Trial-Ready Contract Dispute Attorneys Serving Los Angeles Businesses

Last updated on August 4, 2026

When a contract dispute moves toward litigation, your business’s finances and reputation are on the line. Your legal position is only as strong as the preparation behind it. At Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP, we prepare every case for trial from the first day of engagement.

This litigation-focused strategy allows us to carry real leverage in every negotiation that follows. Our lawyers have secured a $70 million judgment in a complex breach of contract matter and multiple additional verdicts exceeding $10 million.

Our partners and senior associates average more than 30 years of California litigation experience. Members of our team also hold membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). As your legal counsel, we can evaluate your position, identify your options and execute a strategy aligned with your business objectives.

A Contract Dispute Can Get In The Way Of Your Success

Commercial contracts are the foundation of business operations. When a party fails to meet a contractual obligation, the consequences extend beyond the immediate financial loss.

What California Law Requires You To Prove

Establishing a breach of contract under California law requires five specific elements:

• A valid and enforceable contract existed between the parties
• The plaintiff fulfilled their own obligations under that contract, or had a valid legal excuse for not doing so
• One party failed to meet a material obligation under that contract
• That failure was a substantial factor in causing harm to the nonbreaching party
• The nonbreaching party suffered actual, measurable damages

Proving each element depends on the structure of the agreement and the specific conduct at issue. Our contract litigation attorneys conduct that analysis at every stage, from the initial pre-litigation demand through trial.

What Relief California Courts Can Award

California law provides several forms of recovery for the nonbreaching party:

• Compensatory damages: Financial recovery for losses directly caused by the breach
• Specific performance: A court order requiring the opposing party to fulfill their contractual obligation
• Rescission: Cancellation of the contract, returning both parties to their original positions
• Restitution: Recovery of any financial benefit the breaching party obtained from partial performance

Our lawyers can identify the appropriate form of relief for your situation and pursue it with a clear litigation strategy.

When A Contract Dispute Involves More

Contract breaches frequently intersect with other business conflicts. When a breach involves broken partnership terms or disputed ownership interests, our team can address both matters under a coordinated strategy.

Tactical Contract Defense Under California Civil Law

California contract law recognizes several affirmative defenses that can substantially limit or defeat a plaintiff’s claims. When properly developed, these defenses can reframe the entire dispute:

Prior Material Breach

If the plaintiff failed to meet their own contractual obligations first, that failure may excuse our client’s nonperformance. Our contract dispute attorneys will examine the full timeline of conduct on both sides from the start of engagement. Identifying this defense early is critical. It allows us to shape how the court receives the case before the opposing party establishes their narrative.

Impossibility And Commercial Impracticability

California law recognizes that some circumstances can relieve a party of their obligation to perform their contractual duties. Courts have extended this principle to situations where performance becomes extremely difficult or costly due to unforeseen events. Our lawyers often apply this defense to protect clients when conditions outside their control disrupted their ability to perform.

Contractual Ambiguity

When contract language is unclear, California courts first examine outside evidence. The goal is to determine what both parties intended when they made the agreement. If the evidence does not clarify the intent, courts will read the ambiguous language against the party who wrote it. Our attorneys identify vague or conflicting terms early. We then build the evidentiary record needed to advance the interpretation that protects our client’s position.

Industries We Defend In Los Angeles County

At Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP, our lawyers have defended clients in sectors such as:

• Automotive dealership networks: We counsel dealer networks when franchise agreements and manufacturer relationships become the subject of contested litigation.
• Media and entertainment: We represent clients when distribution agreements or licensing arrangements are disputed or breached.
• IP and technology: We defend businesses when proprietary technology or software licensing disputes threaten core operations.
• Manufacturing and logistics: We protect manufacturers and logistics companies when supply chain or distribution contracts become contested.

Each of these industries carries unique contractual structures and regulatory considerations. That industry-specific knowledge directly informs how we build and execute a defense strategy.

The BKCG Difference

In a high-exposure contract dispute in Southern California, the firm you choose determines more than just legal strategy. Here is what distinguishes our approach:

• Ownership and accountability: Our partners remain directly involved from engagement through resolution. You work with the attorneys making decisions, and they take strategic ownership of the commercial outcome.
• Boutique polish, regional power: We will not hand off your case to a junior associate. You will also not be outgunned. We provide the personal attention of a boutique firm, as well as the resources needed to compete in high-value commercial disputes.
• The “justice bone”: Our attorneys defend aggressively against bad-faith claims and hold ourselves to a strict ethical standard. Our team pursues outcomes that are commercially justified, not just legally adequate.

These principles reflect how Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP has operated for decades, and they are why clients trust us with their most complex and high-stakes disputes.

Discuss Your Contract Dispute With Our Los Angeles Attorneys

If your business is facing a contract dispute, do not wait for the situation to escalate. Our attorneys are ready to assess your legal position and walk you through your options. Call us today at 888-714-1738 or reach out through our online form to schedule a consultation.