Business Lawyers in New York

About Business Law in New York

Most business/contract disputes are filed in New York Supreme Court (the state's general-jurisdiction trial court), or in Commercial Division parts of Supreme Court in counties that have one.

In New York, an action on a contractual obligation or liability, express or implied, must generally be commenced within six years.

Commercial Division monetary thresholds vary by county. Rule 202.70 lists $500,000 for New York County, $150,000 for Kings County, $100,000 for Queens County, and $75,000 for Bronx County, exclusive of punitive damages, interest, costs, disbursements, and counsel fees; specified case types qualify without meeting a threshold.

A New York LLC must publish a notice of its formation once a week for six consecutive weeks in two newspapers designated by the county clerk, within 120 days of formation, or its authority to conduct business is suspended.

A breach of a contract for the sale of goods in New York must generally be sued on within four years of the breach, a shorter period than the general six-year contract limitations rule, and the parties may shorten but not extend it by agreement.

New York's statute of frauds requires certain agreements to be in writing and signed by the party to be charged, including agreements that by their terms cannot be performed within one year.

New York corporations and LLCs must file a Biennial Statement with the Department of State every two years in the calendar month in which the entity's original certificate was filed.

A person conducting business under an assumed name as an individual or general partnership must file the business certificate with the clerk of each county where the business is conducted.

A New York fraud action must generally be commenced within six years of the fraud or within two years after the plaintiff discovered, or with reasonable diligence could have discovered, it, whichever is later.

Members of a New York LLC must adopt a written operating agreement before, at the time of, or within 90 days after filing the articles of organization.

New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection licenses more than 45,000 businesses across more than 45 industries. City licensing is separate from New York State business-registration requirements.

New York City administers an Unincorporated Business Tax for qualifying unincorporated businesses. It is a city tax and does not replace separate New York State tax obligations.

New York City administers a Business Corporation Tax for corporations subject to the city tax. It is separate from New York State corporation-tax obligations.

New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection administers the city's Protected Time Off requirements and publishes current employer guidance on coverage and responsibilities across the city.

New York City businesses generally must accept cash for in-person consumer transactions, subject to the exceptions described by the city's cashless-establishment rule.

New York City's Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise certification program is administered through NYC Small Business Services and NYC Business. It is separate from New York State's MWBE certification program.

Kings County's Commercial Division monetary threshold is $150,000, exclusive of punitive damages, interest, costs, disbursements, and counsel fees, subject to the case-type requirements and exceptions in Rule 202.70.

The Kings County Commercial Division sits in the Supreme Court Complex at 360 Adams Street in Brooklyn.

The Kings County Clerk accepts business certificates for businesses operating in Brooklyn and provides certified copies through its office at 360 Adams Street.

NYC Business Solutions offers free business services, including financing, business education, legal assistance, recruiting, and M/WBE certification help, through a Brooklyn center at 9 Bond Street.

New York County's Commercial Division monetary threshold is $500,000, the highest threshold listed in Rule 202.70, exclusive of punitive damages, interest, costs, disbursements, and counsel fees and subject to the rule's case-type requirements and exceptions.

A party seeking assignment to the New York County Commercial Division must complete the Commercial Division RJI Addendum and certify that the case meets the division's subject-matter and monetary requirements.

The New York County Clerk's Business Department records business certificates for sole proprietorships and partnerships that have a physical business location in Manhattan.

New York County business-certificate filings may be submitted in person or by mail to the County Clerk's Business Department; the filing office is county-specific and is not the same as forming a corporation or LLC with the Department of State.

Sources: New York CPLR § 213(8), New York State Unified Court System, New York Limited Liability Company Law § 206, New York Uniform Commercial Code § 2-725, New York General Obligations Law § 5-701, New York Department of State, New York General Business Law § 130, New York Limited Liability Company Law § 417, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Business Licenses, NYC Department of Finance, Unincorporated Business Tax, NYC Department of Finance, Business Corporation Tax, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Protected Time Off, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Cashless Establishments, NYC Small Business Services, M/WBE Certification, New York State Unified Court System, Kings County Commercial Division, New York State Unified Court System, Kings County Clerk, NYC 311, NYC Business Solutions Centers, New York State Unified Court System, New York County Commercial Division, New York State Unified Court System, New York County Clerk (verified 2026-08-25)

Frequently Asked Questions