Partnership and

Shareholder Disputes

Few circumstances in the life of a business are more challenging than disputes among co-owners.  We help clients efficiently and favorably resolve such disputes with minimal business disruption.  If resolution is not possible, we work to maximize our clients’ interests through a successful business separation.

We represent both public and closely held corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and trusts as well as shareholders, partners, and members in negotiations and litigation involving:

  • Corporate governance and director and officer liability
  • Shareholder claims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and minority oppression
  • Executive compensation, including buyout agreements
  • Corporate dissolution and “business divorce”

Representative Matters

      • We obtained dismissal with prejudice of all claims against clients whose joint venture partner alleged that they breached their fiduciary duties by failing to properly distribute profits.
      • In only six weeks, we prepared years-long litigation over the dissolution of a law firm partnership for trial and then favorably resolved the litigation before trial was necessary.
      • We obtained a complete defense victory following arbitration on behalf of a managing partner of an investment partnership sued by six of the partnership’s minority partners for breach of fiduciary duty.
      • We succeeded in arbitration on behalf of a minority member of a medical practice who was forced out; and recovered past-due retirement benefits to which the member was entitled.
      • We successfully arbitrated an ownership dispute among former law firm partners. We defeated the opposing party’s claim to millions of dollars in shared attorneys’ fees and obtained an injunction and sanctions for a departing lawyer’s theft of client files.
      • We helped the minority members of a limited liability company avoid an unfair sale and potential squeeze-out related to the company’s investment in a commercial office building. We achieved a successful outcome without filing suit.