Contact our shareholder disputes solicitors
If you’re facing a shareholder dispute, speak to our expert shareholder disputes solicitors at Ignition Law. You can complete our quick online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch.
Why choose Ignition Law?
At Ignition Law, we understand the commercial realities of shareholder disputes because many of our lawyers have navigated them firsthand, whether by launching businesses or managing them. This entrepreneurial insight shapes our approach, delivering speed and clarity when you need it most.
We make sense of complex situations with practical, plain English advice, ensuring you’re always clear on your position. Our priority is to protect your business’s value, keep disruption to a minimum, and deliver practical, long-lasting solutions.
Our team have much experience supporting clients with a diverse range of shareholder disputes, including shareholder and director disputes, offshore shareholder disputes, and 50/50 shareholder disputes.
With substantial expertise across modern sectors, including SaaS, crypto, creative industries, and fintech, we understand the unique challenges of fast-paced industries, and we shape our guidance to meet their specific demands.
As a certified B Corp and a firm recognised for excellence in talent management, shortlisted for The Lawyer’s Best Talent Management Award 2025, we proudly champion a people-first culture and a firm commitment to ethical practices. We’ve also contributed expert legal insights to HSBC Innovation Banking’s 2025 Venture Capital Term Sheet Guide, demonstrating our role as a trusted voice for businesses across the UK.
Our shareholder disputes services
Legal advice on shareholder disputes
Our team offers strategic guidance from the outset, whether you’re responding to a dispute or looking to enforce your shareholder rights.
We can review shareholder agreements and articles of association to clarify the rights and obligations of shareholders, including provisions around reverse vesting and mandatory share transfers. We support negotiations or mediation with co-shareholders and work to achieve practical, commercial resolutions.
We can also protect your position as a minority shareholder or equal partner, ensuring that you are treated fairly, and assessing potential unfair prejudice claims, so you can make informed decisions to safeguard your interests.
Guidance on directors’ duties
We advise directors and shareholders on the full scope of directors’ duties under the Companies Act 2006, including duties to act in good faith, avoid conflicts of interest, and promote the success of the company.
Whether you’re concerned about a fellow director’s conduct or facing allegations yourself, we’ll provide clear, commercial advice on your responsibilities, risk exposure, and the best course of action.
In more serious cases, we can advise on derivative actions, where shareholders seek to bring a claim on behalf of the company against a director for breach of duty. These situations often require careful handling, particularly when commercial relationships are ongoing.
We help you weigh up the risks, costs, and outcomes to ensure any action is proportionate, well-evidenced, and strategically aligned with your business goals.
Leaver status and share transfers
We support clients in disputes involving leaver provisions, clarifying whether someone qualifies as a good or bad leaver, and the implications this has on their shareholding and entitlements.
These situations often carry high stakes, particularly when linked to founder equity or employee incentive schemes, so we focus on giving you clear, strategic advice to protect your interests.
Our team also advises on compulsory share transfers and reverse vesting arrangements, which can be complex and time sensitive. Whether you’re enforcing these provisions or challenging their application, we’ll guide you through the detail, help you navigate any valuation issues, and ensure any action taken is legally sound and commercially justified.
Alternative dispute resolution
When informal negotiation isn’t possible, we can guide you through formal processes such as mediation or arbitration. These alternative dispute resolution methods offer speed, discretion, and cost efficiency, making them a valuable option for resolving shareholder disputes while minimising disruption.
We’ll work closely with you to assess whether shareholder dispute resolution is the best route, helping to preserve business continuity and protect relationships wherever possible.
Assistance with exit strategies
Where an amicable resolution proves unachievable, and an exit becomes the most pragmatic solution, Ignition Law can guide you through the intricacies of exit strategies. Our experienced corporate lawyers understand the need to safeguard value and manage reputational and operational risks.
Whether through share buybacks, management buyouts, or structuring the sale of shares, we ensure that exits are handled smoothly.
Support with settlement agreements
Settlement agreements can offer a clean and efficient way to bring shareholder disputes to a close, provided the terms are carefully negotiated. We advise clients on the preparation, review, and negotiation of settlement agreements to ensure they reflect your rights, protect your commercial position, and minimise future risk.
Whether you’re exiting the business, restructuring ownership, or resolving a dispute between co-founders, we focus on getting the details right, so you can move forward with confidence and certainty.
Enforcement and Court proceedings
In cases where urgent relief is needed, such as injunctions or enforcement, our expert team can support you through court proceedings. We can also advise on emergency remedies, including freezing orders or board control actions, to secure your position quickly and effectively.
Our team has a proven track record of managing complex shareholder disputes, bringing confident, precise action to complex and high-pressure situations. Our goal is to guide you through these legal challenges with transparency and efficiency, ensuring your interests are safeguarded at every stage.
Commonly asked questions about shareholder disputes
What are shareholder disputes?
A shareholders’ dispute is a disagreement between a company’s shareholders, often involving decisions about the company’s management, ownership, finances, or future direction. These disputes can arise between founders, investors, directors, or family shareholders and may relate to profit sharing, voting rights, business strategy, or breaches of agreements.
How do you resolve shareholder disputes?
The method used to resolve shareholder disputes depends on the circumstances. Many are settled through negotiation or mediation, especially when maintaining relationships is key. Others may require arbitration or Court action, particularly if there are allegations of unfair prejudice or breaches of fiduciary duty. Seeking advice early is essential to protect your position.
What are my rights as a shareholder in a limited company?
Your rights depend on your shareholding percentage, the articles of association, and any shareholder agreements in place. Key rights include access to information, participation in decision-making, receiving dividends, and bringing claims in certain situations.
Minority shareholders may have limited control, but the law protects them against unfair prejudice. If the majority’s actions treat them unfairly, legal remedies are available.
Majority shareholders hold greater voting power and influence, but they must act fairly and comply with company law and the shareholder agreement, especially when dealing with minority shareholders.
Can directors sell company assets without shareholder approval?
It depends on the asset, the company’s constitution, and whether any special resolutions are required. In some cases, directors can act without shareholder approval, but large transactions or those involving conflicts of interest often require shareholder input. If you suspect an asset sale was improper, it’s important to seek legal advice quickly.
Contact our shareholder disputes solicitors
If you’re facing a shareholder dispute, speak to our expert shareholder disputes solicitors at Ignition Law. You can complete our quick online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch.