Shareholder disputes
Shareholder disputes have been described as corporate divorce. Withers provides integrated employment and litigation advice, enabling shareholders to identify and adopt the best strategy.
The most cost-effective solution is likely to involve persuading all parties to consent to a shareholders’ agreement or settlement. But we will not hesitate to bring cases to trial where this is in the best interests of our client.
In the leading case of Croly v Good, we acted for the successful petitioner. Our client, Mr. Croly, worked for and owned shares in a UK manufacturing business, in what we argued was a quasi-partnership. When a disagreement arose over the level of Mr. Good’s cash drawings, he expelled Mr. Croly from the company, refusing repeatedly to buy out his shares. When the case came to court, the judge found that our client’s exclusion from the company was unfair. Although the business was by now in administration, he made an order for Mr. Good to purchase Mr. Croly’s shares at the far higher value they would have had at the time of his exclusion.
We act for a broad range of clients, including US and UK investors with interests in British, US or foreign-incorporated companies, and investors from other countries and regions including India, Russia and CIS, Indonesia, Europe and the Middle East.
For further help or information
Get in touch
How the team can help
Track record
We can also help with
Would you like to hear more from us?
Visit our subscriptions page to tell us a bit more about what you’re interested in so we can send you relevant news