Are you looking for a breach of contract lawyer in Austin, TX?
At Gray Becker, P.C., we’ve built a breach of contract practice on decades of trial and appellate work in and around Austin.
If a written agreement has been broken and your business has suffered as a result, you need counsel who can assess the contract, protect your position, and pursue what you are owed. Our Austin, TX breach of contract lawyer evaluates the agreement, identifies the breach, and pursues a remedy through negotiation, litigation, or appeal.
Gray Becker, P.C. has represented Central Texas businesses and individuals in contract and commercial disputes for more than forty years. We handle each matter from demand through trial, and we prepare every case as though it will be decided by a judge or jury. Schedule a consultation to discuss your agreement and your options.
Breach of Contract Lawyer Austin, TX
A breach of contract happens when one party to a valid agreement fails to perform what it promised, without a legal excuse. That failure might be a missed payment, unfinished work, goods that don’t meet the agreed terms, or an outright refusal to perform at all. A breach of contract attorney reviews the agreement, identifies where it was broken, measures the loss, and pursues a remedy through negotiation or the courts. To recover, a client generally must show a valid contract, their own performance or a valid reason for not performing, the other side’s failure to perform, and damages that resulted. Each of those elements can become its own battleground.
In fiscal year 2023, contract cases were among the categories with the largest increase in new civil filings in Texas district courts, according to the Texas Judicial Branch. Those disputes are heard in the Travis County civil courts that serve Austin. Whether your contract was signed across a conference table or over email, the same core issue controls: what each side agreed to do, and who failed to do it.
Types of Breach of Contract Cases We Handle in Austin
Contract disputes take many forms, and the right strategy depends on the agreement and the industry behind it. Our Austin breach of contract attorneys represent businesses, property owners, and individuals across a wide range of contract types. Each one carries its own proof problems and its own path to a remedy.
- Service agreement disputes. When a contractor, consultant, or service provider fails to deliver what was promised, the fight usually turns on scope and standards. We pursue and defend claims over unfinished work, substandard performance, and unpaid invoices. The written scope of work often decides these cases.
- Real estate contract disputes. Purchase agreements, leases, and construction contracts can unravel over financing, title, or a failure to close. We represent buyers, sellers, landlords, and owners when a real estate deal in Central Texas breaks down. These disputes frequently involve significant sums and tight deadlines.
- Employment contract disputes. Executives and companies clash over compensation terms, bonuses, severance, and the enforceability of restrictive covenants. We handle disputes that arise from written employment agreements and the promises made inside them.
- Partnership and shareholder disputes. Co-owners fall out over money, management, and the terms of their governing documents. We litigate and resolve disagreements among partners, shareholders, and members of closely held companies, including claims that a partner ignored the deal they signed.
- Vendor and supplier agreements. Supply chains depend on contracts that spell out price, quantity, and delivery. When a vendor ships late, ships the wrong goods, or stops performing entirely, we pursue the damages that follow. We also defend suppliers accused of falling short.
- Non-compete agreements. A former employee or business seller who ignores a non-compete can threaten your customers and confidential information. We enforce reasonable restrictions and defend clients accused of violating them. Enforceability often depends on how narrowly the restriction was drafted.
- Construction and design contracts. Owners, contractors, and design professionals dispute delays, defects, change orders, and payment. We handle contract claims that arise on commercial and residential projects across the Austin area.
- Contract disputes. Not every disagreement fits a single category, and many involve overlapping obligations across more than one agreement. We handle general contract disputes of all kinds, from drafting problems to outright refusals to perform.
Why Choose Gray Becker, P.C. as My Breach of Contract Lawyer in Austin, TX?
Decades of Trial and Appellate Experience
Contract disputes are won on preparation and proof. Douglas M. Becker has briefed and argued cases before the United States Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, and the federal and state courts of appeals, and he has tried hundreds of cases to judges and juries. His practice covers contract disputes, commercial litigation, and non-compete agreements. Becker has been recognized by Best Lawyers in commercial litigation, and he earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. A contract case in his hands is built for trial from the outset, even in the many matters that settle first.
A Focused Business Litigation Practice
John D. Jacks has more than 25 years litigating in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. He represents individuals and businesses in breach of contract matters, commercial disputes between competitors, protection of trade secrets, and partnership and shareholder disputes, and he has handled contract claims, collections, and construction litigation. That background is exactly what you want from a business lawyer in Austin, TX. Our firm has resolved contract disputes for Central Texas clients for decades, and our practice pairs that trial record with a practical eye toward settlement.
What Is Important to Understand About Breach of Contract Cases?
Breach, Remedies, and Damages in Contract Cases
A contract claim starts with an enforceable agreement, a breach by one side, and resulting harm. Texas law generally allows the wronged party to recover damages meant to put them in the position they would have held if the contract had been performed. The remedy that fits depends on the agreement and the loss. Not every breach entitles a party to every remedy, and the contract’s own language often limits what is available.
- Actual damages. The direct financial loss caused by the breach, such as the gap between what was promised and what was delivered.
- Consequential damages. Foreseeable losses that flow from the breach, like lost profits, when both parties could have anticipated them.
- Liquidated damages. A fixed sum the contract sets in advance, enforceable when it reflects a reasonable estimate of the harm.
- Specific performance. A court order requiring the breaching party to actually perform, used when money alone cannot repair the loss.
- Rescission and restitution. Cancellation of the contract and return of what was exchanged, placing both sides back where they started.
What Are Important Aspects of a Breach of Contract Case?
Two cases built on similar agreements can end very differently. What often decides the outcome is the quality of the documentation and how the non-breaching party responded once the problem surfaced. Commercial disputes can be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or the courtroom. The costs of litigation factor into which path makes sense. Prompt, well-documented responses tend to preserve both bargaining power and legal options.
- The written agreement itself, including every amendment and signed change.
- The emails, texts, and letters that show what each side expected and did.
- Whether the party claiming a breach met its own obligations first.
- The size of the loss and how well it can be proven with records.
What Is the Breach of Contract Case Timeline?
In Texas, a breach of contract claim generally must be filed within four years of the date of the breach. Miss that deadline, and a court can dismiss the case no matter how strong it is. Most contract disputes resolve well before a courtroom, though preparing as if the case will be tried tends to produce a better settlement. Cases move at different speeds, but most follow a familiar sequence.
- Demand and negotiation, where a lawyer sends notice and tries to resolve the dispute directly.
- Filing suit in the appropriate Travis County court when talks stall.
- Discovery, where both sides exchange documents and take testimony under oath.
- Mediation or arbitration, where many contract disputes settle before trial.
- Trial and, if the result warrants it, an appeal.
What Should You Bring to Your Breach of Contract Consultation?
The more complete your records, the faster we can assess your claim. Bring whatever you have, and we can work around the gaps.
- The signed contract and any amendments or related agreements.
- Emails, letters, and texts about the deal and the breach.
- Invoices, payment records, and other proof of your losses.
- A short written timeline of what happened and when.
At the consultation, we review the agreement, explain your options, and give you a candid read on the strength of your position. We also give you a realistic view of timing and the likely range of outcomes. You leave with a clear understanding of the next steps.
Travis County Civil Courts and Local Resources
Breach of contract suits in Austin are generally filed in the district courts of Travis County, which hear civil matters involving contract, real estate, and business disputes. The District Clerk’s Civil Division maintains the records and handles filings for those cases. Case history and prior filings are available through the Travis County District Clerk, which can help establish the background of a dispute before suit is filed.
Reach Out to Gray Becker, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation
If a contract has been broken, a careful review of the agreement is the place to start. Our Austin breach of contract lawyer can assess your claim, explain the remedies available, and chart the most direct path to a resolution. Gray Becker, P.C. represents clients throughout Austin and Central Texas in these matters. Contact us to schedule a consultation, and we will walk through your agreement, your losses, and the options for resolving the matter.