Parker Bullen Solicitors Banner Image

Corporate & Commercial

Corporate and Partnership Disputes Solicitors

Disagreements can happen in the world of business, however when differences arise between those who own or run the business, such as shareholders, partners or directors, it can cause serious disruption impacting stability, productivity and morale.

It is in the best interests of the business for any dispute to be resolved swiftly and at minimal cost and disturbance. Our Corporate and Partnership Disputes Lawyers are on hand to discuss your options with you about the best method of resolution, as well as plans to reduce the risk of further disputes. 

Legal advice for Corporate and Partnership disputes

There are several routes to a resolution which will depend upon the structure of your business and who is involved in the dispute itself.  Primarily, the main ways that we can assist are:

  • Negotiation: We can facilitate an open dialogue and negotiate amongst the involved parties to reach a mutually agreeable solution.
  • Mediation: A neutral third party can hold discussions and help the parties find a compromise.
  • Arbitration: An arbitrator can make a binding decision to resolve the dispute, typically faster and less formal than Court litigation.
  • Litigation: In some cases, litigation in Court may be the most appropriate option.

Shareholder Disputes

A shareholder dispute can occur when there are disagreements or conflicts amongst the company's shareholders, which can often lead to a deadlock situation. Our Shareholder Disputes Solicitors can advise a company, an individual shareholder or group of shareholders on the merits of their dispute and how to resolve this. 

There are several reasons why a dispute can ensue between shareholders including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Management and decision-making
  • Ownership and equity
  • Breach of fiduciary duties

We are conscious that you will be keen to resolve the issues quickly and as cost effectively as possible.  We are experienced at achieving legal but also commercially pragmatic solutions to reduce the impact on your business.  This applies to both disputes which have already arisen and those likely to occur in the future.

A valuable part of the process is identifying preventative measures to avoid future disputes and we can assist by putting in place a Shareholders Agreement.  This document can shield against any future disputes between shareholders and, for those unavoidable disputes, contain provision on how they should be governed, with Court being the last resort.  A Shareholders Agreement will typically addressing the following matters:

  • Ownership and equity
  • Management and decision-making
  • Rights and obligations
  • Financial matters
  • Dispute resolution
  • Exit strategies
  • Confidentiality and non-compete clauses
  • Succession planning

A well-drafted and bespoke Shareholder Agreement will provide a level of certainty and peace of mind for all shareholders, helping to avoid misunderstandings and disputes.

Director Disputes

The Director of a company should act in the best interests of that company first and foremost.  Disputes between Directors can happen for many reasons, including:

  • Breach of fiduciary duties
  • Corporate governance
  • Contractual disputes

These disagreements can affect the day-to-day running of the business and so need to be resolved efficiently.  We can advise a company or an individual Director in relation to dispute resolution and assist the business in moving forward.

Partnership Disputes

Partnership disputes involve disagreements amongst business partners or members of a limited liability partnership in matters such as:

  • Profit sharing
  • Management and control
  • Breach of Partnership Agreements

A well-drafted Partnership Agreement is a foundational document for any business partnership, and it plays a crucial role in preventing disputes amongst Partners. A well-crafted Partnership Agreement can contribute to dispute prevention by clarifying the following:

  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Ownership and equity structure
  • Decision-making processes
  • Dispute resolution
  • Exit strategies
  • Non-compete and non-disclosure provisions
  • Valuation of partnership interests
  • Amendments and updates

By addressing these critical aspects of partnership governance, a Partnership Agreement sets clear expectations, provides a structured framework for managing the partnership, and offers established procedures for handling disputes.

Contact our Corporate and Partnership Dispute Solicitors

Director, shareholder and partnership disputes, our Commercial Litigation team is committed to providing effective legal representation and guidance to help you achieve a favourable resolution. Contact our corporate disputes team today at one of our offices in Andover, Romsey, Salisbury, Totton or Witney, by emailing info@parkerbullen.com, using the Contact Form or calling your local office from the numbers below: