Ayala Law PA handles business litigation for Tampa businesses, including disputes between companies, owners, partners, and business counterparties when talks break down. Ayala Law PA concentrates in these disputes in Florida courts and arbitration, serving businesses in Tampa and Hillsborough County. Responsible lawyer: Eduardo A. Maura of Ayala Law PA, whose only office is at 1646 W Snow Ave, Tampa, Florida. The firm’s only office is at 1646 W Snow Ave, Tampa, Florida. It has its office in Tampa, Florida, and serves businesses in the Tampa Bay area.
What Business Litigation Covers and Who It Serves
Business litigation is court or arbitration work on disputes that grow out of business relationships. It serves small and mid-sized companies, entrepreneurs, contractors, property owners, and co-owners of a business in Florida.
Some disputes can be settled through a direct conversation, a written demand, or a mediator. Others need a filed case or arbitration because the other side refuses to pay, refuses to share records, or ignores a clear contract term.
Where a case is filed also matters. Under Fla. Stat. § 47.011, actions must be brought in the county where the defendant resides, where the cause of action accrued, or where the property in litigation is located. That rule does not apply to actions against nonresidents. Hillsborough County can be one of those places.
If a customer has not paid under a signed contract, or a co-owner is blocking access to company records, our team is ready to hear the details and talk through your options. Talk it through with our team — we can walk you through how a situation like yours is usually handled and what your options are.
Commercial and Contract Disputes We Handle
A commercial or contract dispute starts when one side says the other broke a business agreement. Common examples include:
- Nonpayment for goods, services, or finished work
- Missed deliverables or late performance
- Disputed termination or renewal
- Disagreements under vendor, supplier, distribution, or service agreements
- Fraud or misrepresentation during a business deal
- Disagreements over non-compete or confidentiality terms
Before anything is filed, the usual first steps are reviewing the contract, sending a demand letter, and negotiating. Those steps can clarify each side’s position and sometimes end the dispute without a case.
Gather these items before the first call: the signed agreement and any amendments, invoices and payment records, emails and letters with the other side, and any notices sent or received. Missing paperwork slows every step that follows. Time limits to sue also differ by claim type, so early review protects your options.
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes
A shareholder or partnership dispute is a conflict between owners over control, money, or company records. These fights often start with a request to remove an owner, a buyout demand, or a disagreement over profit distributions.
The governing documents usually answer the first questions. Bylaws, operating agreements, and partnership agreements set out who makes decisions and how an owner can leave. Read these first, before any letter goes out.
Records disputes are common. Under Fla. Stat. § 607.1602, a shareholder may inspect and copy certain corporate records during regular business hours. The shareholder must give written notice at least 5 business days before the inspection. The demand must be made in good faith and for a proper purpose, meaning one reasonably related to the shareholder’s interest.
When a member makes a demand for information, the company must respond within 10 days. The response must say what it will provide and when, along with its reasons for declining anything it won’t provide.
Owners preparing for a dispute should collect the operating agreement, bylaws, meeting minutes, financial statements, and written messages with the other owners.
Construction Litigation: Contractor, Subcontractor, and Lien Disputes
Construction litigation covers payment, scope, and defect fights between owners, general contractors, and subcontractors. These matters commonly involve:
- Payment disputes, change orders, scope disagreements, and delay claims
- Construction lien and lien foreclosure matters in Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay area
- Construction contract fraud, such as misrepresentation in bids, billing, or performance
Florida sets separate deadlines for construction claims. Florida Statutes § 95.11 sets time limits for different kinds of civil actions. For example, for claims based on the design, planning or construction of an improvement to real property, it allows four years to bring a legal or equitable action, as described in Fla. Stat. § 95.11. The clock starts on the earliest of the temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion, or the date construction was abandoned. For a latent defect, the clock starts when the defect is discovered or should have been discovered.
There is also an outer limit. The action must be started within 7 years after that same date. For claims on a payment bond, the period generally runs from the last furnishing of labor, services, or materials. Lien steps carry their own requirements, so raise the issue early.
Real Estate and International Trade Litigation
Real estate and international trade litigation covers disputes over property deals and cross-border business contracts. Real estate matters include disputes over commercial property, purchase and sale agreements, leases, title-related conflicts, and partner-owned property in development or financing.
International trade matters include contract and payment disagreements with foreign counterparties. These disputes are handled in Florida courts and arbitration.
Real estate disputes often turn on the exact wording of the deal documents. Bring the transaction documents, correspondence with the other party, and any notices already sent or received. A short timeline of key dates also helps.
How a Business Litigation Matter Moves Forward
A matter usually moves from a first call to document review, pre-suit steps, and then a filed case or arbitration. The typical path looks like this:
- Intake call. You describe the dispute and the business relationship behind it.
- Document review. The firm reviews the contract, governing documents, and records, then explains the issues and your options.
- Pre-suit steps. Demand letters, negotiation, or mediation may come first, where appropriate.
- Filing. The matter moves to court or arbitration, followed by discovery and motions.
- Resolution. The matter ends in a settlement, a judgment, or an arbitration award.
Arbitration clauses matter at this stage. Under Fla. Stat. § 682.02, an agreement in a record to arbitrate existing or future disputes is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable. The exception is a ground that exists at law or in equity to revoke a contract. The court decides whether an arbitration agreement exists.
If a party asks the court to compel arbitration, Fla. Stat. § 682.03 applies. The court must order arbitration when it finds an enforceable agreement, and it may not refuse because the claim lacks merit. Timing depends on the forum and the facts of the case.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with our team — we can walk you through how a situation like yours is usually handled and what your options are.
Why Ayala Law PA for Tampa-Area Business Disputes
Ayala Law PA focuses on business, commercial, and construction disputes, with Eduardo A. Maura as the responsible lawyer. The practice is limited to the areas described on this page.
- Eduardo A. Maura is the lawyer responsible for this content and for the matters described.
- Our team includes support staff who help with scheduling and document organization, so your paperwork stays in one place.
- The practice serves Tampa, Hillsborough County, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Temple Terrace, and the Tampa Bay area.
- The firm’s only office is at 1646 W Snow Ave, Tampa, Florida. Businesses in Tampa and Hillsborough County are served from that Tampa office.
No lawyer can promise a particular outcome, and every matter turns on its own facts. The goal of the first conversation is a plain explanation of the rules that apply and the options available.
Questions Businesses Ask Before Hiring a Litigation Lawyer
Most business owners first ask whether a lawsuit is required. A lawsuit is not always the first step.
Do I have to file a lawsuit to resolve a contract dispute?
Not always. A review, a demand letter, and negotiation often come first. A filed case or arbitration follows if those steps don’t resolve the matter.
Can a Miami office handle a Tampa or Hillsborough County case?
Ayala Law PA’s only office is at 1646 W Snow Ave, Tampa, Florida, and the firm serves Tampa-area businesses from that office. The firm has no Tampa office.
What should I bring to the first call?
Bring the signed contract or governing documents, invoices, payment records, letters and emails with the other side, and any notices sent or received.
How long do I have to act?
Time limits vary by claim type. Construction claims follow the periods in Florida’s limitations statute, so early review matters.
Does a case evaluation cost money?
Yes. Case evaluations with Ayala Law PA carry a fee.
If a customer has not paid under a signed contract, a co-owner is blocking access to company records, or a lien deadline is close, you don’t have to work out the next step alone. Call Ayala Law PA at (305) 570-2208, or request a case evaluation through the contact page.
