When the owners stop agreeing.
Disputes between co-owners are personal and expensive, and they put the company itself at risk. We start with the company agreement and the records, tell you what rights you actually have, and work toward a resolution that protects your stake: a buyout, a negotiated exit, a governance fix, or a claim pursued if it cannot be resolved.
Fee basis: A written fee arrangement after an initial assessment.
If a deadline is near, call.
Limitations periods and response deadlines keep running while you decide what to do, and some cannot be extended. If you have been served, or a deadline is days away, do not wait on the website form. Call the office.
Who we work with.
- LLC members and partners in a disagreement over control, money, or direction.
- Co-founders whose working relationship has ended.
- Minority owners who cannot get information about the company.
- Owners who want out, or want a co-owner out, on fair terms.
- Companies stuck in deadlock on a decision that has to be made.
What we handle
Disputes among the owners and managers of closely held companies.
- LLC member and partner disputes
- Deadlock between owners or managers
- Buyouts and valuation disputes
- Fiduciary duty claims between owners
- Access to books and records
- Removal of a manager or officer
- Disputes over distributions and compensation
- Exit and separation agreements
- Co-founder departures and equity disputes
Start with the documents
The company agreement or partnership agreement usually decides more than the owners expect. Gather:
- 01The company agreement, partnership agreement, or bylaws, with every amendment
- 02Any buy-sell, shareholder, or side agreements
- 03The certificate of formation and the current ownership records
- 04Recent financial statements and distribution records
- 05Minutes, written consents, and key emails about the disagreement
The work, not a time entry.
A read of your company agreement and records, a strategy for your position, and negotiated buyout, exit, or governance terms, or the dispute pursued if it cannot be resolved.
- 01
A read of the governing documents
What your agreement says about voting, deadlock, removal, transfers, buyouts, and duties, and where the gaps are.
- 02
A strategy for your position
A clear view of your rights and leverage, the risks of each path, and what we recommend.
- 03
Information you are entitled to
A records request, where your agreement or the law gives you the right to see the company's books and records.
- 04
A negotiated resolution
Buyout, separation, or revised governance terms, negotiated with the other owners and documented properly.
What working with us looks like.
- 01
Tell us what happened
A short call, then the governing documents and a timeline through a secure channel.
- 02
Assessment and fee
We review the agreement and the facts, tell you where you stand, and agree the fee with you in writing.
- 03
Decide the approach
Negotiate a buyout or exit, fix the governance, request records, or prepare a claim. You decide.
- 04
Negotiate
We deal with the other owners and their counsel on your instructions.
- 05
Document or escalate
A buyout, separation, or amended agreement, or mediation, arbitration, or litigation with counsel we bring in and manage.
Timing depends on the matter, the documents, and how quickly decisions come back. We agree on expectations at the start.
If one of these is true, it is time to talk.
Send a short description through the intake form, or call. The next step is a short call.
- 01You and your co-owner cannot agree on a decision the company has to make.
- 02A co-owner is taking money, opportunities, or control you did not agree to.
- 03You have asked for the company's financials and been refused.
- 04You want to leave the company, or want a co-owner to leave.
- 05Someone has been removed, or is threatening to remove you, as a manager or officer.
How the fee is set.
A written fee arrangement after an initial assessment.
Ownership disputes vary widely, so we set the fee after reviewing the agreement and the facts and put it in writing. Defined steps, such as a records request or a negotiated buyout, are often a flat fee.
We are an AI-native firm, which is how we deliver exceptional results and pass exceptional savings on to you. Most matters are handled on a flat or fixed fee.
What clients ask before they call.
Often paired with Partner & Ownership Disputes
Business Disputes
Commercial disputes for companies on either side, from the first demand to resolution.
Formation & Governance
Entities, founding agreements, and governance built to hold up later.
Outside General Counsel
Ongoing counsel from a lawyer who has held the General Counsel seat.
Tell us what is happening. A lawyer will reply.
Use the intake form to describe the dispute, the agreement, or the question. EJ reviews each submission and replies to set up a short call. If a deadline is days away, call instead.