St. Augustine Area's Largest Law Firm
Medical Practice Dispute Attorneys
Experienced Trial Lawyers for Physicians, Medical Practices, and Healthcare Businesses Throughout Florida
Disputes within a medical practice can threaten years of hard work, damage professional relationships, disrupt patient care, and place significant financial investments at risk. Whether the dispute involves physician shareholders, departing partners, restrictive covenants, breach of fiduciary duty, business contracts, or ownership transitions, healthcare organizations need legal counsel that understands both the business of medicine and the realities of complex commercial litigation.
In 2026, we prevailed in a week-long jury trial of an 8-figure partnership dispute.
Led by Douglas N. Burnett, an experienced commercial trial attorney, our litigation team has successfully represented business owners and healthcare organizations in high-stakes commercial disputes involving contracts, business ownership, fiduciary obligations, commercial real estate, and closely held businesses. We understand that litigation is not simply about winning a lawsuit—it is about protecting the long-term value and stability of your practice.
At St. Johns Law Group, we represent physicians, dentists, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, medical spas, management services organizations (MSOs), and other healthcare businesses in complex business disputes throughout Northeast Florida. Our attorneys provide strategic legal counsel from the earliest stages of a disagreement through trial, arbitration, mediation, or appeal when necessary.
Healthcare Business Disputes Require Experienced Trial Counsel
Medical practices operate under unique business structures that often involve multiple physicians, professional corporations, management companies, commercial leases, financing arrangements, and complex contractual relationships.
Read About: 3 Jury Trials, 3 Months, 3 Wins
When disagreements arise, they frequently affect not only ownership interests but also employees, patients, referral relationships, and ongoing business operations.
Our attorneys help clients evaluate legal risks, pursue practical business solutions, and aggressively protect their interests when litigation becomes necessary.
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes
Disagreements among physician owners can quickly escalate and jeopardize the future of an otherwise successful practice.
We represent physicians and medical groups in disputes involving:
Shareholder disagreements
Partnership disputes
Buy-sell agreements
Ownership percentages
Practice valuation
Deadlock among owners
Voting rights
Capital contributions
Profit distributions
Corporate governance
Member expulsion
Dissolution of professional entities
Whenever possible, we seek practical business resolutions. When settlement is not achievable, our trial attorneys are prepared to advocate aggressively in court.
Physician Departures and Practice Separation
The departure of a physician often raises complicated legal and business issues.
Our attorneys advise clients regarding:
Ownership redemption
Buyout provisions
Patient notification
Medical records
Transition obligations
Recruitment of employees
Patient solicitation
Protection of confidential information
Partnership withdrawals
Practice separation agreements
Early legal guidance can help reduce disruption and avoid unnecessary litigation.
Restrictive Covenants and Noncompetition Agreements
Restrictive covenants frequently become the central issue in disputes involving departing physicians.
We represent both employers and physicians in matters involving:
Noncompetition agreements
Nonsolicitation provisions
Confidentiality agreements
Protection of referral relationships
Geographic restrictions
Duration of restrictions
Enforcement actions
Injunctive relief
Defense against restrictive covenant claims
Whether enforcing or challenging restrictive covenant provisions, our attorneys work to protect our clients’ business and professional interests.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Owners of closely held medical practices owe important legal duties to one another and to the business.
Claims frequently involve allegations such as:
Self-dealing
Diversion of business opportunities
Misuse of corporate assets
Financial misconduct
Failure to disclose material information
Conflicts of interest
Improper compensation
Unauthorized distributions
Corporate waste
These cases often require detailed financial analysis, corporate document review, and strategic litigation planning.
Contract Litigation
Medical practices rely on numerous contracts that govern their day-to-day operations.
Our attorneys litigate disputes involving:
Management Services Agreements (MSAs)
Professional Services Agreements (PSAs)
Shareholder agreements
Operating agreements
Purchase agreements
Medical office leases
Vendor contracts
Equipment leases
Billing agreements
Practice management agreements
Commercial lending agreements
When contractual obligations are disputed, we work to enforce our clients’ rights while minimizing business disruption.
Business Collections and Accounts Receivable
Strong cash flow is essential to every successful medical practice.
When significant accounts remain unpaid, prompt legal action may help preserve valuable business assets.
Our attorneys represent healthcare providers in matters involving:
Commercial collections
Business debt recovery
Contract-based collection actions
Guaranty enforcement
Collection litigation
Judgment enforcement
Settlement negotiations
Commercial loan disputes
We work with clients to develop practical collection strategies while preserving important business relationships whenever possible.
Emergency Business Litigation
Some healthcare disputes require immediate court intervention.
Our litigation team handles requests involving:
Temporary injunctions
Emergency injunctions
Temporary restraining orders
Preservation of business assets
Enforcement of restrictive covenants
Protection of confidential information
Corporate governance disputes
Prompt action is often essential to prevent irreparable harm to a medical practice.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Not every disagreement should proceed to trial.
Depending upon the circumstances, we assist clients through:
Negotiation
Arbitration
Facilitated business resolutions
Structured settlement discussions
Our objective is to resolve disputes efficiently whenever possible while remaining fully prepared to litigate when necessary.
Trial Experience Matters
While many business disputes settle before trial, effective litigation often begins with thorough trial preparation.
Douglas N. Burnett has built his career representing business owners, developers, property owners, and professionals in complex commercial litigation throughout Florida. His experience includes 40 jury trials, bench trials, injunction proceedings, and appeals involving contract disputes, business torts, real estate conflicts, fiduciary claims, and closely held business disputes.
This trial experience provides valuable leverage during negotiations because opposing parties understand that St. Johns Law Group is prepared to present complex business disputes in the courtroom when a fair resolution cannot be reached.
Our litigation team regularly handles cases involving:
Healthcare business litigation
Corporate governance issues
Fiduciary litigation
Injunctive relief
A Multidisciplinary Team for Healthcare Businesses
Medical practice disputes rarely involve only litigation.
Our healthcare business attorneys frequently coordinate with clients on:
Corporate governance
Management Services Agreements (MSAs)
Professional Services Agreements (PSAs)
Commercial real estate
Tax planning
By bringing together attorneys with experience in litigation, business law, commercial real estate, finance, tax, and corporate governance, we provide comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the needs of healthcare organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can disputes among physician shareholders be resolved without litigation?
Yes. Many disputes can be resolved through negotiation or mediation, particularly when addressed early. However, if informal resolution is unsuccessful, litigation may be necessary to protect ownership rights and business interests.
Can a medical practice enforce a physician noncompete agreement?
The answer depends on the specific language of the agreement, the applicable law, and the facts of the case. Our attorneys represent both employers seeking to enforce restrictive covenants and physicians challenging their enforceability.
What should a practice do if a physician leaves and begins soliciting patients or employees?
Immediate legal advice is important. Depending on the circumstances, contractual remedies or injunctive relief may be available to protect the practice’s business interests.
Do you represent both physicians and healthcare organizations?
Yes. We represent physicians, physician groups, dental practices, medical spas, ambulatory surgery centers, management companies, and other healthcare businesses in a wide range of commercial disputes.
Protect Your Practice and Your Investment
Disputes within a medical practice can have lasting financial and operational consequences. Early legal guidance often helps preserve relationships, protect business assets, and position clients for a favorable resolution.
Whether you are facing a shareholder dispute, physician departure, restrictive covenant issue, breach of fiduciary duty claim, contract dispute, or complex commercial litigation, the attorneys at St. Johns Law Group have the experience to help.
Contact St. Johns Law Group today to schedule a confidential consultation with our healthcare business litigation team.
Call us today at (904) 495-0400 or email Douglas N. Burnett directly.
At St. Johns Law Group, we are committed to delivering the Dedicated & Responsive Service® you can count on.
Contact Us:
- 104 Sea Grove Main Street | St. Augustine, Florida 32080
