Contracts are the basis of many personal, professional and business relationships. These legal agreements define expectations and obligations when it comes to business leases, service agreements, and more. When one party does not fulfill their obligations, they are breaching the contract, which can lead to considerable monetary loss, business interruption, and damaged relationships. 

At Strategy Law, our lawyers, who specialize in litigation, work with clients to understand their rights, assess options, and provide effective resolution of disputes when contracts are breached. 

What Is a Breach of Contract?

A breach of contract occurs when one party fails to adequately perform the terms of a valid and binding contract. There are a number of ways a breach may occur:

• Minor Breach – A failure to perform in part which does not entirely destroy the contract, but nevertheless creates a burden or damages.
  
• Material Breach – A substantial failure to perform which goes to the heart of the contract and often frees the non-breaching party from performing their obligations.
  
• Anticipatory Breach – When one party indicates in advance, either verbally or by actions, it will not be able to fulfill its obligations.

Common Examples of Breach of Contract

• A vendor does not deliver goods or services as promised.
  
• A tenant ceases payment of rent under a lease.
  
• A contractor fails to complete work as agreed.
  
• A business partner refuses to abide by the terms of a shareholder agreement or operating agreement.
  

Whether it involves personal relationships or a commercial real estate transaction, breaches can have damaging consequences if not properly addressed.

Legal Remedies for Breach of Contract

In the case of a breach, the injured party has the following options for legal remedies:

• Compensatory Damages – Monetary damages to compensate for a party’s actual loss.
  
• Consequential Damages – Damages for an additional loss that resulted from the breach, such as lost profit.
  
• Specific Performance – A remedy ordering the breaching party to perform his/her obligations as specified by the contract, which is typically requested for real estate transactions.
  
• Rescission – A remedy that cancels the contract and returns both parties to their original positions.
• Attorneys Fees and Costs – Some contracts include a provision for the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs.
  

The remedies available will depend on the contract language and terms, the conduct of the parties, damages and the applicable law. 

How Strategy Law Can Help

Contract disputes can escalate easily, but when you have an experienced litigation attorney, it can make all the difference. At Strategy Law, we:-

• Review and evaluate the contract language and determine breach and enforceability
  
• Evaluate any potential damages and/or remedies
• Determine resolution options, including negotiating a settlement between the parties or attending mediation 
• Representation in court or at arbitration

Our attorneys seek to protect your rights, minimize your risks, and resolve disputes with a strategic approach.

This blog is written as of October 2025.  Recommendations and legal requirements are changing rapidly, so please continue to review our legal updates or review postings on relevant government websites.

All blogs on this site are for educational purposes only, do not constitute legal advice or opinion, and should not be applied to your situation, or any specific situation, without consultation with counsel. Strategy Law, LLP does not provide any legal advice concerning any matter discussed in a blog except upon formal engagement including, without limitation, execution of Strategy Law, LLP’s formal legal services agreement, and with respect to specific factual situations.  No blog constitutes a guaranty, warranty, or prediction regarding the result of any legal matter discussed in the blog or any representation