Orlando Business Ownership Dispute Lawyer Provides Strong Advocacy
Central Florida firm offers options for resolving disagreements among business partners and shareholders.
The welfare and future success of a business can be threatened by disagreements among the company’s principals. Sometimes these internal disputes are solvable without resorting to legal action, but sometimes they are not. If you and your co-owners can’t come to terms, you need a dedicated, skilled commercial litigation lawyer to represent you. At The Florida Lawyer in Orlando, we will protect your personal interests while working hard to resolve the conflict with the lowest possible interruption of business operations. If necessary, we are ready to go to court to fight on your behalf.
Typical partnership and shareholder disputes
Business ownership disputes can take many forms. Some of the more common ones are:
- Divergent interpretations of the partnership agreement
- Disagreements about expansion or financing of the business
- Arguments over owners’ relative shares of profits
- Claims that a co-owner misappropriated funds or other business assets, engaged in fraud or breached a fiduciary duty to the corporation
Often, disputes between partners strain interpersonal relationships that are essential to efficient business activity. We are adept at getting to the root causes of conflicts and we work assiduously to achieve productive resolutions.
Exploring all options for resolving disputes
We understand how disruptive business disputes can be for everyone involved. We always make a concerted effort to solve the problems and achieve favorable results without business litigation. For instance, it may be possible to continue the business by adjusting the owners’ respective roles or by amending the partnership agreement. We do our best to negotiate terms that the business owners will find satisfactory. We are experienced in dealing with difficult situations, such as those involving:
- Co-owners who refuse to compromise
- Losses of key employees and difficulties attracting replacements
- Allegations that give rise to potential civil and even criminal liability against the company or its owners
We will thoroughly analyze problem situations and do our best to find productive solutions, using negotiation, mediation or arbitration as may be appropriate. If no other remedy is effective, we will pursue your interests vigorously in court.
Resolving disputes when there is no governing agreement
Most businesses have partnership or shareholder agreements in place that set out the co-owners’ respective rights and obligations. The agreement carries great weight when a court hears a dispute. If there is no agreement, the court must evaluate the business relationships between the parties, taking into account such factors as:
- The prior actions of the parties
- The historic decision-making authority within the business
- Which individuals are entitled to shares of the profits and in what proportions
- How the tax obligations are handled
- Any other relevant operations history
We examine all of the relevant evidence and build the strongest case possible for asserting our client’s ownership rights and for contesting claims by adverse parties.
Contact a dedicated Central Florida business ownership disputes lawyer
H. Clay Parker, Esq. represents Florida companies and their principals in all types of business ownership disputes. Please call 407-414-3846 or contact us online to schedule an appointment at our Orlando office. In cases related to civil or business litigation, we offer a $50 initial consultation.
