Business Litigation Lawyer for San Francisco Cases: Courts, Local Rules, and Venue

Last updated: November 2026. Reviewed by Pavel Kolmogorov, California business litigation attorney (State Bar No. 321018).

Kolmogorov Law, P.C. is a California business litigation firm based in Irvine, and we take business litigation matters in the San Francisco courts. We have no office in San Francisco. If you need a business lawyer because a contract was broken, a partner shut you out, or a lawsuit was served, this page is for you. It explains where a San Francisco case is heard, which local rules shape it, and how we handle it from Irvine. It does not cover forming a company or negotiating a deal, which we do not do.

Call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online to talk about a San Francisco business dispute.

Where a San Francisco business case is heard

Two courts hear business lawsuits here: the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Our page on state court and federal court explains how that choice is made.

San Francisco Superior Court

The Superior Court hears civil cases at the Civic Center Courthouse, and its ADR forms give the address 400 McAllister Street. The court abbreviates its local rules as LRSF, and this page cites the edition revised July 1, 2026.

Unless a general civil case is assigned to a single judge for all purposes, its work is divided by stage. Pretrial management happens in the Civil Case Management Department. (LRSF 3.0(A).) Pretrial motions (with exceptions), petitions about contractual arbitration, and applications for injunctions or receivers are heard in the Law and Motion Departments. (LRSF 8.1(A).) Discovery disputes go to the Discovery Department, where a temporary judge may hear the motion. (LRSF 10.0(A), (B).) The Presiding Judge keeps the trial calendar, assigns each case for trial, and decides motions to continue a trial date. (LRSF 6.0(A), (B), (C).)

Complex cases

A large, document-heavy dispute may qualify as a complex case, defined statewide as one that requires exceptional judicial management. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.400(a).) In San Francisco, checking the complex box on the cover sheet is not enough. A party must file an application stating why the case should be designated complex, and any opposition is due within 5 court days of the filing. The court then deems the case complex and assigns it to a single judge for all purposes, or denies the application. (LRSF 3.5(C)(2).) The complex case fee is due with the application. (LRSF 3.5(D).)

The court's complex litigation departments publish their own procedures. Both sets require a reserved hearing date before a motion is filed, and an informal discovery conference with the court before any discovery motion.

Federal court: the Northern District of California

Pavel Kolmogorov is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The Northern District sits in four divisions: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Eureka. (N.D. Cal. Civil L.R. 3-1.) Unless the court assigns the type of case district-wide, a civil case that arises in San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, or Sonoma County goes to the San Francisco Division or the Oakland Division. A case generally arises where a substantial part of the events occurred. (Civil L.R. 3-2(c), (d).) A San Francisco dispute can therefore be assigned to Oakland. The clerk's office for the San Francisco Division is in the federal building and courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue. (Civil L.R. 77-1(a)(1).) Cases arising in Santa Clara County generally go to the San Jose Division, which our San Jose page covers.

Local rules that change how a case runs here

Tentative rulings and how to contest one

San Francisco adopts the statewide tentative ruling procedure for civil law and motion and discovery matters. (LRSF 8.3(A); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1308.) Tentative rulings are generally available by 3:00 p.m. the day before the hearing, by telephone or on the court's tentative rulings page. (LRSF 8.3(B), (F).) A party who wants to argue must notify the opposing parties and the court no later than 4:00 p.m. that day, unless the ruling itself says a hearing is required. The notice goes to the court by email with a copy to every other party, and it must state, without argument, the portions of the ruling the party contests. (LRSF 8.3(D).) The statewide rule measures both times from the court day before the hearing, and requires notice to all other parties by telephone or in person.

A party who does not appear is deemed to submit to the tentative ruling, and if no one appears the court adopts it. (LRSF 8.3(C), (E).) When a ruling is posted late, the parties must appear unless all of them agree to submit. (LRSF 8.3(F).)

Case management that may be decided on the papers

When a complaint is filed, the clerk issues a notice with a case management conference date, and the plaintiff must serve it on every defendant. (LRSF 3.2(A).) Each party files a case management statement on form CM-110 no later than 15 calendar days before the conference. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.725.) The court reviews the statements before the conference and may cancel it and issue an order instead: a referral to judicial arbitration, a mandatory expedited jury trial, or a trial date. (LRSF 3.2(B).)

A party who objects to an arbitration order or a trial setting must file and serve a Notice of Objection. A request to continue the conference belongs in the statement or a supplemental statement. (LRSF 3.2(C), (D).) Our page on the case management conference explains the statewide rules.

Electronic filing, with paper courtesy copies

In general civil cases other than small claims, all papers must be filed electronically, through a vendor the court has approved. (LRSF 2.11(A)(3), (C)(1), (I)(1).) Self-represented parties are excluded, and the rule lists other exceptions. (LRSF 2.11(D).)

The court still requires a courtesy copy, properly tabbed and bound, of any filed document that needs court review, action, or signature. It must be on paper unless the judge hearing the matter specifically permits otherwise. (LRSF 2.7(B), (B)(3).) Unless a rule or order says otherwise, copies of papers e-filed 7 or more court days before a hearing are due no later than 2 court days after e-filing. Papers filed closer to the hearing need copies the same day. (LRSF 2.7(B)(1).) A missing courtesy copy of moving papers can lead the judge to deny the motion, continue the hearing, or take the motion off calendar. (LRSF 2.7(B)(5).) The copies go to the department hearing the matter, unless a local rule names another place. (LRSF 2.7(B)(2).)

The court's ADR policy

The court's stated policy is that every long cause civil case should take part in mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, an early settlement conference, or another ADR process before trial. (LRSF 4.0.) Smaller cases can be ordered to judicial arbitration. The statute covers nonexempt unlimited civil cases in which, in the court's opinion, the amount in controversy will not exceed $50,000 for each plaintiff. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1141.11, subd. (a); LRSF 4.1(A).)

Mediation under the local rule is voluntary, and the parties select the mediator. (LRSF 4.2(B).) Any party may also apply to the Presiding Judge for a specially set settlement conference. (LRSF 5.0(C).) The court's ADR page lists its current programs, and our business mediation page explains how mediation works.

Where the case can be filed

Venue is the question of which county. The general rule places a case in the county where the defendants, or some of them, reside when the action is commenced. An action on a contract may also be filed where the obligation is to be performed or where the contract was in fact entered into. The county of performance is where the obligation was incurred, unless a written contract expressly says otherwise. (Code Civ. Proc., § 395, subd. (a).) A corporation or association may be sued where the contract is made or is to be performed, where the obligation or liability arises or the breach occurs, or where its principal place of business is situated. (Code Civ. Proc., § 395.5.)

A San Francisco filing generally fits when the defendant is based here, or when the contract was made or was to be performed here. A dispute with an Oakland or Berkeley business is different. Both cities are in Alameda County. If the company is based there and the deal was made and performed there, the case usually belongs in Alameda County's superior court, not San Francisco's. We take business litigation matters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties as well. When the defendant is a California business, neither statute makes the plaintiff's own address, by itself, a basis for venue in a contract case.

A case filed in the wrong county may still be tried there unless the defendant moves to transfer it when it first responds to the complaint, or within its time to respond. (Code Civ. Proc., § 396b, subd. (a).) A forum selection clause may send the dispute to another state or country, and California courts generally enforce those clauses in business contracts.

How we handle a San Francisco case from Irvine

Remote appearances. In civil cases, a party that gives notice to the court and the other parties may appear remotely, and the court may hold conferences, hearings, and proceedings through remote technology. (Code Civ. Proc., § 367.75, subd. (a)(1).) That statute is in effect only until January 1, 2032. (Code Civ. Proc., § 367.75, subd. (m).) San Francisco's local rules allow remote appearance at all Law and Motion hearings unless the judicial officer expressly denies permission. (LRSF 8.2(A)(3).) A court notice effective June 17, 2025 allows remote appearance at case management conferences and objection hearings in Department 610, and keeps order to show cause hearings in person. A judge may also require attendance in person on finding that it is necessary to decide the matter. (Code Civ. Proc., § 367.75, subd. (b)(3).) A trial or evidentiary hearing may be held remotely on the court's own motion or a party's motion. (Code Civ. Proc., § 367.75, subd. (d)(1).)

Filing and service. A document the court receives electronically by 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day is deemed filed that day. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1010.6, subd. (e)(3).) A represented party that has appeared must accept electronic service of documents that could be served by mail. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1010.6, subd. (b)(2).)

Depositions. Under the Civil Discovery Act, the deponent or the deposing party may elect to have the deposition officer attend by remote means. A party or attorney of record may, but need not, be physically present where the witness is. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.310, subds. (a), (b).)

Business disputes we take in San Francisco

We represent businesses, owners, and investors in disputes, in court and in arbitration, as part of our California business litigation practice.

• Contract disputes. Unpaid invoices, failed software and services agreements, and broken supply deals. See our breach of contract page.
• Partnership disputes. Partners who disagree over money, control, or an exit. See partnership disputes.
• Shareholder and LLC member disputes. Owners shut out of records, distributions, or decisions. See shareholder and LLC member disputes.
• Fraud. Misrepresentation or concealment in a business deal or an investment. See business fraud.
• Trade secrets. Confidential information taken by a departing founder, employee, or vendor. See trade secrets.
• Commercial leases. Rent and default disputes between landlords and business tenants. Here, the Real Property Court handles motions in real property cases and all aspects of unlawful detainer matters. (LRSF 8.10(A)(1).) See commercial lease disputes.
• Unfair competition. Claims between businesses over unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practices. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200.) See our Unfair Competition Law guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does Kolmogorov Law have an office in San Francisco?

No. Our only office is in Irvine, in Orange County. The rules provide for electronic filing and service, and for remote appearance at Law and Motion hearings unless the judge denies permission. Hearings a judge requires in person, and trial, are held in San Francisco. We travel there for them.

Which court hears a business lawsuit in San Francisco?

Usually the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. A case with a federal claim, such as trademark or copyright infringement, can be in the Northern District of California instead. So can a case with more than $75,000 in controversy, not counting interest and costs, when no plaintiff is a citizen of the same state as any defendant. If the contract has an arbitration clause, the dispute may go to a private arbitrator and not to either court.

My dispute is with a company in Oakland or Berkeley. Is that a San Francisco case?

Often it is not. Oakland and Berkeley are in Alameda County, and venue generally follows the defendant's county or the county where the contract was made, was to be performed, or was breached. When those all point to the East Bay, the state case usually belongs in Alameda County. A federal case may be assigned to the San Francisco or the Oakland division of the same district.

Can a complex business dispute be assigned to one judge in San Francisco?

Yes, but only by court order. A party files an application explaining why the case needs complex treatment, and the other side has 5 court days from its filing to oppose. If the court grants it, one judge handles the case for all purposes. If not, the case stays on the ordinary track, with different departments for case management, motions, discovery, and trial.

Does a San Francisco business case have to go to mediation or arbitration?

Not always. The Superior Court's policy favors some form of ADR before trial, and smaller cases can be ordered to judicial arbitration. Its award becomes final unless a trial or a dismissal is requested within 60 days after the arbitrator files it with the court. In federal court, most civil cases enter an ADR program at filing, and an ADR certification is presumptively due 21 days before the first case management conference. An arbitration clause in your contract can separately require private arbitration.

Talk to a business litigation attorney about a San Francisco case

If your business has been sued in San Francisco, or you are deciding whether to file there, call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online. Have the contract, the key correspondence, and any papers you were served with ready. A served complaint carries a response deadline, so do not wait.

Other courts we cover: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and San Jose.

Kolmogorov Law, P.C., Irvine, California.

This page is general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court rules and procedures change, so check the court's current rules before relying on any detail here.