What is the firm’s approach to resolving commercial disputes?

The team focuses on outcome-determinative issues aligned with clients’ goals, emphasizes practical business considerations and economic realities, and seeks efficient resolutions—negotiating when possible and trying cases when necessary.

What dispute resolution forums does the firm use?

In addition to litigation and trial, the firm regularly handles binding arbitrations—both domestic and international—when required by a governing agreement.

How does the firm deliver efficiencies compared to larger law firms?

Sattiraju & Tharney LLP operates on a nimble platform that provides flexibility and efficiencies often not achieved in Big Law, backed by decades of first-chair trial experience.

How does trial experience inform the firm’s commercial strategy?

Extensive jury and bench trial experience enables the team to identify early which issues will be most impactful at trial, helping shape effective case strategy from the outset.

National Commercial & Corporate Attorneys

Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP has extensive expertise handling commercial matters throughout the United States on behalf of corporate and individual clients. Matt Tharney leads the Firm’s national commercial practice, which includes serving as national coordinating counsel for certain clients. The Firm’s commercial litigation team routinely negotiates business disputes to successful resolution and provides counseling for clients regarding risk-mitigation and litigation avoidance.

When necessary, the Firm is uniquely positioned to litigate and try to conclusion commercial disputes. As lead counsel, Matt Tharney has tried dozens of cases across the country. He also has successfully handled many binding arbitrations (domestic and international) when required under a governing agreement.

Since 2010, Matt Tharney has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, and his decades of experience as a first-chair trial lawyer allows the Firm’s commercial litigation team to focus on core issues that are outcome-determinative, as informed by clients’ stated goals. Sattiraju & Tharney attorneys never fail to consider “real-world” practical concerns and the economic realities of litigation. Such an experienced-based, practical approach results in efficiencies and ensures accurate risk assessments when determining whether to resolve matters in lieu of proceeding to trial.

Sattiraju & Tharney attorneys are barred in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, but the Firm’s attorneys routinely enter appearances pro hac vice in matters all over the United States. Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP’s commercial litigation team has developed an extensive network of local counsel relationships when litigation commences in jurisdictions where the Firm does not have barred attorneys. Having a nimble platform from which to conduct work for the benefit of clients also allows the Firm to bring to bear flexibility and efficiencies rarely achieved within the Big Law context.

Areas of Expertise

Product Liability

The Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP commercial litigation team has more than 30 years of experience handling product liability matters. Currently, Matt Tharney serves as national coordinating counsel for several clients for product liability claims. Matt and his team successfully have handled hundreds of product liability matters from pre-suit investigation through resolution across the United States.

The Firm’s product liability experience includes handling claims filed against manufacturers of consumer products, commercial/industrial equipment and pharmaceuticals. The Firm also has handled numerous matters involving alleged exposure to toxins in a variety of contexts.

Our team’s experience as first-chair trial counsel in many jury and bench trials across the country helps us determine early on in a dispute which issues likely will be impactful at trial. That allows our team to focus on outcome-determinative issues during discovery and settlement negotiations, rather than utilizing an inefficient “one size fits all” approach to litigation.

Contract Disputes

Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP’s commercial litigation attorneys each have decades of experience handling matters arising from a wide array of commercial disputes. Among other specific areas of expertise, Matt Tharney and his team have handled matters throughout the United States arising from:

alleged breaches of contract;
alleged breaches of applicable warranties;
claims involving application of the Uniform Commercial Code;
franchise disputes;
construction-related contractual disputes;
insurance coverage disputes;
complex claims for defense and indemnity pursuant to contract; and
disputes involving alleged violations of non-compete and non-solicitation provisions.

Sales Practices / Consumer Protection

Matt Tharney and his team have handled claims under a variety of consumer protection statutes, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the CAN-SPAM Act, the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (NJCFA), the New Jersey Truth-In-Consumer Contract Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA), the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL), and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), among other state consumer protection statutory schemes. Our commercial litigation team successfully has resolved such matters for the benefit of clients in the individual and class action contexts.

Regarding other consumer disputes, Matt has been called upon to resolve consumer complaints before they ripen into litigation. When litigation has been commenced, Matt and his team react quickly to attempt to resolve such matters via settlement, dispositive motion and trial, if necessary. In addition to obtaining involuntary dismissals and summary judgment of such claims, Matt has prevailed in jury and bench trials for clients in matters predicated upon alleged violations of the NJCFA, UTPCPL and CUTPA.

Partnership Disputes

Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP attorneys routinely are called upon to provide counseling for clients involved in disputes arising from partnership agreements and joint venture arrangements. The Firm’s commercial litigation team successfully has handled numerous matters involving New Jersey’s Uniform Partnership Act and the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, as well as New Jersey’s Oppressed Minority Shareholder Act.

Construction-Related Disputes

Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP attorneys have prosecuted and defended significant claims involving alleged construction defect, on-site accidents and construction-related contractual disputes. Matt Tharney and the commercial litigation team have handled complex construction disputes in the commercial and residential contexts, including claims arising from alleged defects, asserted liens, alleged delay damages, as well as catastrophic injury claims. To facilitate expeditious and efficient results, Sattiraju and Tharney attorneys rely on their decades of experience handling claims for defense, indemnification and insurance coverage under governing agreements or otherwise.

FAQ – Commercial & Corporate Litigation

What types of commercial and corporate matters does Sattiraju & Tharney LLP handle?

Sattiraju & Tharney LLP handles a wide range of commercial matters, including national commercial litigation, business disputes, product liability, and risk‑mitigation counseling. They represent both corporate and individual clients across the United States.

Who leads the firm’s commercial and corporate practice?

The commercial and corporate practice is led by Matt Tharney, who has extensive experience as national coordinating counsel for several clients and has tried dozens of cases across the country.

Does the firm handle cases outside New Jersey?

Yes. Although the firm’s attorneys are barred in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, they regularly enter appearances pro hac vice for cases nationwide and maintain a strong network of local counsel across the country.

What is the firm’s approach to commercial litigation?

Their team focuses on core issues that are outcome‑determinative, guided by the client’s goals. They prioritize practical risk assessments, real‑world business considerations, litigation avoidance strategies, and efficient case resolution.

Does Sattiraju & Tharney LLP handle product liability cases?

Yes. The firm has over 30 years of experience handling product liability cases involving consumer products, commercial equipment, pharmaceuticals, and alleged toxic exposures. They also serve as national coordinating counsel for clients facing product liability claims.

What types of dispute resolution does the firm handle?

The firm negotiates business disputes, litigates cases through trial when necessary, and has successfully managed numerous binding arbitrations (domestic and international) under governing agreements.

What makes the firm’s commercial practice different from larger law firms?

Sattiraju & Tharney LLP provides a nimble, flexible platform that delivers efficiencies rarely achieved in large law‑firm environments, supported by decades of first‑chair trial experience.

How experienced is the firm in trial work?

Matt Tharney has tried dozens of cases across the country, and the team has handled many jury and bench trials. Their trial experience helps them identify which issues will matter most at trial early in the litigation process.

Commercial / Corporate