Blog
Privilege update: Privy Council confirms the shareholder principle no longer applies in England & Wales
Hannah Fitzwilliam
Shareholder disputes can be highly stressful for the individuals and can have devastating consequences for the company. If you are faced with a shareholder dispute our dispute resolution team has extensive experience of acting for minority and majority shareholders and companies in disputes between shareholders.
Click here to see our answers to frequently asked questions relating to shareholder disputes.
Shareholder disputes can arise in a number of circumstances, for example: a minority shareholder may be excluded from the management of a company; a group of shareholders may act in a way that harms the interests of other shareholders; a shareholder-director may be acting fraudulently or in breach of duties owed to the company; shareholders may disagree on the company’s future direction.
We combine our legal and strategic expertise to advise our clients on their rights with a view to meeting their commercial objectives quickly and cost-effectively. Our extensive experience enables us to successfully navigate the complex dynamics of a shareholder dispute, and to win outstanding results for our clients.
We act for shareholders and members in a wide range of disputes, including in the following areas:
- Shareholder claims/disputes
- Unfair prejudice petitions
- Breaches of shareholder and/or investment agreements
- Breaches of director’s duties, including breach of fiduciary duties and for failing to act in the best interest of the company
- Derivative actions
- Petitions for the ‘just and equitable’ winding up of a company
- Company disputes relating to insolvency
- Acting on behalf of shareholders to enforce their rights to purchase or sell shares under sale and purchase agreements
- Fraud related disputes against directors or shareholders
- Injunctions
We are able to provide shareholders with well-rounded advice to address the many issues they may face by working alongside our other specialist teams including Corporate and Commercial, Employment and Immigration. We also have particular expertise regarding criminal and regulatory issues. Please see our Directors and Officers page for more information.
We have the strategic expertise to advise on when and how to litigate and whether to engage in alternative means of dispute resolution where appropriate, including arbitration, mediation and round table settlement discussions. We recognise that commercial clients are concerned about the financial and reputational consequences of being involved in a dispute. We provide costs advice and consider with our clients various litigation funding options.
Richard Foss
Partner and Head of Department
Jemma Brimblecombe
Partner
William Christopher
Partner
Richard Clayman
Partner
James Glaysher
Partner
Melanie Hart
Partner
Helen Morris
Partner
Katherine Pymont
Partner
Waqar Shah
Partner
Fiona Simpson (Français)
Partner
Sue Thackeray
Partner
Mary Young
Partner
Laura Phillips TEP
Legal Director
Chris Recker
Legal Director
Lucy Edwards
Legal Director
Katie Allard
Senior Associate
Ben Atkin
Senior Associate
Laurence Clarke
Senior Associate
Sophie Evans
Senior Associate
Mark Fallmann
Senior Associate
Hannah Fitzwilliam
Senior Associate
Elliot Grosvenor-Taylor
Senior Associate
Abigail Hall
Senior Associate
Krishna Mahajan
Senior Associate
Sophie Mass
Senior Associate
Anna O’Carroll
Senior Associate
Francesca Parker
Senior Associate
Kate Salter
Senior Associate
Phoebe Alexander
Associate
Cally Brosnan
Associate
Jessica Cattrall
Associate
Charlotte Dormon
Associate
Lavanya Loganathan
Associate
Leyla Maestri
Associate
Filton Pavier
Associate
Chantelle Tang
Associate
Harvey Benjamin-Laing
Trainee Solicitor
Úna Campbell
Trainee Solicitor
Isabella McDonnell
Trainee Solicitor
Ananta Singh
Legal Apprentice
Teresa Young
Paralegal
Nisha Ahluwalia
Collections and Recoveries Lead
