Litigation lawyers resolve civil disputes through negotiation, mediation and court.
firms
1,867
regions
16
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They assess prospects, costs and risks, and choose the most efficient path to resolution.
Why litigation & dispute resolution matters
Disputes are expensive and stressful. A clear strategy from the start controls cost and risk.
The Australian context
Civil disputes are heard in state local, district and supreme courts depending on value, and in federal courts for federal matters. Courts encourage alternative dispute resolution and have overarching duties to resolve disputes justly and quickly.
Finlaysons Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Native Title & Aboriginal Legal Services · Immigration & Visas · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: italian
Fort Knox Legal provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Probate & Estate Administration.
Pymble, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Fox & Staniland Lawyers provides legal services in Pymble, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Family Law · De Facto Relationships · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Franklin Athanasellis Cullen Pty Ltd provides legal services in Spring Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Employment Law.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+3 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law
Freeman Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Galilee Solicitors provides legal services in Pontville, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Probate & Estate Administration.
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Family Property SettlementNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Gloria Family Law provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Property Settlement · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Binding Financial Agreements3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, cantonese
GMH Legal provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreCommercial Litigation · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Banking & Finance · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Business & Commercial Law3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, cantonese
GO trademarks provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Intellectual Property & Trade Marks, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Intellectual Property & Trade Marks+3 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Gordon Legal Warrnambool provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Class Actions, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Class Actions+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Defamation · Medical Negligence · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Public LiabilityNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Gorman Jones Lawyers provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Workers Compensation, Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Workers Compensation+7 morePersonal Injury · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Medical Negligence · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Grope Hamilton Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Personal InjuryNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: hindi
GWK Allars provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Binding Financial Agreements
Halfpennys provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Property & Conveyancing · Liquor Licensing & Gaming · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & LeasingNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Hall & Petranis provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Immigration & Visas
Hamilton Locke provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Competition & Consumer Law.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Competition & Consumer Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Insolvency & Restructuring · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Agribusiness & Rural Law
Hammond Legal provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law
Hargraves provides legal services in Cobram, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Harris & Harris provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Harris Lieberman Solicitors provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Hearty & Tam Family Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
HHG Legal Group provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Building & Construction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Notary Public & JP Services
Understand the next step
A practical guide to litigation & dispute resolution
What to discuss at the first meeting
Set out the agreement or relationship, disputed facts and outcome sought. A first assessment should distinguish legal options from the commercial or practical value of pursuing them.
Agree on stages and review points rather than treating a first demand as a commitment to full litigation.
How the engagement may progress
01
Prepare a chronology, agreement or policy, important communications and a calculation of any claimed amount. Distinguish firsthand facts from assumptions.
02
Discuss negotiation, a complaint scheme, mediation, a tribunal or court. Ask which options are available for this particular matter.
03
Agree on a first step and a point to reassess progress and cost. Before settling, understand what claims would be released and how obligations would be recorded.
Fees and the scope of work
Request stages for advice, correspondence, negotiations and proceedings. Discuss filing, expert and barrister costs and any potential liability for another party’s costs.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Provide every demand, decision and court document with its date. Do not assume informal negotiations suspend a response or filing deadline.
Questions to ask a litigation & dispute resolution adviser
What is a proportionate first step?
What evidence and costs should be assessed before proceedings?
What evidence would change the assessment?
Is a complaint or dispute-resolution scheme available?
What are the practical costs and risks if agreement is not reached?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How long does litigation take?
From months for small claims to years for complex matters.
How much does going to court cost?
It depends on the court, the complexity and how far the matter goes. Ask for a written estimate for each stage, and remember that the losing party often pays part of the winner's costs.
Can I sue for defamation?
Possibly, if a publication identified you and caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation. There are defences and strict time limits, usually one year from publication.
