Shareholder Arrangements and Disputes

We are experts in shareholder arrangements of all types; from advising on the right structure and protection for a ‘50/50’ new company, through to complex arrangements involving corporate, institutional and private shareholders in multi-party arrangements relating to companies worth many millions of pounds.

It’s a fact of life that, unfortunately, disputes sometimes arise between shareholders and the companies in which they hold shares.

Our team

Working in parallel with our dispute resolution group, we offer a range of practical options to resolve disputes as quickly and as effectively as possible.

As with so much of what we do, commerciality is the key driver behind shareholder arrangements. Our team strives to ensure that the material issues are covered off, not wasting time on those that are irrelevant.

We also review shareholder arrangements regularly to make sure that they keep pace with the development of the business and the needs of the shareholders concerned: what might be right now may not be right five years down the line.

Here’s how we can help

Shareholder Arrangements

We deal with shareholder arrangements for private companies, those for joint ventures and companies with an institutional or business angel investor.

We are more than familiar with all of the issues that arise in these agreements and in others regulating shareholder relationships, including:

• Share options and cross options
• Dividend schemes
• Shareholder protection schemes (insurance-backed schemes providing for an exit for the estate of a deceased shareholder)
• Company share buy-backs
• Capital reduction schemes
• Share incentive schemes

Disputes

We work in parallel with our dispute resolution group to ensure that you have access to cutting edge litigation services and corporate finance expertise.

We will work with you to provide a sound dispute resolution strategy and can advise further on procedures for obtaining remedies in respect of:

• Unfair prejudice for a minority shareholder
• Winding up of companies and partnerships on just and equitable grounds
• Pursuit of officers for breach of fiduciary duty and misfeasance actions
• Pursue the tracing of assets following preferences
• Transactions at an under-value or other unlawful transactions
  

For further information please contact Hugh Welch, call 0191 211 7903 or alternatively email us at advice@muckle-llp.com

Related Resources

in the Muckle LLP Resource Centre

• What do I do if someone threatens to sue me?
• Do I need any special skills or qualifications to be a director?
• What are the most common causes of disputes between shareholders?
• How do I set about suing someone?

Related Pages

in the Muckle LLP Website

• Commercial Disputes
• Company law and compliance
• Family succession in private companies
• Joint Ventures