
Business litigation involving Pittsburgh-area companies, entrepreneurs, owners and commercial relationships.
Washington County
Commercial disputes involving local businesses, contracts, closely held companies and ownership relationships.
Butler County
Representation for business owners facing contract, ownership, financial and commercial disputes.
Beaver County
Business litigation involving commercial agreements, ownership, unpaid obligations and other significant disputes.
Why Business Owners Work With The Skeen Firm
Solutions Before Activity
More legal work is not automatically better legal work. We focus on what moves the client toward the actual business objective.
Economics Matter
The value of a claim should be considered alongside collectability, litigation expense, management distraction and settlement opportunities.
Transparent Fee Options
Qualifying plaintiff-side cases may use our success-fee model, allowing clients to better understand the relationship between upfront costs and potential recovery.
Clear Communication
Business owners need practical advice about options, risk, leverage and next steps—not unnecessary legal jargon.
Learn What to Do Before a Business Dispute Becomes a Lawsuit
Many commercial disputes can be managed more effectively when the business recognizes the warning signs early, preserves information and evaluates its options before positions become entrenched.
A Business Dispute Is Getting Serious. What Should You Do Next?
How business owners can preserve evidence, build a timeline, understand the economics and make deliberate decisions when a dispute begins escalating.
Read the Article →The Warning Signs Most Businesses Ignore Before a Lawsuit
Recognize recurring problems, documentation failures and communication changes before an operational problem turns into commercial litigation.
Read the Article →Common Disputes After Buying a Small Business
Learn how seller representations, hidden liabilities, earn-outs, restrictive covenants and purchase agreements create post-closing disputes.
Read the Article →Pennsylvania Business Litigation FAQs
What is business litigation?
Business litigation involves legal disputes arising from commercial relationships, contracts, business ownership, transactions, financial obligations, fiduciary duties and other business activities.
What types of Pennsylvania business disputes does The Skeen Firm handle?
Matters we evaluate include breach of contract, LLC and partnership disputes, shareholder litigation, fiduciary duty claims, business fraud, acquisition disputes, significant unpaid commercial obligations, unfair competition and other commercial claims.
Can a Pennsylvania business litigation case be handled on contingency?
Some qualifying plaintiff-side business litigation matters may be handled using The Skeen Firm's hybrid success-fee structure. The model combines upfront flat fees with a decreasing success fee tied to the amount recovered. Not every matter qualifies.
How much does Pennsylvania business litigation cost?
Litigation cost depends on the complexity of the dispute, number of parties, amount of discovery, expert involvement, motions, settlement opportunities and whether the matter proceeds to trial. For qualifying plaintiff matters, our success-fee model provides an alternative to traditional open-ended hourly billing.
When should I contact a business litigation attorney?
Consider involving counsel when substantial money is at stake, litigation has been threatened, an important contract has been breached, ownership or control is disputed, evidence needs to be preserved or delay could affect your business or legal options.
Should every business dispute result in a lawsuit?
No. Depending on the facts and business objective, a dispute may be addressed through negotiation, a demand, mediation, restructuring a relationship or other resolution strategies. Filing suit is one tool, not automatically the first step.
Do you represent both companies and individual business owners?
Depending on the matter and potential conflicts, The Skeen Firm may represent businesses, entrepreneurs, shareholders, LLC members, partners and other business owners in commercial disputes.
A Business Dispute Is Already Costing You Something.
The question is what you do next. If a contract, business relationship, ownership interest or significant amount of money is at risk, start by understanding your position and defining the outcome you actually need.
Everyday Legal Advice®. Practical Counsel for Growing Businesses.