Wrongful interference with a business relationship refers to any unjust or unlawful actions taken by a third party that disrupt or harm an existing business relationship between two entities. It involves intentional acts undertaken to impede, undermine, or damage a business relationship with the intention of gaining a competitive advantage or causing harm to one of the parties involved. Key elements necessary to establish wrongful interference with a business relationship include: 1. Existing business relationship: A valid and legal relationship must already exist between the two parties. This relationship could be in the form of a contract, partnership, joint venture, or any mutually agreed-upon business arrangement. 2. Intentional interference: The actions taken by the interfering party must be undertaken with the specific intention to disrupt or interfere with the existing business relationship. 3. Unlawful means: These could include fraudulent misrepresentation, defamation, threats, coercion, blackmail, harassment, or other illegal tactics utilized to interfere with the business relationship. 4. Damages: The interference must result in actual harm or financial loss to the party whose business relationship was disrupted. This harm may include loss of profits, loss of business opportunities, reputational damage, or any other measurable negative impact. Different types of wrongful interference with a business relationship include: 1. Tortious interference: This occurs when a third party intentionally disrupts a contractual relationship between two parties, leading to financial harm or breach of contract. 2. Predatory interference: This refers to intentionally causing harm to a competitor's business relationships with suppliers, customers, or other key stakeholders in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. 3. Disparagement: Also known as trade libel, it involves making false or defamatory statements about a business, its products, or services to harm its reputation and impact its relationships with customers or partners. 4. Unfair competition: This includes any deceptive or fraudulent practices that create an unfair advantage, such as copying a competitor's products, misleading advertising, or using confidential information obtained through improper means. It is important to consult with legal experts specializing in business law to understand the specific elements required to establish wrongful interference with a business relationship and to determine the available legal remedies to address such interference.