Just as conflicts between individuals are inevitable, so are conflicts between businesses. As of this writing, nearly 30 states had established special jurisdiction “business courts” for the specific purpose of hearing and deciding disputes between businesses. And the number of states with business courts is growing. Texas, by passing House Bill 19 on May 12, 2023, established what the author believes to be the 30th state with a business court.

Business courts with special, exclusive jurisdiction can help reduce backlogs in court dockets. A 2014 report by the Fulton County (Georgia) Business Court found that, on average, it took 608 days for it to handle complex contract cases, compared to an estimated 1,746 days on the general docket. But 608 days can be an eternity in the life of a business, and the courts must still look for ways to further reduce the time it takes to resolve business disputes.