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A dispute

What to gather before calling a lawyer about a business dispute

Dealing with a business dispute? Describe it in your own words, and Tellbrief turns your answers into a short brief with the questions worth asking and the records to have ready, so your first call with a lawyer starts further ahead.

For example: A complaint from a supplier, with a hard deadline coming up. A brief for this founder suggests the lists below.

Questions worth asking

  1. What deadlines apply to this, and what are our options?If a company is sued in federal court, its answer is generally due 21 days after it’s served. State courts set their own deadlines.1
  2. What should our agreement with the manufacturer or supplier cover?

Records to have ready

  • Any letters, emails or papers about the dispute or complaint, with datesYou said there may be a dispute, claim or complaint.
  • Your agreement with your manufacturer or supplierSomeone else makes or supplies your product.
  • Contracts and policies you already haveYour lawyer will start from what you have.

Your brief builds its own lists from your answers.

Build your own brief

About 30 questions, most of them one tap. No account and no card during early access. Tellbrief isn’t a law firm and doesn’t give legal advice.

Start your brief

Questions founders ask

What questions should I ask a lawyer about a business dispute?

For the founder in this example, the brief suggests: What deadlines apply to this, and what are our options? What should our agreement with the manufacturer or supplier cover? Your own brief builds its list from your answers.

What should I have ready before the first call?

For this example: Any letters, emails or papers about the dispute or complaint, with dates; Your agreement with your manufacturer or supplier; Contracts and policies you already have. Your own brief lists what fits your answers.

Is this legal advice?

No. Tellbrief organizes your information so the first conversation with your lawyer starts further ahead. It isn’t a law firm, and using it doesn’t make anyone your lawyer. Legal advice comes from a licensed lawyer, once they agree to take on your matter.

What does it cost?

Your brief is free during early access, with no card and no account. If you’d like Jordan to take on the work, he reads your answers first, then talks through the scope and his fee with you before any work starts. Tellbrief takes no share of it.

How long does it take?

About 30 questions once the names are cleared, and most take one tap. Plan on 10 to 15 minutes.

Other situations

  1. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a)(1)(A) (opens in a new tab).