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Breaking up is hard

Company & Shareholder Disputes

Company claims are disruptive, time-consuming and distracting.  Whether you face a claim from a disaffected company shareholder or director or think that you are being prejudiced as a minority shareholder or director, we can assist with timely, pragmatic and commercial advice to defuse the dispute and bring it to a resolution, whether by agreement, restructuring, through a valuation process or sometimes unavoidable litigation through the courts.

We have a track record in advising all kinds of companies, partnerships, LLPs, directors and shareholders, from companies valued at hundreds of millions of pounds to the smallest start-ups.

Our approach is grounded in the clearest possible understanding of what you are trying to achieve and the formulation of a bespoke strategy that fits within your parameters.  With a candid approach to prospects of success, costs and timeframes, we have a reputation for adding value.  And we deliver results on high-profile and complex disputes that are critical to your position whilst providing a responsive and personable service in what can be a high-stress environment.

Our Disputes team boasts high-calibre lawyers who are recognised and recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as ‘leading individuals’, ‘next generation partners’ and ‘rising stars’.  We are, therefore, commercially astute, experienced, exceptionally skilled and focused on achieving the best solution.

Our goal is to ensure that however, the matter plays out, you feel you have had good value for money and no cost surprises.

Company & Shareholder Disputes Greenwoods

How we can help

Urgent Matters

If matters are urgent, we can bring or defend emergency injunctions to protect shareholders and directors from being prejudiced by the actions of a board of directors, or defend a company from the actions of a disaffected minority.  You can find a summary of our injunction experience here.

Resolution & Settlement

We are experts in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) dispute resolution in all its forms, whether court action, formal alternative dispute resolution (mediation, expert determination) or informal negotiations.  This includes expert valuation of shareholdings for the purposes of a buy-out of shareholders and all aspects of minority discounts.

Companies Acts

We can advise on legal rights and remedies under the Companies Acts, the company’s Articles, shareholder agreements and directors’ service contracts.

Dispute Avoidance

We frequently advise on dispute avoidance to help you avoid problems and resolve issues (or at the very least improve your position) before a formal dispute even arises, so it is best to get us involved as early as possible.  By doing so, you will enable us to add maximum value and will often improve the outcome.

Unfair Prejudice Claims

With unfair prejudice claims under s994 of the Companies Act, derivative claims and claims for contractual and tortious breach of all kinds

By bringing or defending claims for breach of restrictive covenants and confidentiality claims

Drafting constitutional documents to protect the interests of shareholders, directors and partners of all kinds.

Substantial Expertise & Effective Litigation Strategies

Shareholder disputes can arise for companies of any size and for a variety of issues including a breakdown of trust, minority shareholding concerns and the payment of dividends.  We can help to protect your position by taking the time to understand the situation and what “success” means to you before agreeing the best strategy to achieve your goals.

We specialise in designing effective litigation strategies to bring or defend claims brought by or against disaffected shareholders and directors.  We will provide you with an honest and realistic analysis of the options open to you: court proceedings, mediation, negotiation, adjudication, insolvency proceedings and other possibilities.

If matters are urgent, we can bring or defend emergency injunctions to protect shareholders and directors from being prejudiced by the actions of a board of directors, or defend a company from the actions of a disaffected minority.  You can find a summary of our injunction experience here.

We are experts in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) dispute resolution in all its forms, whether court action, formal alternative dispute resolution (mediation, expert determination) or informal negotiations.  This includes expert valuation of shareholdings for the purposes of a buy-out of shareholders and all aspects of minority discounts.

We can advise on legal rights and remedies under the Companies Acts, the company’s Articles, shareholder agreements and directors’ service contracts.

We frequently advise on dispute avoidance to help you avoid problems and resolve issues (or at the very least improve your position) before a formal dispute even arises, so it is best to get us involved as early as possible.  By doing so, you will enable us to add maximum value and will often improve the outcome.

With unfair prejudice claims under s994 of the Companies Act, derivative claims and claims for contractual and tortious breach of all kinds

By bringing or defending claims for breach of restrictive covenants and confidentiality claims

Drafting constitutional documents to protect the interests of shareholders, directors and partners of all kinds.

Shareholder disputes can arise for companies of any size and for a variety of issues including a breakdown of trust, minority shareholding concerns and the payment of dividends.  We can help to protect your position by taking the time to understand the situation and what “success” means to you before agreeing the best strategy to achieve your goals.

We specialise in designing effective litigation strategies to bring or defend claims brought by or against disaffected shareholders and directors.  We will provide you with an honest and realistic analysis of the options open to you: court proceedings, mediation, negotiation, adjudication, insolvency proceedings and other possibilities.

Testimonials
Testimonials

“Practical, pragmatic and cost effective. Always thinking about strategy and the bigger picture, rather than simply going through the motions or getting too caught up in the detail.”

(The Legal 500 2023)

“Huw Wallis is a pleasure to deal with and you always feel like a priority client.”

(The Legal 500 2023)

“Client focused, empathetic and incredibly smart.”

(The Legal 500 2022)

“…really practical and tuned in to the actual needs of clients and what the litigation process involves at a granular level. This enables realistic and practical advice to be given and it also helps in spotting potential pressure points on opponents.”

(The Legal 500 2022)




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