When the ability to advocate for oneself falters, the question arises: Who will step into the breach on your behalf? In Melbourne, breach of contract lawyers frequently find themselves in the role of defenders in precarious situations.
Contracts are laden with complexities that elude the comprehension of most business owners and consumers, underscoring the necessity of legal expertise.
Who will fight the fight on your behalf if you can’t do it yourself? For many individuals and businesses, breach of contract lawyers Melbourne locals use, often have the role of defending their clients in risky situations. After all, most contracts contain a lot of information the average business owner or consumer simply doesn’t understand.
So, should you ever find yourself in one of the following predicaments, a breach of the contract lawyer is the person to call?
What is a Breach of Contract Lawyer?
There are many types of lawyers in today’s society and a breach of contract lawyer has an area of expertise related to contracts.
There can be a suspicion from any party that a clause or guideline of a contract has been violated by a party mentioned in the contract. A breach of contract lawyer has the skill and insight to help manage such a situation.
All parties concerned have the right to obtain a lawyer to fight their case. The goal of using these experts is usually one of the following:
- Asking for help to interpret the details of a contract
- Resolving disputes between the parties
- Lawyers acting as mediators between the parties mentioned in the contract
- Arbitrating a dispute in private, rather than going to court
- Litigation, in which case legal action is taken, often since the parties can not come to an agreement in private
Common Business Scenarios
If you’re active in a business setting of any kind, the following could cross your path and you’ll be wise to ask for expert help from a lawyer.
Company Secrets Revealed
For many businesses, a breach of contract takes place in relation to employees. An employee may share facts about the company with a competitor, despite signing an agreement to not disclose details with other role players in the industry.
A lawyer can help you get compensation for the harm this can do to your bottom line.
Sharing Personal Details of a Party
There can be issues of personal details being shared with third parties, without asking permission first.
This can happen if an employee shares company details, but some businesses also share client or supplier information, whether intentionally or accidentally. This invasion of privacy can make it necessary to claim compensation with the help of a lawyer.
Violation of Non-compete Agreements
An employee can also agree not to work for one of your competitors for a period of time after quitting their job, and then do it anyway. If you feel that this puts you at a disadvantage you should discuss the best way forward with a breach of contract lawyer.
Note that for a business it may even be valuable to keep a contract lawyer on retainer, especially if your business activities involve a lot of contracts. You never know when you may need an expert and it’s always better working with someone who already understands the details of your business.
Situations Consumers Often Face
The average consumer doesn’t have the legal insight to handle a case of breach of contract—whether you’re the one who has violated the agreement, or you feel that you’re the one being treated unfairly.
For scenarios like the following, ask for help from someone who knows how to help you navigate the situation.
Not Receiving What was Promised
A supplier or service provider may not provide what they have promised. This can either be delivering on their promises late, not at all, or offering something entirely different than what you discussed.
If you had a contract with such a supplier, you can ask a lawyer for advice on how to ensure you get what was promised, obtain reimbursement, or get monetary compensation if the breach resulted in financial loss for you.
Late Payments
You could be the one in breach of contract when you make late payments, whether it’s to a company or another person.
In such a case, lawyers can help mediate and find a solution that suits both parties. Perhaps you can’t pay the entire outstanding amount immediately, but the second party may be willing to accept smaller payments over the course of weeks or months.
Is Breach of Contract a Crime?
Unless you commit fraud as part of a contract breach, you don’t necessarily have to be afraid of being accused of a criminal offense. Usually, it’s simply an issue between two parties who have a verbal or written agreement.
In many cases, the outcome of a dispute will be financial compensation paid to a certain party, if the lawyer can prove that violations caused loss or damages of a certain amount. The resolution can also include one or both parties being asked to remedy the situation in some manner.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it becomes evident that in various typical scenarios, having legal expertise on your side can make all the difference when you’re navigating the complexities of business starting and contracts.
Contracts show in writing what different parties agree upon initially and in essence, they’re meant to protect all parties concerned.
However, legal phrases can be very confusing and you can easily be taken advantage of if you’re not sure about your rights in a situation. Get the help you need, so your interests are taken care of.
