What this covers
A commercial dispute is a disagreement between businesses, or between a business and an individual, about a contract or a trading relationship: goods that were not delivered, services that fell short, payments withheld, or a contract ended early.
Good advice at the start tends to save the most money. That means establishing what was agreed, what the evidence shows and what a realistic outcome looks like, before anyone commits to a costly course of action.
I also review and draft commercial contracts, because a well-written contract is often the cheapest way to avoid a dispute.
Who I help
- Small and medium-sized businesses in disputes with suppliers, customers or contractors.
- Business owners who want a second view on whether to pursue or defend a claim.
- Businesses that need contracts or terms of business reviewed or drafted.
I act for one party only in any dispute, after a conflict check.
What is included
- Reviewing contracts, terms and correspondence to identify what was agreed.
- Advising on breach, termination rights, remedies and limitation periods.
- Assessing evidence, likely costs and the prospects of actually recovering money.
- Pre-action correspondence that follows the Practice Direction – Pre-Action Conduct.
- Negotiating settlements and drafting settlement agreements.
- Advising on mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
- County Court proceedings where proportionate.
- Reviewing and drafting commercial contracts, including supply, services and standard terms.
- Appropriate construction contract disputes within my competence.
What is not included
- Specialist technical or expert-led construction disputes, and any promise of adjudication representation.
- Regulatory investigations, competition law and intellectual property litigation.
- Arbitration or High Court litigation of a scale that would be beyond my competence or insurance. I assess every matter individually and will tell you if it needs a larger team.
- Tax advice.
How a matter usually progresses
The stages below are typical. Each dispute is different, and some resolve after the first letter.
1. Initial focused review
I review the key documents and give you a written view of your position, the main risks and the options. This is often the most valuable stage, because it lets you decide whether a dispute is worth pursuing.
2. Pre-action steps
The courts expect parties to exchange enough information to understand each other's position before a claim is issued. Usually that means a letter of claim, a reasoned response within a reasonable time (often around 14 days for a straightforward case, longer for complex ones) and an exchange of key documents.
3. Settlement and ADR
Settlement should be considered throughout. Mediation or negotiation can often produce a result faster and at lower cost than a trial, and refusing to consider ADR without good reason can affect costs later.
4. Proceedings
If proceedings are needed, the claim is allocated to a track according to its value and complexity. A defended claim commonly takes many months, and sometimes more than a year, to reach trial.
5. Outcome and recovery
Winning a judgment and recovering money are separate questions. I will discuss the other side's ability to pay early, so that you can make a realistic decision.
Costs
My fees and how I charge for commercial work are set out on the fees page. I usually start with an initial focused review for a defined fee range, and give you a written estimate before each later stage. Disbursements such as court fees, expert fees, mediator fees or barrister's fees are additional, and I will tell you about them before they are incurred.
How to start
Send a short summary by email to info@sadikbugra.com. Include the names of the other parties so that I can carry out a conflict check. Please do not send documents at this stage.
After the conflict check, I can offer a free initial discussion of up to 15 minutes, subject to availability, by video or in person in St Albans. It is for understanding the matter and agreeing next steps, not for detailed advice or document review.
An enquiry does not mean I am acting for you, and I cannot monitor deadlines until I have accepted the matter in writing.
This page is general information about the law in England and Wales as at 26 October 2026. It is not advice on your situation.
Fees
| Initial focused advisory review (commercial, corporate and landlord and tenant matters) | £700–£1,400 estimate for 2–4 hoursNo VAT charged — I am not currently VAT-registered (VAT added only if applicable in future, with notice). Includes
Not included
|
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £350 per hourNo VAT charged — I am not currently VAT-registered (VAT added only if applicable in future, with notice). Includes
Not included
|
Questions people often ask
The other side has breached our contract. Can we just stop performing our side?
Sometimes, but it is risky. Stopping performance or terminating without a clear right to do so can put you in breach yourself. Check what the contract says about termination and notice, and take advice before you act.
We never signed a written contract. Do we still have one?
Possibly. Contracts can be made by email, by conduct, or partly orally. The terms may come from quotations, order forms, standard terms or a course of dealing. Working out which terms apply is often the first job in a dispute.
Is it worth going to court?
It depends on the strength of the evidence, the amount at stake, the likely costs, how much of those costs you could recover, and whether the other side can pay. Court should be a last resort. Negotiation and mediation often achieve a quicker and cheaper outcome.
Do you handle construction disputes?
I can advise on appropriate contractual disputes in construction, for example payment disputes under a building contract, where the matter is within my competence. I do not offer specialist technical expertise, and adjudication or expert-heavy disputes may need a specialist, which I will tell you early on.
Can you review our standard terms and conditions?
Yes. I can review existing terms or draft new ones, focusing on payment, liability, termination and dispute resolution, so that they reflect how your business actually trades.
What should I keep while a dispute is ongoing?
Keep everything: the contract and any versions of it, emails, messages, invoices, delivery records, photographs and notes of calls or meetings. Do not delete anything, even if it seems unhelpful. Courts expect relevant documents to be preserved.