San Diego Business & Contract Attorney
Rainey Law P.C. advises San Diego companies on the agreements that hold their business together — and litigates when those agreements break down. From its office on West Bernardo Drive, the firm serves clients throughout San Diego County and across California, New York, and Washington, D.C.
- Office
- 16870 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 400
- Courts
- State, federal, and arbitration
- Verdict
- $20.7 million jury verdict
Contracts drafted to survive a dispute
Most commercial litigation traces back to a document written for the deal rather than for the disagreement. We draft and negotiate agreements with the eventual fight in mind — clear scope, defined remedies, workable dispute-resolution terms, and indemnity that means something.
- Master services, customer, and vendor agreements
- Operating agreements, partnership agreements, and buy-sell provisions
- Independent contractor and consulting agreements
- NDAs, IP assignment, and confidentiality agreements
- Distribution, licensing, and reseller agreements
- Asset and stock purchase agreements
Business disputes we litigate
- Breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith
- Partnership, shareholder, and LLC member disputes
- Breach of fiduciary duty and corporate governance conflicts
- Unfair competition and trade secret misappropriation
- Fraud, misrepresentation, and business torts
- Judgment enforcement and recovery
Formation and growth counsel
Entity choice, ownership structure, and founder documents determine how much friction the business absorbs later. We help companies form and restructure entities, paper founder and investor arrangements, and put employment documents in place before headcount growth turns into exposure.
Local presence, multi-jurisdiction reach
The firm works from one office at 16870 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92127, and also practices in New York and Washington, D.C. — useful for California companies with cross-border suppliers, customers, or staff.
What San Diego businesses should bring to a first dispute review
The earliest decision is often whether to negotiate, demand performance, preserve a commercial relationship, or prepare for litigation. A useful initial review starts with the signed agreement, amendments, invoices, key communications, and a timeline of missed obligations. We also ask about the business objective: payment, continued performance, a clean exit, or protection of confidential information.
- Signed contracts, exhibits, change orders, and any dispute-resolution clause
- Invoices, payment history, delivery records, and relevant correspondence
- Any demand letter, threatened filing, arbitration notice, or approaching deadline
- The decision-makers, entities involved, and the commercial outcome sought
Representative matters
Examples from the firm's published case-results record. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
2023 · $20.7M
Verdict in complex federal trial against a former partner and a company
After our client reported the plaintiffs' conduct to the board and government entities, he received no protection from the company. The plaintiffs sued our client for defamation, intentional interference with prospective economic relations, negligent interference with prospective economic relations, civil extortion, and injunctive relief. The firm successfully defended all claims against our client and won our counterclaims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and deceit, conversion, negligent misrepresentation, and securities fraud — including an award of attorney fees. United States District Court, Central District of California, two-week trial.
2023 · ~$500K
Judgment in a breach of contract case
Clients won compensatory damages, interest, memorandum of costs, and attorney fees.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
When should a small business hire a business attorney?
The highest-value moments are before signing a significant contract, before adding employees or contractors, when ownership changes, and at the first sign of a dispute. Involvement at those points is far cheaper than litigation later.
Do you handle both contract drafting and litigation?
Yes. The firm drafts and negotiates commercial agreements and also litigates business disputes in state and federal court and in arbitration, which means the drafting is informed by how these documents actually get tested.
What areas around San Diego do you serve?
The firm serves clients throughout San Diego County — including Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Carlsbad, Poway, and downtown San Diego — as well as clients statewide and in New York and Washington, D.C.
Where would a San Diego contract or partnership dispute be handled?
The forum can depend on the contract, parties, jurisdiction, amount at stake, and type of claim. Potential venues include San Diego Superior Court, federal court where jurisdiction exists, and private arbitration when an enforceable agreement requires it.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not itself create an attorney-client relationship; representation is subject to a conflict check and an engagement agreement.
Recognized year after year for excellence in employment and business law
Super Lawyers, San Diego — 2020–2027
- Expertise.comBest Employment LawyersEscondido2022
- Top Lawyers of San DiegoRising StarsSan Diego2019-2024
We fight for you.
Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your business or employment matter.