Business disputes
Close the deal — or close it out.
Commercial disputes don't have to mean commercial litigation. Common Ground gives founders, partners, vendors, and customers a structured space to negotiate a written resolution — faster than discovery, cheaper than counsel, and private enough to preserve the relationship if you want to.
Who this is for
- Co-founders or partners working through equity, role, or exit issues
- Businesses in a contract dispute with a vendor or customer
- Companies dissolving a partnership and dividing accounts
- Service providers and clients negotiating refunds, rework, or termination
Common issues we help resolve
Partnership dissolution
Divide assets, customer relationships, IP, and ongoing obligations in a single signed document.
Contract disputes
Walk through what was promised, what was delivered, and what a fair amendment or close-out looks like.
Unpaid invoices and refunds
Document the work, the amounts, and a payment plan or refund schedule both sides accept.
IP and equity disagreements
Surface who owns what, what's being transferred, and what protections each side needs going forward.
How it works for this kind of dispute
- 01
Open a case privately
Choose the civil workflow, describe the dispute, and invite the other party. Nothing is public, nothing is filed.
- 02
Both sides share — guided
Each side answers structured prompts about facts, financials, and desired outcomes. AI reframing keeps the tone commercial.
- 03
Negotiate the terms
Trade specific, line-item proposals — payment terms, IP assignments, non-competes, ongoing obligations. Loop in a mediator if needed.
- 04
Sign and route to counsel
Both sides sign. Bring the document to your business attorneys for review and any amendments to existing contracts.
Why Common Ground for this
Off the public docket
Nothing is filed unless you choose to file it. The negotiation, the proposals, and the agreement all stay between the parties.
Preserves the relationship
A structured, written process tends to keep doors open — many partners and vendors continue working together after a Common Ground resolution.
Cheaper than the alternative
$49 to open a case, versus retainers, depositions, and months of billable hours on both sides.
Faster than commercial litigation
Most cases close in days, not the year-plus typical for a commercial lawsuit.
Frequently asked
- Is a mediated business agreement legally binding? +
- A written agreement signed by both parties is a contract. We recommend having business counsel review the document before signing, especially for partnership dissolutions, equity changes, or anything that amends an existing contract.
- Can we use this to dissolve a partnership? +
- Yes. Common Ground is well-suited to partnership wind-downs where both partners want a clean, written separation — division of assets, customer accounts, IP ownership, non-competes, and ongoing obligations.
- What about disputes with a vendor or customer? +
- Contract disputes, delivery issues, unpaid invoices, and refund disagreements are a strong fit. Both parties can document the facts and agree on a resolution without filing in commercial court.
- Does this replace our lawyers? +
- No. It replaces a lot of the back-and-forth, not the legal review. You walk into your attorney's office with a clean written agreement instead of a stack of emails and a $20,000 retainer estimate.
A signed business resolution — without the lawsuit.
Common Ground is a mediation platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.