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Understanding Contractual Disputes

Grasping the Essence of Contractual Conflicts

Contracts are essential in maintaining smooth company operations and fostering positive relationships with employees, vendors, and investors. 

Nevertheless, arrangements can be complex, resulting in disagreements and disputes that can have severe consequences for your business.

In contract law, clear terms are essential to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts over each party’s obligations.

We use various techniques, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration, to achieve the most favourable outcome.

At the same time we keep your legal exposure and business disruption to a minimum.

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Causes of contractual disputes

We can help resolve contractual disputes

Call our Brisbane Team on 07 3009 8444

Call our Sydney Team on 02 9307 8900

Enquire about resolving Contractual Disputes

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Taya LaurensTaya Laurens
12:12 25 Mar 23
I highly recommend Tyrone Thomas.
RahulRahul
05:35 23 Nov 22
Team at Roston Carlyle Rojas Lawyers specially Varun Gupta, Brendon McKenzie and Maisie Taylor are great professionals with competent and outstanding skills. From the first meeting with Varun Gupta, we got assured that we are with right people and they proved it. No doubt they are most recommendable team of professionals. Throughout the process they kept us updated and were available all the time for any questions or concerns. We will again contact them and recommend to my friends and network.
Janet DaveyJanet Davey
07:04 05 Aug 22
Zoe Kansky is very professional and great to work with, she explains everything clearly from start to finish. She is also very friendly, l would definitely choose this firm again. I Highly recommend Rostron Carlyle Rojas Lawyers
Tina MckayTina Mckay
11:27 01 Aug 22
Mysa was completely competent from start to finish, she seamlessly guided us through the legal process and was very informative, no question was too small. The RCR Lawyers team was there with us from the beginning to the end and helped us achieve closure with a positive result and for that we are extremely grateful.
Sweden PerezSweden Perez
15:39 10 Dec 21
Upon meeting with Varun, I never doubted that he’s certainly a brilliant solicitor and true enough, with all the things he did for us, he really surpassed our high expectations. He is very responsive in everything and even to a small detail. He is very professional that he would give an honest advice and direct answers to all our questions and enqueries. He never left us especially in a critical situations (yes, there were a lot of circumstances but Varun fixed them for us) but actually, he stayed with us up to the last minute of the day or until to settle everything that we need to do. Thank you Varun for helping us to buy our first home!!!
Luke PatrickLuke Patrick
07:36 14 Jul 21
My partner and I went through these guys for a complicated partner visa case after being referred from a lawyer friend. After being told by other lawyers that it was either easy or impossible, these guys told it like it was, realistic (they also had the same fees as the others). Peter and Shanalee were with us the whole way to provide guidance and 2.5 years later we are happy to receive the news that the partner visa has been granted.Thank you for all of your hard work guys.All the best.
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Common Causes of Contractual Disputes

Breach of Contract Terms

This happens when one party doesn't do what they agreed to.

It could involve specific performance, being late with a delivery, or not paying for goods or services as promised.


Ambiguous Language in Contracts

Often, disputes arise because the contract language is unclear.

In contract law, clear terms are important to avoid misunderstandings and disputes over each party's obligations.

Non-Delivery of Goods or Services

Sometimes, contracts go sour because one side fails to perform their part of the agreement.

This could involve someone giving false information or hiding important facts during contract talks.

Payment problems

Problems can happen because of economic downturns, natural disasters, or changes in the law.

These issues make it challenging for both parties to meet their contract obligations. In these cases, they might want to change or terminate the contract.

Violation of Non-compete or Non-disclosure Agreements

These agreements aim to protect a company's confidential information. If one party breaches a non-disclosure agreement, it likely leads to litigation.

This could involve paying fines, receiving instructions to cease competition, or damaging their professional reputation.

Enquire About a Contractual Dispute

We’re here to provide expert guidance and practical solutions, ensuring your business stays on the path to success.
REAL LAWYERS, REAL PEOPLE

Customised Methods for Resolving Disputes

We have extensive experience in finding tailored solutions that meet both legal requirements and business implications of contracts.

We offer a range of approaches, including: 

  • Negotiation
  • Mediation
  • Expert determination
  • Arbitration
  • Litigation

We understand that legal disputes can be stressful and time-consuming.

Therefore, we find solutions that preserve your reputation and business relationships. 

Expertise in Material Breach of Contract Cases

Contractual disputes are almost as inevitable as taxes. But not all contract breaches are treated equal, and the approach to resolution can vary widely depending on the severity of the breach. At RCR Lawyers, we specialize in guiding you through this complex terrain with expert legal advice tailored to your unique situation

There are two types of contract breaches:

Material Breach: This is more than just a simple misunderstanding—it’s a significant violation of the terms of the contract that goes to the very essence of the agreement. It’s a breach so severe that it deprives the non-breaching party of the benefit they were intended to receive under the contract. This could give the aggrieved party the right to terminate the contract and seek damages.

A material breach may occur in various ways, such as:

  • Failure to deliver goods or services within a specified timeframe when time is of the essence
  • Supplying goods or services that are significantly different from what was specified in the contract
  • Non-payment for goods or services delivered
  • Breaching confidentiality or non-compete clauses that are central to the contract

When a material breach occurs, the non-breaching party generally has the option to either:

1. Terminate the contract and seek damages, or

2. Affirm the contract (i.e., choose to continue with it) and claim damages for the breach.

Whether a breach is “material” can sometimes be subject to interpretation and might require legal assessment. 

Expertise in Minor Breach of Contract Cases

Minor Breach: A minor breach of contract—sometimes referred to as an “immaterial breach”—is a violation of the contract terms that is less severe than a material breach and does not go to the core of the agreement. Unlike a material breach, a minor breach does not substantially deprive the aggrieved party of the intended benefits of the contract.

Examples of minor breaches could include:

Minor delays in delivery of goods or services when time is not of the essence
Minor defects in goods or services delivered, which can be easily corrected or don’t significantly affect their functionality or value
Partial payment delays, especially if they don’t trigger a significant penalty or consequence

In the case of a minor breach, the non-breaching party generally has limited options:

1. The non-breaching party can claim damages for any actual losses incurred due to the minor breach but generally cannot terminate the contract based solely on that breach.

2. In some cases, the non-breaching party may require the breaching party to remedy the situation within a reasonable time frame, although this often depends on the specific terms of the contract and the nature of the breach.

It’s important to note that the non-breaching party must continue to perform their obligations under the contract while pursuing remedies for a minor breach. Failure to do so could potentially expose them to a claim of breach of contract themselves.

Our Approach to Resolving Contract Disputes

1. In-Depth Contract Analysis: Our first step is a comprehensive examination of your contract to provide you with strategically sound advice on your best course of action.

2. Alternative Dispute Resolution: For quicker and potentially less contentious outcomes, we sometimes recommend mediation as an effective way to address the issue without going to court.

3. Defining Your Legal Stance: We take great care to clarify your contractual rights and obligations, so you can make informed decisions every step of the way.

Why RCR Lawyers Is Your Trusted Partner for Contractual Disputes

RCR Lawyers specialise in solving contract-related problems and ensuring your rights are protected. 

We can help you determine if your claims are valid and the contract rules are enforceable. We will review contracts carefully to suggest good ways to solve problems. 

We also stress how important it is to write contracts clearly to avoid problems in the first place.

We meticulously review the terms of the contract to formulate a robust defence or action plan, particularly in cases of anticipatory breach, where one party indicates otherwise and refuses to fulfil their obligations after the contract is completed. 

This ensures that your contractual rights and obligations, which you agreed to when entering into the contract, are accurately represented and protected.

RCR Lawyers strength in handling contractual problems comes from legal know-how and experience. 

We know that these disputes can be upsetting, which is why we can help you solve these problems and avoid new ones.

In the end, contract problems can be complicated and cause trouble for business. 

It’s important to understand why they happen and how to solve them. 

Having a contract lawyer like RCR Lawyers on your side is important. 

We can help with tough problems and protect your interests along the way.

Contact us

Please contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation, and let us put our extensive experience to work for you.

document with writing on it icon

Causes of contractual disputes

We can help resolve contractual disputes

Call our Brisbane Team on 07 3009 8444

Call our Sydney Team on 02 9307 8900

Enquire about resolving Contractual Disputes

"*" indicates required fields

When Legal Action Becomes Inevitable


Our main aim is to resolve issues without going to court, especially for business contracts, as it's usually faster and cheaper.

However, there are situations where going to court becomes the only option to resolve a commercial dispute.

In such cases, RCR Lawyers is well-equipped to stand by your side.

We tailor our comprehensive legal support to secure the best possible outcome for your situation.

You can rely on us to handle your case with expertise and professionalism.

Meet our experienced team

Commercial Litigation

Paul Rojas

Michael Finch

Dean Alexander

Christine Kennedy

Mysa Mohannak

Lee Allen

Joelon Fincher

Marcus Malouf

Thomas Lane-porter

Neil Yang