Shareholder Dispute Solicitors
Expert Legal Advisers for Shareholder Disputes
Shareholder disputes can disrupt even the most successful businesses. Whether you’re a minority shareholder facing unfair treatment or a majority shareholder dealing with a breakdown in trust, early legal advice is essential to protect your interests and preserve company value.
Our experienced shareholder dispute solicitors help clients resolve complex disputes quickly, commercially and—where possible—without going to court.
Common Types of Shareholder Disputes
We act for individual shareholders, co-founders, and corporate investors across a wide range of shareholder disputes, including:
- Disputes between equal (50:50) shareholders
- Exclusion from management or key decisions
- Disagreements about dividend payments
- Share dilution targeting minority shareholders
- Abuse of majority power or lack of transparency
- Breach of shareholders’ agreements
- Share valuation and exit disputes
- Refusal to provide access to company information
If you are being treated unfairly or frozen out of the business, we can advise on your legal options and next steps.
Unfair Prejudice Claims
Minority shareholders who are being treated unfairly by the majority may be able to bring an unfair prejudice petition under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006. This applies where the company’s affairs are conducted in a way that is unfairly prejudicial to a shareholder’s interests.
Examples include:
- Exclusion from management in a quasi-partnership
- Diverting profits through excessive salaries instead of dividends
- Issuing new shares to dilute a minority interest
- Mismanagement or misuse of company assets
We can assess whether you have a claim and guide you through the process.
Resolving Shareholder Disputes
Most shareholder disputes are resolved out of court. We work to achieve outcomes such as:
- A negotiated buyout of shares at fair value
- Revised shareholder agreements to protect minority rights
- Company restructuring to prevent future conflict
- Winding-up of the company in certain situations
If court action is necessary, we have the expertise to pursue or defend your position effectively.
Why Choose Us?
- Proven experience in resolving complex shareholder disputes
- Practical, commercially focused advice
- Strong track record in negotiation, mediation and litigation
- Trusted by business owners, founders and investors
We act quickly and discreetly to safeguard your position and resolve the issue with minimal disruption to the business.
Key Contact
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.
What rights do I have as a shareholder?
Your rights as a shareholder will depend on the number and class of shares you hold, as well as any shareholders’ agreement or the company’s articles of association. In general, shareholders have the right to:
- Receive notice of and vote at general meetings
- Receive dividends (if declared)
- Inspect certain company documents
- Be treated fairly and not have their shareholding unfairly prejudiced
Minority shareholders also have specific legal protections where the majority act unfairly or in breach of duty.
Can a minority shareholder bring legal action?
Yes. If you are a minority shareholder and the majority are acting in a way that is unfair or prejudicial to your interests, you may be able to bring an unfair prejudice petition under the Companies Act 2006. Common examples include exclusion from decision-making, unfair allocation of dividends, or diluting your shareholding without consent.
What is an unfair prejudice claim?
An unfair prejudice claim is a legal action brought by a shareholder where the company’s affairs are being conducted in a way that unfairly harms their interests. The court has wide powers to resolve the situation — the most common outcome is that the majority shareholder is ordered to buy the minority’s shares at a fair value.
What can I do if there is a deadlock between shareholders?
Where two equal shareholders (e.g. 50:50) are in deadlock and cannot agree on how the company should be run, the business may become unworkable. Solutions may include negotiation, mediation, one party buying out the other, or — in extreme cases — winding up the company. We can advise on your options and protect your position during negotiations.
Can I force another shareholder to sell their shares?
Only in limited circumstances. Typically, this will depend on the terms of the shareholders’ agreement or the company’s articles of association. Some agreements include “drag-along” or “buy-back” provisions that may be triggered in a dispute. In other cases, court intervention may be needed.
Do I have the right to access company information?
As a shareholder, you have limited rights to access certain company documents — including the register of members, minutes of general meetings, and shareholder resolutions. If you’re being denied access or suspect misconduct, we can advise you on next steps and possible legal remedies.