Most contract disputes turn on a few documents and a few dates. We read the agreement and the correspondence first, identify the deadlines that apply, and give a straight assessment of the claim before recommending a demand, a negotiation or a lawsuit.
Key rules in New York
- Limitation period: generally six years for breach of contract (CPLR § 213(2)), and four years for sales of goods under UCC § 2-725, unless the contract validly shortens it.
- Writing requirements: the statute of frauds (General Obligations Law § 5-701) requires certain agreements to be in writing.
- Damages: the goal is to put the non-breaching party where performance would have put it; lost profits must be proved with reasonable certainty.
- Attorney’s fees are generally not recoverable unless the contract or a statute provides for them.
Typical matters
- Unpaid invoices and account-stated claims.
- Supply, distribution and services agreements.
- Commercial leases and construction-related payment disputes.
- Defending claims based on unclear terms, oral side deals or unenforceable penalty clauses.
Questions clients ask
Do I have a case if the agreement was never signed?
Possibly. Many contracts are enforceable based on emails, conduct or partial performance, but some types of agreements must be in a signed writing. The answer depends on the subject of the deal.
This page is general information about New York law, current as of its last review. It is not legal advice about your situation, and laws and court practices change. Speak with a lawyer about the facts of your case.