What does litigation refer to?

Litigation specifically refers to the process of taking legal action or conducting legal proceedings in a court of law. This involves resolving disputes through the legal system and may include filing lawsuits, engaging in trials, or going through appeals. Litigation encompasses various stages, including pleadings, discovery, trial, and post-trial processes.

In contrast to methods such as negotiation or alternative dispute resolution techniques like arbitration or mediation, which aim to resolve conflicts outside of court, litigation is inherently adversarial and relies on the judiciary to make a final determination. Therefore, when discussing litigation, it is always connected to formal legal processes that seek to address and resolve disputes between parties through the court system.