Legal advice on shareholder & partnership disputes

We know disputes between company shareholders and partners can really grind a company to a halt, which is why our solicitors can work for a quick resolution to any clash.

In 2016/17, there were 60,778 Limited Liability Partnerships registered in the UK, and it’s unlikely all of these will have run without some kind of dispute at one point or another.

Specialist commercial litigation solicitors can help you to navigate the complex rules and regulations that govern the conduct of companies, and we can help you to bring your dispute to a resolution before it escalates too far.

What are shareholder and partnership disputes?

Disputes between company shareholders and partners can easily arise when conflicts of interest occur, or one party feels that agreements have been breached.

Disagreements over the direction of the business are often at the heart of disputes, and poor personal relationships between shareholders and directors are not uncommon in such cases.

In companies of all sizes, it is possible for breaches of shareholder agreements to occur, and First4Lawyers can assist individuals and companies when duties have not been upheld.

The Companies Act 2006 contains legislation that governs the rules that apply to businesses and their owners, and claims can often be brought under the act to settle disputes.

How are shareholder and partnership disputes resolved?

The first option for the resolution of disputes between directors, partners or shareholders is always negotiation.

Where it is possible to negotiate a resolution by meeting directly with those involved, this can provide a quicker and more cost-effective route than going through the courts.

Negotiated solutions should provide practical actions that will meet the interests of all parties involved.

If a partner or shareholder is aggrieved, it might be necessary for a buyout of their shares at a fair price by either the company or by other shareholders.

If your company is facing the threat of a winding-up order from a shareholder, it could be wise to make a reasonable offer to buy that shareholder out.

This may prevent the court from ruling that you have acted unfairly, as you will have offered the shareholder an option to settle the matter.

However, it is important that you discuss any such buyout offer with an experienced commercial dispute solicitor before taking any action.

If direct negotiation is not possible or feasible, then a mediator can be appointed to aid the process and act as a catalyst for a quick, low-cost resolution to the matter.

Should negotiation and mediation fail to bring the matter to a close, court action may be required.

Why choose First4Lawyers?

Expert legal services for your business needs - whether it's employment law, policies or commercial property, we can help.

Free initial case review
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Our fully trained legal advisors are happy to offer initial guidance and advice for free

Panel of expert solicitors
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All our solicitors are pre-vetted and experts in providing legal services for business

No pressure
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We offer advice with no obligation.  We never cold-call or apply pressure to our customers

Get in Touch

There’s a dispute involving shareholders and partnerships that needs to be resolved – what should I do?

The earlier you seek legal advice to bring a shareholder or partnership dispute to a close, the better.

Our commercial litigation specialists will be best placed to advise you on a course of action to close the matter quickly, if you contact them before the dispute has had time to escalate and likely become even trickier.

We can also advise you on the best way to protect your business against disputes in the future, by helping put watertight shareholder and partner agreements in place.

Get in touch with our legal advisors, they'll review your case for free and assign you a solicitor, if you wish to proceed.

Need a hand? First4Lawyers will...

  • Review your legal requirements for free
  • Recommend the most appropriate action based on your personal needs
  • Assign you a pre-vetted solicitor from our expert panel

Holly was amazing, her attentiveness, understanding and her general customer care was outstanding. Made me feel very comfortable speaking to her. I could not recommend a better company to speak to and with such amazing staff.

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I was dealt with the most kind and caring manner by Rebeka. Also very efficient by explaining everything I had to know and connecting me to a solicitors who would deal with my claim. Thank you!

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Nice staff, very helpful and very easy to deal with. The initial part only took a few minutes. Staff also very knowledgeable and know what they are talking about.

Mr Richardson

Spoke with a lovely advisor called Chelsea who was great. She listened to everything that I said and gave brilliant advice. Her customer service was brilliant, she was very polite and gave me all the information about what are the next steps.

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Get in touch today to discuss your requirements 08005677866
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