What a business dispute really costs in 2026
Real numbers from my own cases: what each stage costs, where budgets overrun, and the three decisions that move the final bill most.
Elena Marlowe
·
12 min read
Why most estimates are wrong
Most lawyers can't tell you what a case will cost, because they bill by the hour and the other side decides much of the work. You hear one number at the start and a very different one at the end.
Pricing each stage before it begins changes that. Here are real figures from my own cases, and where budgets tend to slip.
What each stage costs
01
Case assessment
A fixed $3,500, delivered in writing within 48 hours.
02
Demand letter and negotiation
A fixed $2,500. Many disputes end here.
03
Pleadings and motions
A fixed range of $18k to $26k, agreed upfront.
04
Discovery
Capped at $12k a month, however many hours it takes.
05
Mediation
A fixed $9,500, including the full day in the room.
The cheapest case is the one you price before it starts.
Where budgets overrun
Most overruns I see come from four habits:
Starting discovery before you know what you need.
Adding claims or parties without pricing them first.
Rejecting a fair settlement offer out of principle.
Changing lawyers halfway through a stage.
If you're comparing quotes
Ask what's not included
Filing fees, experts and travel are often billed on top. Ask for the total in writing, and ask what happens if the other side changes the work.
A lower number that leaves things out is usually the more expensive one.
What happens next
Book a free first call and I'll tell you whether your dispute is worth pursuing. If it is, you'll have a written fee plan within 48 hours.
WRITTEN BY
Elena Marlowe
Commercial litigator in New York since 2013. I run a one-lawyer practice and write these to answer the questions I hear on first calls.
This article is general information, not legal advice about your situation. Reading it doesn’t create an attorney–client relationship.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Every stage has its own price range
Budgets overrun most in discovery
Three decisions move the final bill most
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I read every enquiry myself and reply within one business day, usually sooner. If a court deadline is close, call instead of writing.
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