Protecting Your Rights, Preserving Business Value
Disputes between shareholders can quickly destabilise even the most successful businesses. In private companies especially, personal relationships often overlap with legal and financial interests, making disagreements both emotionally charged and commercially risky.
At Enterprise Legal, we represent shareholders, directors, founders and investors in resolving disputes within privately held Australian companies. Whether you’re a minority shareholder being excluded from decisions, a majority owner trying to manage a deadlock, or a co-founder in conflict with your peers, we provide clear, commercially focused legal advice to help protect your position, and the business itself.
We offer fixed or capped fees wherever possible, particularly for early-stage advice, shareholder agreement interpretation, and strategic resolution planning.
Common Issues in Shareholder Disputes
Shareholder disputes take many forms. Some arise from deadlocks in decision-making. Others are triggered by a breakdown of trust, poor communication, or allegations of misconduct by one or more directors. You may be concerned about unfair dilution of your shares, exclusion from important decisions, or misuse of company resources. Alternatively, you may simply want to exit the company and can’t agree on fair terms.
These disputes often stem from unclear or outdated shareholder agreements, or a lack of any formal agreement at all. We help you assess your legal rights under both your agreement and the Corporations Act, and identify the most effective path forward, whether that’s enforcing your rights, negotiating an exit, or initiating formal proceedings.
Our Strategic Approach
We know that shareholder disputes can affect not just individuals, but the stability and value of the entire business. That’s why we focus on resolving disputes as efficiently and commercially as possible, while protecting your interests.
Our services include reviewing shareholder agreements, advising on breaches or failures in governance, and representing clients in negotiations, mediations or court proceedings. Where urgent action is required, for example, to stop asset transfers or prevent further damage, we act quickly to preserve your rights and the company’s position.
We frequently assist with:
- interpreting and enforcing shareholder agreements
- negotiating buyouts or exit strategies
- advising on dividend disputes, unfair share dilution or director conduct
- initiating or defending oppression claims under the Corporations Act
- resolving succession issues in family businesses
For clients who are navigating the aftermath of a dispute or seeking to restructure for future growth, we also offer ongoing support through our Business Advisory and Structuring & Entity Advice services.
Minority Shareholder Representation
Minority shareholders often face unique challenges. You may have limited access to company information, little voting power, and few formal protections, but that doesn’t mean you’re without options. If you’ve been excluded from decision-making, subjected to unfair treatment, or forced into a sale or restructure without adequate justification, we can help you seek relief under the oppression provisions of the Corporations Act.
We regularly advise minority shareholders on their rights, help negotiate fair outcomes, and initiate court proceedings when required.
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Shareholder Disputes FAQs
Caught in a dispute with fellow shareholders or co-founders?
Book a consultation with our shareholder dispute lawyers today and get clarity on your rights, your risks, and your options for resolution.
