Picture this:
You finally land the dream client. Papers are signed, hands are shaken, and you breathe a sigh of relief—until the deadlines start slipping, phone calls go unanswered, and your inbox fills with excuses. Suddenly you’re staring at a mountain of lost revenue and a partnership that feels more like a hostage situation.
If that knot in your stomach feels familiar, you’re in the right place. I’m Joam Alisme, founder of Alisme Law, and every week I sit across from entrepreneurs just like you who are watching hard‑earned progress unravel because someone didn’t keep their word.
Below is the plain‑English roadmap I walk them through: what a contract dispute actually is in New York, the first moves that really protect you, and how we resolve fights without burning the business you’ve worked so hard to build.
Contract Disputes, Decoded
A “contract dispute” is simply a promise gone sideways. In New York the courts ask three questions:
- Was there a real contract? (Even a crazy‑long email chain can count.)
- Did someone break it in a meaningful way?
- Did that breach cost you money or momentum?
Real‑world triggers we see every day:
- A vendor misses crucial milestones and blames “supply‑chain issues.”
- A partner secretly funnels clients to a competing firm.
- A customer ghosts on a five‑figure invoice.
- Disagreements over partnership agreements—equity splits or profit sharing gone wrong.
Each scenario might be different, but the pain is universal: cash flow dries up, trust evaporates, and you’re left cleaning up the mess.
Your First 48 Hours: Move Smart, Not Emotional
Before you fire off the “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer!” email, slow down and check these boxes:
Collect the receipts. Contracts, amendments, texts, Slack messages—anything that shows what was promised and how it fell apart.
Freeze the timeline. Jot down dates: when the deal began, when problems surfaced, and every “we’ll fix it” pledge in between. Memories blur; paper doesn’t.
Zip it (for now). Angry calls may feel good but they rarely help. Route future communication through counsel so every word builds your case, not theirs.
Patch the leak. Courts expect you to keep damages from snowballing. If you can hire a replacement vendor or pause a doomed project, do it—and document those costs.
Do We Really Have to Sue? Your Options in Plain English
| Path | Speed | Why Clients Choose It |
| Mediation | Days | Keeps relationships intact and stays off Google forever. |
| Arbitration | Months | Faster than court, private, but rulings are tough to undo. |
| Litigation | A year or two | Subpoena power, public record—sometimes the only way to force compliance. |
Look for fine print: Many NY contracts quietly force you into arbitration or mediation first. Knowing that clause exists early saves you months of detours.
Show Me the Money: Damages You Can Recover
- Direct losses – what you should’ve been paid.
- Ripple effects – profits you missed because of their breach.
- Pre‑agreed penalties (if written fairly).
- Specific performance – a judge orders them to finish the job.
- Your legal fees – but only if the contract (or law) allows.
Numbers make or break settlement talks. We’ll help you pin them down so the other side can’t hand‑wave your pain away.
How Alisme Law Turns the Tide
Rapid Case Assessment: Within two business days you get a frank assessment—strengths, risks, and exactly how much this could cost (and win).
Business‑first litigation philosophy: We push hard in mediation or settlement conferences—because every dollar you keep in your business is fuel for growth.
Tech‑Powered Evidence Hunts: AI‑driven e‑discovery tools help us sift through thousands of emails in hours, surfacing the “gotcha” threads that swing cases.
No Surprises: Clear milestones, transparent billing, and a lawyer who actually calls you back. It shouldn’t be revolutionary, but here we are.
Take the Next Step Before the Clock Runs Out
Every day you wait, leverage slips—documents disappear, witnesses forget, accounts drain. Let’s protect what you’ve built.
📞 (917) 970‑1212
📧 info@alismelaw.com
Schedule a consultation and breathe easier tonight.
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