Business Law
Protecting Your Ownership. Defending Your Business.
Disputes between business owners, partners, and shareholders can threaten control, financial interests, and the future of a company. Strategic legal guidance can help protect your ownership rights and pursue a practical resolution.
Overview
Partnership & Shareholder Dispute Attorneys in Los Angeles
Partnerships and closely held companies are often built on shared goals and mutual trust, but disagreements can arise over management, finances, ownership, and control.
Our attorneys represent business owners, partners, and shareholders in ownership disputes throughout Los Angeles County. We review governing agreements and business records, evaluate the dispute, and pursue practical solutions through negotiation, mediation, or litigation when necessary.
Legal Elements
What Can Lead to a Partnership or Shareholder Dispute?
Management & Control
Partners or shareholders may disagree about business strategy, management decisions, or who has authority to make important company decisions.
Financial Interests
Conflicts may involve profit distribution, financial contributions, company assets, or allegations involving the misuse of business funds.
Ownership Rights
Disputes may concern voting rights, ownership interests, buyout provisions, new owners, or attempts to withdraw from the business.
Fiduciary Duties
A partner, officer, or director may face claims alleging that they acted against the interests of the business or other owners.
Fraud
Business Ownership Disputes We
Help Address
Partnership Conflicts
Disagreements may arise over business strategy, management responsibilities, financial contributions, or profit distribution.
Shareholder Conflicts
Shareholders may disagree over corporate control, voting rights, ownership interests, or the direction of the company.
Misuse of Company Assets
Disputes may involve allegations that a partner, officer, or shareholder improperly used company funds or other business assets.
Fiduciary Duty Claims
Business owners may raise claims when they believe another owner, officer, or director failed to fulfill applicable fiduciary obligations.
Compliance
What Should Business Owners Consider?
Governing Agreements
Partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, operating agreements, and bylaws may establish important rights and obligations.
Voting & Control
Corporate records and governing documents may determine how decisions are made and how ownership and voting rights are exercised.
Financial Records
Financial documents can help establish contributions, distributions, company expenses, and other issues relevant to the dispute.
Communications & Records
Emails, business communications, meeting records, and other documentation may provide important evidence concerning the dispute.
Recovery
Ways to Resolve an Ownership Dispute
Negotiated Settlement
The parties may negotiate directly or through their attorneys to reach an agreement without formal litigation.
Mediation
A neutral mediator can help the parties work toward a mutually acceptable resolution while maintaining greater control over the outcome.
Buyout Agreement
One owner may negotiate an exit from the business through a buyout designed to address the parties' ownership and financial interests.
Litigation
When a dispute cannot be resolved through other methods, litigation may be necessary to pursue damages, equitable relief, dissolution, or other available remedies.
Practice Scope
Partnership & Shareholder Matters
We Handle
Management Disputes
Conflicts over business strategy, management responsibilities, and decision-making authority.
Profit & Financial Disputes
Disagreements involving profit distribution, financial contributions, company expenses, or business assets.
Fiduciary Duty Claims
Claims involving alleged breaches of duties owed by partners, officers, directors, or other business owners.
Buyouts & Ownership Exit
Legal assistance with negotiated buyouts and ownership-exit arrangements.
Voting & Control Disputes
Disagreements involving shareholder voting rights, corporate control, and ownership decisions.
Business Dissolution
Legal assistance when the circumstances may require judicial dissolution or another formal method of ending the business relationship.
Partnership & Shareholder Agreements
Review and enforcement of agreements governing ownership rights, responsibilities, and dispute procedures.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What can cause a partnership dispute?
Partnership disputes can arise from disagreements about management, business strategy, profit distribution, financial contributions, company assets, or alleged breaches of fiduciary duties.
What is a shareholder dispute?
A shareholder dispute is a conflict involving owners of a corporation. It may concern voting rights, corporate control, ownership interests, shareholder agreements, or the conduct of officers and directors.
Can a partnership or shareholder dispute be resolved without going to court?
Yes. Depending on the circumstances, owners may be able to resolve their dispute through negotiation, mediation, a buyout, or another negotiated arrangement.
When is litigation necessary?
Litigation may become necessary when the parties cannot reach a workable resolution or when a legal remedy such as damages, equitable relief, or judicial dissolution may need to be pursued.
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