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Litigation and Dispute ResolutionFrom drafting content-certified letters through negotiation, provisional remedies, litigation and compulsory execution, our attorneys handle your dispute in light of the likelihood of recovery and cost.

Free consultation Why LegalAgent
Response time
1 business day*
First consultation
30 min free
Procedures handled
Negotiation · Demand letters · Provisional remedies · Litigation · Execution

* As a rule, for contract reviews and routine legal questions. For complex or urgent matters we propose a schedule that fits the matter.

Client companies served*

150+

Selected clients shown, in no particular order. * Clients and partners. Not limited to Litigation and Dispute Resolution matters.

KADOKAWA FRONTEO YAMAP ACROVE LAPRAS AVA Intelligence OPTIEUM Biotechnologies ReDelta Concrew LINEA Innovations TECHSUITE YStory

Handling disputes with business partners, starting with evidence and deadlines

In commercial disputes with business partners, such as late payment, contract termination and quality claims, how the evidence is organized at the outset and the outlook for claims and rebuttals shape how later negotiation or litigation proceeds. We first check deadlines such as the deadline to answer and the limitation period, then consider whether to proceed by negotiation, provisional remedies or litigation, based on the counterparty's financial strength and the strength of the evidence. Whether you will keep doing business with the counterparty is also taken into account when we consider the settlement line.

  • Accounts receivable stay unpaid despite repeated reminders
  • A termination notice has arrived, and you cannot tell whether the grounds are valid
  • A complaint has arrived, and you cannot organize the evidence by the deadline to answer
  • You cannot decide whether to sue, or whether it is worth the cost

Why LegalAgent

With LegalAgent, you can choose how to proceed based on the likelihood of recovery and cost

We support your decisions through to resolution in three ways: fast answers, fees you know before we start, and documents you can use as they are in negotiations and hearings.

  1. 01Speed

    Typical law firms3–5 business days

    LegalAgent1 business day, as a rule

    Answer deadlines and limitation periods checked first

    We answer contract reviews and routine legal questions within one business day as a rule. When the deadline to answer or the expiry of a limitation period is close, we check the deadline and the cause of action first.

  2. 02Fees

    Hourly billingTotal unknown at the start

    LegalAgentScope and fee set before we start

    Fees shown for each stage of the proceedings

    We ask about the amount claimed and how far the matter is likely to go, whether negotiation, provisional remedies or litigation, and give you an estimate before we start. If the proceedings move to the next stage, we update the estimate and explain it to you.

  3. 03Deliverables

    • Draft content-certified letter
    • Draft answer and briefs
    • Evidence table
    • Memo comparing resolution strategies

    Turning the strength of the evidence into input for internal decisions

    We separate the facts you can prove from those you cannot, and deliver materials comparing continued negotiation, provisional remedies and filing suit in a form that makes decisions easy for business units and management.

* Response times are for contract reviews and routine legal questions; they vary by matter.

How it works

The AI Agent organizes the evidence; attorneys build the claims and rebuttals

The AI Agent builds a chronology and organizes the evidence from the contracts, purchase orders and emails you provide; attorneys assess the outlook for claims and rebuttals and decide which procedure to pursue.

AI Agentdoes the work

  • Puts contracts, purchase orders and emails in chronological order
  • Extracts the facts and evidence behind claims and rebuttals
  • Drafts content-certified letters and answers

Attorneysmake the judgment

  • Assess the outlook for claims and rebuttals from the strength of the evidence
  • Decide whether to proceed by negotiation, provisional remedies or litigation
  • Take responsibility for the final arguments and documents
ConsultationResolution and collection procedures
  1. STEP 01Reviewing the facts and materials

    We review the facts and evidence underlying the claim or assertion and identify the urgency of the response (response deadlines, limitation periods and the like)

    Initial assessment and response schedule

  2. STEP 02Assessing claims and rebuttals and considering strategy

    Based on the strength of the evidence, the likelihood of recovery and the counterparty's financial strength, we consider whether to proceed by negotiation, a content-certified letter, a provisional remedy or litigation

    Materials comparing resolution strategies

  3. STEP 03Preparing content-certified letters, negotiation materials, answers and other documents

    We prepare documents suited to the chosen means, such as content-certified letters, negotiation strategy memos, answers or briefs

    Full set of draft documents

  4. STEP 04Negotiations and hearings

    We negotiate with the counterparty or attend court hearings, and organize arguments and evidence as matters progress

    Status reports for each negotiation and hearing

  5. STEP 05Resolution and collection procedures

    After a settlement is reached or a judgment becomes final, we check the status of performance and, where necessary, consider collection procedures such as compulsory execution

    Materials confirming the resolution, and an execution strategy memo where necessary

  • Attorneys make the final callAn attorney checks every deliverable and takes responsibility for it.
  • Your inputs are not used to train AIOn top of attorneys' statutory duty of confidentiality, we work in an environment where your inputs are not used to train AI.
  • An AI Agent built in-houseOur own engineers develop it. Information Security Policy

Use cases

Common requests and what you receive

For each situation that marks the entry point of a dispute, such as overdue payments, a notice of termination or the receipt of a complaint, we map the consequences of leaving it unaddressed to our support and deliverables from the initial response through resolution.

  1. 01

    Payment of accounts receivable or service fees is overdue, and the counterparty does not respond to reminders

    If left aloneThe running of the statute of limitations or deterioration of the counterparty's financial condition further reduces the likelihood of recovery

    What we doWe review the contracts, purchase orders, invoices and other documents that form the basis of the claim, and consider whether to proceed by voluntary negotiation, a content-certified letter, a demand for payment or a provisional remedy

    What you receive
    • Draft content-certified letter
    • Table organizing the basis of the claim
    • Collection strategy memo

  2. 02

    A business partner has given notice of contract termination and a claim for damages

    If left aloneResponding without examining the grounds for termination and the basis of the damages amount may lead to unnecessary payment obligations or the loss of an opportunity to rebut

    What we doWe compare the termination requirements under the contract with the counterparty's assertions and consider whether a rebuttal is possible and where the settlement line lies

    What you receive
    • Rebuttal strategy memo
    • Draft response
    • Materials considering settlement terms

  3. 03

    A complaint or demand for payment has arrived, and the response deadline is approaching

    If left aloneFailing to respond properly within the deadline may result in losing the opportunity to answer, or in an unfavorable decision without contesting the facts constituting the cause of action

    What we doWe review the cause of action stated in the complaint against the evidence at hand and organize the defense strategy and the admissions and denials

    What you receive
    • Draft answer
    • Issue organization memo
    • Outlook materials

  4. 04

    Positions on the scope of responsibility conflict over a quality claim

    If left aloneNegotiating without adequately reviewing acceptance inspection records and specifications leaves responsibility unclear and damages the business relationship

    What we doWe review the contract, specifications, acceptance inspection records and the history of communications, and organize the arguments on non-conformity liability and the scope of damages

    What you receive
    • Issue table
    • Draft response to the counterparty
    • Internal explanatory materials

  5. 05

    Negotiations with the counterparty are deadlocked, and you cannot decide whether to proceed to litigation

    If left aloneFiling suit without considering the likelihood of recovery and the cost-effectiveness of litigation may mean that time and money are spent without achieving sufficient recovery

    What we doBased on the counterparty's financial strength and ability to pay, the strength of the evidence and the expected costs, we consider whether continuing negotiation, a provisional remedy or filing suit is appropriate

    What you receive
    • Memo comparing resolution strategies
    • Cost-effectiveness analysis
    • Next action plan

Scope of our litigation and dispute resolution support

For each stage of the matter, we set out what we review, what judgments we make and what we return as deliverables.

Organizing the facts and designing negotiation strategy
After organizing the evidence and the prospects of claims and rebuttals, we consider the landing point to aim for in negotiation.
  • Organizing facts and evidence
  • Assessing claims and rebuttals and considering settlement lines
Content-certified letters and voluntary negotiation
We prepare claims against the counterparty, or responses to notices from the counterparty, based on the evidence and legal grounds.
  • Drafting and responding to content-certified letters
  • Representation in or attendance at voluntary negotiations
Provisional remedies, litigation and compulsory execution
Where voluntary negotiation does not lead to a resolution, we handle the choice of procedure and the response after proceedings begin.
  • Considering the need for civil provisional remedies
  • Litigation (drafting complaints, answers and attending hearings)
  • Compulsory execution and collection procedures
Internal explanations and support for strategic decisions
We organize the materials for choosing a course of action in a form that business units and management can readily use to decide.
  • Supporting strategic decisions based on the likelihood of recovery and cost

Our approach

What we focus on in Litigation and Dispute Resolution

In litigation and dispute resolution, we focus on the following perspectives.

  1. 01

    Choosing the means based on the likelihood of recovery and cost

    We consider not only the prospects of winning, but also the counterparty's financial strength and asset position and the cost and time required for recovery, in deciding whether to choose voluntary negotiation, provisional remedies or litigation.

  2. 02

    Building arguments according to the strength of the evidence

    We compare not only the wording of the contract but also purchase orders, acceptance inspection records, email and chat communications and other materials, distinguish facts that can be proven from those that cannot, and then build arguments that are sound.

  3. 03

    Setting settlement lines in light of whether the business relationship will continue

    The range of possible concessions and the points to contest firmly differ depending on whether you will continue to do business with the counterparty. We consider the level at which to land a settlement in light of the impact on the business relationship.

  4. 04

    An initial response built on managing deadlines such as response deadlines and limitation periods

    We first confirm the deadlines that narrow your options if the response is delayed, such as the deadline to answer a complaint, the date on which the statute of limitations will expire and the deadline to respond to a content-certified letter, and then set priorities for the initial response.

Pricing

Litigation and dispute resolution fees

The cost of handling a dispute varies with the amount claimed, the stage of the proceedings and the expected duration, so we provide an estimate after hearing an outline of the matter. The main factors are as follows.

How fees are set

Scope and fee agreed before we start

Matter-based work is generally on a fixed fee. For complex or urgent matters, we propose a schedule and an estimate that fit the matter.

First consultation

A free 30-minute online meeting.

You can come to us before your documents are in order. Tell us what you know so far.

Free consultation

What we check before quoting

  • The type of dispute (negotiation, content-certified letter, provisional remedy, litigation and the like) and the expected stage of proceedings
  • The amount claimed or the amount in dispute
  • The volume of materials needed to organize the evidence
  • The counterparty's stance (the likelihood of agreeing to voluntary negotiation, whether it has assets and the like)
  • The expected number of hearings if the matter proceeds to litigation or provisional remedies

The fee structure differs between resolving a matter through negotiation and proceeding to litigation, provisional remedies or execution. Whenever the matter moves to a new procedure, we update the estimate and explain it to you.

Team & Record

Attorneys who know business practice handle your matters

Contract reviews and drafts
2,000+
Client companies
150+
Startup legal matters
200+
Legal and investment DD
20+

* Approximate figures based on matters handled by our firm; actual figures vary by matter.

Engineers

Shinya Makita and Sota Miya build our product on the same team as the attorneys.

Practical guides to dispute handling

Breach of contractWhat Is Breach of Contract? How It Differs from Non-Performance of Obligations and the Initial Response in Corporate Legal Practice

Even if the counterparty misses a delivery date, you cannot necessarily terminate right away. You need to distinguish the requirements for demand, termination and damages, and check your own performance, receipt of notices and the records that support your damage.

Related practice areas

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can we consult you at the negotiation stage, before litigation?

Yes. Organizing the evidence and assessing the prospects of claims and rebuttals at the negotiation stage is important for deciding how to proceed with content-certified letters or litigation later.

Can we engage you only to collect accounts receivable?

Yes. Based on the amount claimed, the counterparty's stance and the evidence, we consider the appropriate means among voluntary negotiation, a content-certified letter, a demand for payment, a provisional remedy and litigation.

Can we consult you after a complaint or demand for payment has arrived?

Yes. If the response deadline is approaching, we first confirm the deadline and the facts constituting the cause of action, and give priority to considering the defense strategy.

Can we consult you even if we do not have sufficient evidentiary materials?

Please consult us at the stage when the materials are not yet complete. Together we will check which of the contract, purchase orders, invoices, delivery records and communications with the counterparty remain, and consider the prospects of a claim or rebuttal in light of the strength of the evidence.

Can we request both one-off consultations and ongoing support?

Depending on the circumstances, you can engage us for one-off support on an individual dispute or for ongoing support from negotiation through litigation and collection procedures.

Can you handle cases where the counterparty has entered insolvency proceedings?

Where the counterparty is in insolvency proceedings such as bankruptcy or civil rehabilitation, procedures different from ordinary commercial disputes are required, so please also see the Restructuring, Insolvency and Collections page.

Do you also handle labor disputes and negotiations with labor unions?

Individual disputes and collective bargaining with employees or labor unions are handled on the Labor and HR page or the labor union matters page. This page focuses on commercial disputes with business partners and similar parties.

Can you respond to urgent matters?

You can also consult us on highly urgent matters, such as when a response deadline or the expiry of a limitation period is approaching. The time required for our review is adjusted depending on the nature of the matter and the state of the evidence.

Contact

Talk to us about a dispute with a business partner

Please share the information you have at this point, such as the contract, materials relating to the claim, and any notices or complaints received from the counterparty. You can consult us even if the chronology and evidence have not yet been organized.

  • A free 30-minute online first meeting
  • You can consult us at the negotiation stage, before any lawsuit
  • You can consult us even if your evidence is incomplete