Shareholder Disputes

Atlanta Business litigation Lawyer

Shareholders play an important part in the success of a business, as well as in how the business is run. Business owners or partners may attempt to make decisions and take action without the shareholders' input or agreement, which is not acceptable. As a shareholder, you place your money and personal interest into a business and, since you support the business with your assets, you play a part in the decision-making process. If your rights as a shareholder are being overlooked, you need the counsel of an Atlanta business attorney to help you resolve the situation.

Business Aspect of Shareholder Disputes

At Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, our Atlanta shareholder dispute attorneys can also assist with the business aspect of shareholder disputes. Businesses can suffer due to overbearing and difficult shareholders. If you are a business owner and your shareholders are overstepping their bounds, do not hesitate to find out how an attorney can litigate the matter to a fair resolution.

Buckley Bala Wilson Mew can handle cases involving:

• Failure to pay dividends
• Wrongful acquisition of shares
• Wrongful transfer of stock

Shares are a vital part of a business and its success. Be sure to resolve your shareholder dispute as soon as possible. This can be accomplished inside or outside of the courtroom with the help of an Atlanta business attorney or lawyer who can litigate for your rights in court or use a conference room setting for mediation or negotiation.

Problems Minority Shareholders May Face

As a shareholder, you should be afforded your fair say in how the business of your interest and investment is run. As a minority shareholder, or someone who holds a relatively small portion of shares compared to another shareholder or group of shareholders, you may find yourself faced with unique problems and a significantly limited sphere of influence. Small businesses tend to not have a large amount of investors or shareholders, or at the least, it is unlikely that they will have a large number of shareholders who are actually interested in how the business is run. For this reason, majority shareholders can virtually have all the say in how a company functions while minority shareholders feel as if their value is diminished or entirely eliminated after what is known as a “squeeze-out”.

Majority shareholders may do any of the following to reduce minority shareholder influence:

• Wrongful termination: In many instances, employees of a company are automatically afforded shares in it, or they are entitled to discounted rates when purchasing stock. By firing a minority shareholder without valid reasoning, the majority can gain more control of the company.
• Hiding documentation: Corporate records are key to making important business decisions, whether they be from accounting, sales, human resources, or any other department. Minority shareholders may find it difficult to locate critical and current corporate records, and this might not be due solely to poor organization.
• Dilution: If you hold a minority portion of shares now, you must be aware that it could be possible to hold an even smaller portion through dilution. Majority shareholders can decide to sell even more stock options to interested investors. While this can be beneficial for the company’s finances, it will also shrink minority strength and further benefit the majority holders.
• Buyout: When majority shareholders see an opportunity to turn a hearty profit through a total buyout of the company, they can seize it without first delegating with minority shareholders. Without much warning, you could be receiving a small payment for the cost of your minority shares and a notice that the company’s new purchasers will not be offering public stock options.

Set up an appointment to discuss your shareholder dispute: (404) 781-1100.