# Civil Litigation | Dunn & Phillips, P.C. > Civil litigation lawyers in Western Massachusetts handling real estate, construction, business, contract, and employment disputes, plus collections and general civil claims. A firm that answers the phone. Free consultation. [Canonical page](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/practice/civil-litigation/) --- / Civil Litigation # Civil Litigation Real estate, construction, business, and employment disputes for individuals and companies across Western Massachusetts, with an honest read on whether a fight is worth having. [Request a Civil Litigation Consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Civil%20Litigation) ### What we handle - Real estate and property disputes: boundaries, title, easements, and purchase-and-sale disputes - Construction disputes: defects, unfinished work, and payment or lien disputes between owners and contractors - Business disputes, B2B and B2C, including partnership and ownership disputes - Contract disputes: breached agreements, unpaid services, or undelivered goods - Employment matters: wage disputes, wrongful termination, and discrimination - Collections and unpaid accounts - General civil claims **Please note:** We do not handle landlord/tenant disputes, divorce, or child custody matters. A deal you signed fell apart. A contractor took your deposit and disappeared, or left the job half-finished. A business partner walked away from what you agreed to. A paycheck came up short, or a job ended in a way that wasn’t right. A property line or a title is suddenly in question. These are the matters we litigate, many of them growing out of the same real estate, construction, and business work the firm handles every day. We start by giving you a straight read: whether this is worth fighting, worth settling, or worth walking away from. And when we do take it on, we prepare every case as if it will be tried, which is what gives a settlement its weight. The earlier we are involved, the more options you have. Some issues can become worse as time goes on. In some cases, an attorney may be able to guide you on how to avoid a dispute. Every kind of civil claim comes with a filing deadline, and some are short. Many contracts shorten them further. The earlier we look at your situation, the more options you have. **Request a consultation. Call (413) 787-9955.** Your Civil Litigation team - [Cornelius W. Phillips, III Named Founding Partner · Springfield](/team/cornelius-phillips) - [Wayne H. Peereboom Attorney · Westfield](/team/wayne-peereboom) - [Stephen L. Thomas Senior Litigation Paralegal · Westfield](/team/stephen-thomas) - [Valentina Davydov Senior Paralegal · Springfield](/team/valentina-davydov) Contact the firm The form below is the best place to start. You can also email us, or call if you prefer. An initial conversation is without obligation. [Request a Consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact?practiceArea=Civil%20Litigation) Email us [Prefer to call? (413) 787-9955](tel:+14137879955) This page is general information only, not legal advice for any specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every matter depends on its own facts; for advice on your particular circumstances, talk to a licensed attorney. Published by Dunn & Phillips, P.C., 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108. Responsible attorney: Cornelius W. Phillips, III. Free PDF worksheets ## Free dispute guide A free first-steps guide and case roadmap for Massachusetts business, contract, and property disputes, from a firm that prepares every case as if it will be tried. Free worksheet · PDF ## Get the Massachusetts Dispute First-Steps Guide What to do in the first days of a business, contract, or property dispute, and what a Massachusetts civil case looks like, in one PDF guide. From a firm that prepares every case as if it will be tried. [Download the worksheet (PDF)](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/downloads/dunn-phillips-civil-dispute-first-steps.pdf) Saves to your device as a fillable PDF you can complete or print. It is free, with nothing to fill out first. Using this does not make us your attorneys. It is general information, not legal advice. Insights ## More on Civil Litigation [All insights](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/blog) - [June 2, 2026 Facing a Business or Contract Dispute in Massachusetts? Start Here A practical guide to your first moves when a deal goes wrong, from preserving evidence to understanding your options short of a lawsuit. Read](/blog/business-contract-disputes)