Questions for lawyers Found 20

A former business partner is about to use my confidential customer list to set up a competing business, and I think he will start within days. Waiting for a full trial will be too late. Is there a way to stop him quickly?

I am thinking of bringing a claim in the High Court but the legal costs frighten me. If I win, will the other side have to pay all my legal fees? I have heard the winner rarely gets back everything. I want to make sure I am not missing anything important before I decide what to do.

We have reached an agreement in principle with the other side in our commercial case, and our lawyer asked whether we want a private settlement or a consent judgment. What is the practical difference and which is better for us?

I received a lawyer’s letter demanding a large amount of money over a contract dispute and threatening court proceedings if I do not reply in a week. I am anxious and tempted to ignore it. What steps should I take?

I am a foreign company with no assets in New Zealand and I have been served with a High Court claim. My opponent has asked the court to order that I provide money in advance for their costs. Can a court really require this?

We do not have an arbitration clause with a supplier, but the supplier has suggested that we submit our current dispute to arbitration to avoid a public trial. I am unsure whether that would benefit us. What are the pros and cons?

We are in a business dispute in the High Court and I have been told that I must disclose my documents to the other side, including emails that could hurt us. Am I really obliged to hand everything over, and can we withhold anything?

We lost an arbitration and I strongly believe the arbitrator misapplied the law. I would like to appeal to the High Court. Is that possible, and how much room is there to overturn the decision? I have tried asking around but nobody seems to give me a clear answer.

My lawyer suggested making a without prejudice settlement offer to the other side. I do not understand what that phrase means and I fear it might be seen as an admission. How do these offers work, and what are the risks?

My subcontracting business has been waiting on a large unpaid progress payment from a main contractor, who refuses to pay and says it will be resolved later. I have heard that construction disputes have a quick process. How does it work?