Denver Business Attorney — Serving Boulder, Louisville & All of Colorado
Your Colorado Business Has a Problem. Let’s Solve It.
A contract dispute. A partner who isn’t holding up their end of the deal. A business purchase that’s gotten complicated. A creditor coming after what’s yours. Whatever the situation, business legal problems don’t wait — and neither should you.
When a business dispute threatens what you’ve built, you need a Colorado business attorney experienced in litigation in your corner — not a generalist, and not someone learning on the job. John B. Dougherty has represented businesses, business owners, and commercial clients throughout Louisville, Boulder County, and the greater Denver metro area for over 30 years. From contract disputes and partnership conflicts to complex multi-party litigation in state, federal, and appellate courts, John delivers efficient, practical legal counsel for Colorado businesses of all sizes.
Business and commercial matters are handled on an hourly basis. Before any engagement begins, John provides an estimate of anticipated time and cost — so you always know what you’re getting into.
Call for a free 15 minute phone conversation* to discuss your needs: (303) 870-8492
Straightforward Colorado Business Legal Help
✓ Free initial 15 minute phone conversation*
✓ Transparent hourly billing — no surprises
John understands that your goal is to resolve the problem and get back to running your business, not to run up legal fees. He’ll tell you honestly when a dispute is worth fighting and when settlement makes more sense.
(303) 870-8492
Denver Business Attorney Services
John’s commercial practice covers two distinct areas — disputes and litigation on one side, and transactional work on the other.
Most business attorneys focus on one or the other. John does both, which means he understands how deals are structured when they work and what goes wrong when they don’t.
Denver Business Litigation Attorney — Colorado Dispute & Litigation Services
When a business relationship breaks down, you need an attorney who knows how to fight — and one experienced enough to know when fighting is the right call versus when resolving the matter quickly and quietly serves you better.
John represents business clients in:
Breach of contract claims — enforcing agreements that the other side isn’t honoring, or defending against claims that your business breached its obligations
Business partnership and shareholder disputes — when co-owners can’t agree, or one party believes the other has violated their duties or the terms of your operating or partnership agreement
Fraud and misrepresentation — civil claims where another party deceived you in a business transaction
Breach of fiduciary duty — claims against officers, directors, or partners who failed to act in the business’s best interest
Civil theft and conversion — when someone has wrongfully taken business assets, funds, or property
Trade secret protection — protecting proprietary information, client lists, or confidential business processes
Colorado Consumer Protection Act claims — both bringing and defending deceptive trade practice claims
Creditor/debtor disputes — collection matters, debt negotiations, and judgment enforcement
Business dissolution disputes — when winding down a business entity becomes contested
John has litigated business disputes in Colorado state courts, U.S. District Court, and at the appellate level. When mediation or alternative dispute resolution is appropriate — and it often is — John can represent you in those proceedings as well, helping you reach resolution faster and at lower cost than trial.
Denver Business Contract & Transaction Attorney — Colorado
Not every business legal matter involves a dispute. Many of John’s business clients come to him for practical transactional support — having a trusted attorney review what they’re about to sign before they sign it, or guiding them through a business purchase or formation.
Transactional services include:
Business contract review and drafting — purchase agreements, service contracts, vendor agreements, non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, and more
Business purchase and sale — due diligence review, purchase agreement negotiation, and closing representation whether you’re buying or selling a business
Business formation — selecting the right entity type (LLC, corporation, partnership) and preparing operating agreements, bylaws, or partnership agreements
Operating agreement and shareholder agreement drafting and review
Business document review — when you need an experienced attorney to read something carefully before you commit to it
Commercial real estate closings — see also our [Real Estate Law page]
The value of having an attorney review a business agreement before you sign is almost always greater than the cost of fixing a problem after you’ve signed. Most document reviews are completed in a few hours at an hourly rate — a modest investment compared to the risk of an unfavorable contract term that could cost you far more later.
Colorado Business Mediation Attorney — Boulder County & Denver Metro
Litigation is expensive and time-consuming. In many business disputes, mediation — a structured negotiation with a neutral third party — can resolve the matter faster, at lower cost, and with less disruption to your business operations than a courtroom battle.
John regularly represents business clients in mediation proceedings throughout Boulder County and the Denver metro area. If your dispute requires it, he can also take the matter through trial — but his first goal is always to find the most practical path to resolution for you.
Colorado Business Attorney Fees — Transparent Hourly Billing
Business and commercial matters are handled on an hourly basis at a rate of $375/hour. Most engagements require an advance payment before work begins — the amount varies depending on the complexity of the matter and whether litigation is anticipated.
For a straightforward contract review or document drafting assignment, the advance is typically modest. For contested disputes where litigation is likely, a larger advance reflects the time and preparation involved.
Before any engagement begins, John will discuss the scope of your matter, provide an honest estimate of anticipated time, and explain what advance payment will be required — so you can make a fully informed decision before committing.
Why Colorado Businesses Choose The Dougherty Law Firm
- 30+ years of civil litigation experience, including complex commercial disputes in state, federal, and appellate courts
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell — the highest possible peer review rating in the legal profession, awarded for both legal ability and ethical standards
- Member, Colorado Bar Association
- Direct personal representation — John personally handles every case. He leverages a strong team of associates and paralegals to move your case forward efficiently while maintaining a high level of care.
- Practical advice — John understands that your goal is to resolve the problem and get back to running your business, not to run up legal fees. He’ll tell you honestly when a dispute is worth fighting and when settlement makes more sense.
- Results-focused strategy — John will tell you honestly when a dispute is worth fighting, when mediation makes more sense, and what realistic outcomes look like for your specific situation.
Serving Businesses Throughout Colorado
The Dougherty Law Firm is based in Louisville, CO and regularly represents commercial clients throughout Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Superior, Longmont, Westminster, Arvada, Thornton, Erie, and the greater Denver metropolitan area. John handles cases in Denver District Court, Boulder District Court, Broomfield Combined Court, and U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
Client Testimonials – Colorado Business Clients
Mike B.
“My opinion of John Dougherty’s legal talents will be prejudiced by my long acquaintance with him through mutual friends and community organizations. I knew him as an admired friend and confidant long before two calls for his help as an attorney. The first was frantic…
Read all testimonials for Denver business attorney John B. Dougherty.
Colorado Business Law FAQ
Frequently Asked Business Law Questions
When Should a Colorado Business Owner Consult a Business Attorney?
The answer is almost always earlier than you think. Many Colorado business owners wait until a dispute has escalated into a formal lawsuit before consulting a Denver business litigation attorney — by which point their options are often significantly more limited and more expensive. You should consult a Colorado business attorney when drafting or signing any significant business contract, when a business relationship begins to show signs of conflict, when you receive a demand letter from another party, when you are considering suing another business or individual, or when you have been served with a lawsuit. Early legal counsel almost always results in better outcomes and lower overall legal costs for Colorado businesses. Read The Entire Post
How Long Does A Business Lawsuit Take in Colorado?
The timeline for a Colorado business lawsuit varies significantly depending on the complexity of the dispute, the amount of discovery involved, the court’s docket, and whether the case settles before trial.
A relatively straightforward business dispute in Colorado state court may resolve in six to twelve months. More complex commercial litigation involving multiple parties, expert witnesses, or extensive discovery can take two to three years or longer to reach a final resolution in Colorado.
Cases resolved through mediation or arbitration are often significantly faster than traditional court litigation. Your Denver business litigation attorney can give you a more specific timeline estimate once the nature and complexity of your Colorado dispute has been evaluated.
Do I Need An Attorney To Represent Me In A Business Lawsuit?
There is an old expression that, “Someone who acts as their own attorney has a fool for a client.” This is tempting sometimes, for people who do business. They may be in denial that a dispute is happening, or they just don’t want to spend money on hiring an attorney to defend themselves. That’s all understandable. But one of the roles an attorney plays for his/her client is to provide an objective, outside viewpoint. First and foremost, we are our client’s advocate. When we are presenting ourselves to the public, to the court, or opposing counsel, we are going to vigorously and aggressively advocate our client’s viewpoint to the extent the law allows us to do so. However, in private consultation with our clients, a lot of times we can advise if there is a weakness in their case. There are many reasons why someone may want to get a case resolved in addition to the ongoing cost of continuing to litigate a matter. What Are the Ways That I Can Protect My Business from a Lawsuit? There are several ways you can protect your business from a lawsuit. First, you should have a good insurance package. I work with […] Read The Entire Post
What Should Your Client Be Doing In A Business Lawsuit?
During a business lawsuit, first and foremost, my clients should be cooperating and communicating with me and following my office’s instructions. That’s what I am hired to do; to guide them through the process. Usually that involves turning over the files to the attorney to review, having your attorney interview important witnesses, review important documents and so forth. The client’s role is also obviously very important. The client knows the most about the dispute. One of the most important things they can do, and the biggest thing that I ask my clients to adhere to, is to be rigorously honest. In situations where there are things they have done that may have hurt their case, I can do more to help them if I know about those bad aspects of the case, earlier. If they did things that maybe they wish they hadn’t in the dispute, or said things or wrote things, I want to know about those “mistakes” because sooner than later, those facts are going to come out. If I learn these facts later in the case, my options on how to advise and assist my client are much more limited. So, there is a large element of […] Read The Entire Post
What Is the Difference Between Mediation and Arbitration?
Another alternative to litigation that people or businesses often employ is mediation. The big difference between mediation and arbitration is that the latter is with a private judge. In other words, he or she is not in our district court, and they weren’t appointed by the governor. A private judge can still enter a judgment against the parties and then have that judgment enforced by the district court. However, mediation is different in the sense that no order or judgment can be entered by him or her. A mediator is basically a private party. Many times a mediator is a retired judge or a former judge, or an experienced attorney, but they don’t necessarily have to be and the parties can agree that they will mediate their dispute with this independent person. A mediation is also sometimes called a settlement conference. The parties involved in a dispute often will present letters or briefs summarizing the facts of their case, presenting them to the mediator so that the mediator understands the nature of the dispute and who is involved and what’s at stake and so forth. The big difference, however, is that the mediator cannot enter an order binding any of […] Read The Entire Post
What Steps Should I Take to Protect My Company If I Am Being Sued?
If you are served with a summons and complaint, commonly referred to as a lawsuit, the papers will include information on who is suing you, what is being alleged and the venue where the lawsuit is pending. Once you’ve been served with the papers, the most critical first step is to contact my office right away. If you fail to act, the claimant can often in as little as 20 or 30 days obtain a default judgment against you. This means they file an additional motion with the court and point out that you didn’t respond within the time allowed under the rules. Therefore, regarding whatever amount of money they are alleging you owe them, or any other relief that they are seeking from the court, they will ask the court for orders granting that relief and for entering the judgment against you for money damages and anything else they want. If you ignore that, they will have a judgment against you and they can start collection on that judgment. They can file liens against real estate you own, garnish your bank accounts, and they can attach to other assets. You don’t want to ignore the lawsuit when it happens. […] Read The Entire Post
What Is Business Litigation?
Business litigation is something that grows out of a disagreement between two or more parties that either are or were in business together. What Are Some of The Common Reasons for Which Businesses Are Sued? Businesses are often sued over financial disputes. Sometimes businesses are sued by former employees, former partners, or other people who they might have had a business relationship with. This could be a supplier, vendor or someone else who performed services for a business. For example, I’m representing a woman who owns a recruiting firm. She recruits and places candidates for businesses and currently a particular business has failed to pay her for services rendered. We are trying to help her collect that money. Another example where a company may be sued would be where shareholders or partners want to dissolve a business or want to buy one partner “out” and there is a dispute as to how much they should pay and what the terms should be of this buyout or dissolution of the entity. Another instance may be where a third party who did shoddy work is demanding payment and the business disputes the demand for payment. Who Do You Represent in These Cases? […] Read The Entire Post
Facing a Business Dispute in Colorado? Talk to a Denver Business Attorney Today.
The sooner you have qualified legal counsel involved, the better your position. Whether you’re about to sign something important, already in a dispute, or considering buying or selling a business — call John B. Dougherty for a free 15 minute phone conversation*.
(303) 870-8492
Serving the State of Colorado including Louisville, Boulder County, Lafayette, Superior, Longmont, and the greater Denver metropolitan area.
*The initial 15 minute telephone consultation is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all legal issues you may be facing, but is only intended to diagnose at a preliminary stage various issues, including whether you would benefit by retaining our office.