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Сравнение

Corporate Lawyer vs. Litigation Lawyer: Transactions vs. Courtroom

Краткий ответ

Corporate lawyers (transactional lawyers) handle business formation, contracts, M&A, fundraising, and commercial agreements — they structure deals to keep clients out of court. Litigation lawyers (litigators) represent clients in disputes that have already arisen — filing and defending lawsuits, conducting discovery, and arguing in court. Most legal matters require one or the other, not both.

James Chae

Автор James Chae — Сооснователь, Expert Sapiens

Licensed Attorney (JD)Bar-Admitted Professionals

Экспертиза платформы: Юридические услуги и отбор адвокатов · Проверено июнь 2026

Ключевые отличия

АспектCorporate LawyerLitigation Lawyer
Primary workDrafting and negotiating contracts, term sheets, acquisition agreements, and corporate governance documentsFiling complaints, conducting discovery, taking depositions, arguing motions, and trying cases
GoalStructure transactions and relationships to minimize legal risk and prevent disputes before they ariseResolve existing disputes as favorably as possible — through settlement, arbitration, or court judgment
SettingLaw offices, deal rooms, and boardrooms — rarely sees a courtroomCourtrooms, arbitration centers, and deposition suites — built for adversarial proceedings
Billing modelHourly rates ($300–$800/hour at major firms); transaction-based fees for M&A and capital marketsHourly rates plus litigation costs; contingency fee arrangements common for plaintiff-side cases
SpecializationSecurities law, M&A, venture capital, real estate transactions, employment contracts, and commercial agreementsCommercial disputes, IP litigation, employment litigation, class actions, and contract enforcement

Когда выбрать Corporate Lawyer

  • You are starting a business, raising capital, or forming a partnership and need agreements drafted
  • You are buying or selling a company and need transaction counsel for the deal
  • You need standard commercial agreements — NDAs, service agreements, vendor contracts, or employment agreements
  • You want proactive legal advice to structure your business relationships to minimize future dispute risk

Когда выбрать Litigation Lawyer

  • You are being sued or need to file suit against another party
  • A business dispute — breach of contract, IP infringement, employment claim — has escalated to litigation
  • You need someone to respond to a lawsuit, motion, or administrative proceeding
  • You are in arbitration or mediation and need a representative to advocate your position

Что выбрать?

Corporate lawyers and litigators are distinct specialties with very different skill sets. A great transactional lawyer is not necessarily a great litigator — they may have never seen a courtroom. When a dispute arises that requires litigation, do not use your transactional counsel unless they have active litigation practice. Conversely, litigators are not the right choice for structuring your funding round or drafting your acquisition agreement.

Типичная стоимость

Почасовая ставка

$150–$500/час

Значительные различия в зависимости от специализации — интеллектуальная собственность и корпоративное право дороже

За сессию

$200–$750

Типично для 60–90-минутной сессии по проверке договора, юридической стратегии или консультации по соответствию

Проектный гонорар

$500–$5 000+

Фиксированная оплата за регистрацию компании, составление договоров или регистрацию товарных знаков

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