Practice
Owner and partnership disputes
Co-owners fall out over money, control, effort and the future. We represent one owner or the company, push for a buyout or a fair split where one is possible, and go to court when it isn't.
What these cases usually look like
One owner is locked out of the books. Another is paying himself first. A founder wants out and the operating agreement says nothing useful about price. These disputes run on emotion, so a clear plan and a valuation early tend to save the most money.
A worked example
A sample case: two of three LLC members in a landscaping company wanted to remove the third, who held 40 percent. We read the operating agreement's buy-sell clause, hired a valuator, and offered a price backed by the report. After one mediation day the departing member accepted a buyout of $310,000 over four years, secured by a note.
Composite example. Your facts will differ, and past results don't predict yours.
Owner disputes we take on
For a member, a shareholder or the company itself, never two sides at once.
Buyouts and buy-sell clauses
Valuing an interest, triggering the clause, and negotiating the terms and security.
Access to books and records
Getting the financial records an owner has a right to see.
Deadlock and dissolution
When owners cannot decide anything, and the court may need to.
Claims against a co-owner
Self-dealing, diverted customers, and breach of the duties owners owe each other.
Questions about owner and partnership disputes
Can you represent the company and me?
Not when owners are on opposite sides. We represent one owner or the company, and the others need their own lawyers.
Is going to court the only way to force a buyout?
No. Many operating agreements set a process, and most buyouts are negotiated. Court is the fallback when the agreement is silent or ignored.
How long does an owner dispute take?
A negotiated buyout can close in two to four months. A contested case in court commonly takes a year or more.
Ready to talk about the company?
Book a first call. Bring the operating agreement or shareholder agreement if you have it, and we'll start there.
A first call is free and doesn't make us your lawyers; a signed engagement letter does.