Corporate claims and shareholder disputes

We have a wealth of experience in advising companies, individual shareholders and directors in relation to a wide variety of company-related disputes.

Disputes relating to corporate matters, including those involving shareholders, can often lead to significant disruption in the day to day running of the business if they are not managed properly. We are experts in resolving these disputes decisively, pragmatically and sensitively. We know from experience that our clients value our expertise in getting to the core of the dispute quickly and also recognise our ability to advise on the most appropriate range of resolution options available including alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation.

We will always discuss with our clients the cost of any particular step as against the potential benefit. We are transparent in relation to costs from the outset. We know that our clients do not like surprises. We will always prepare a costs budget at the start of any dispute and are so confident in our ability to budget accurately that we will agree fixed fees with our clients in many cases.

We use specialist and highly experienced forensic accountants to carry out share valuations and other valuation work in relation to shareholder disputes and corporate claims. Our longstanding relationships with forensic accountants means we have immediate and direct access to the right experts.

The work undertaken by the team includes:

• Actions relating to breach of directors' duties including misfeasance claims and claims against directors for disqualification.
• Share and business sale warranty disputes (and other disputes arising out of acquisitions or sales of business and shares).
• Disputes between shareholders including section 994 Companies Act 2006 petitions, derivative actions and applications to wind up a company on a just and equitable basis.
• Disputes relating to the governance and regulation of companies.
• "Boardroom disputes" generally.

Our experience

Recent cases include:

• Acting in a dispute for a minority shareholder in a private limited company. Our client's interests were being prejudiced by the actions of the majority (family) shareholders and through a combination of swift and decisive legal action we were able to secure a seven figure payout (including the payment of the vast majority of our client's costs). The initial offer to our client by the majority to purchase his shareholding was less than one sixth of the final sum achieved in settlement. This example is typical of our work.
• Acting for a majority shareholder in complex proceedings involving a petition for unfair prejudice and claims against our client for repayment of a personal loan and defamation. All of the claims were settled on a favourable basis for our client.
• Acting for the managing director and majority shareholder in several companies in relation to a dispute over a contract for publicity materials.
• Acting for a former finance director of a large corporate in defending directors' disqualification proceedings.
• Acting in a multi-million pound breach of warranty claim arising from the sale of a business.
• Acting for a shareholder in a derivative claim. This high value dispute was settled through negotiation.

To speak with a member of our team specialising in corporate claims and shareholder disputes, please call 0844 980 1437 or send an email.