Investing in a business or organisation can be a fantastic opportunity, turning out to be a profitable decision for everyone involved. However, in some cases a business may fail to meet the expectation of the shareholder, breach an agreement, or feel as though they are not being kept informed regarding affairs of the business.

This can mean that disputes arise between shareholder and business owner/other shareholders, which then must be resolved with methods such as mediation, arbitration, or negotiation. It's important that these disputes are resolved quickly to minimise damage to the business and shareholders.

There are a variety of reasons why a dispute may occur between a shareholder and a business owner/other shareholder, which may then require the help of a trained mediator or negotiator to help resolve a dispute. Some reasons why a dispute may arise include:

• Conflict of Interest

• Poor Communication

• Lack of Business Information Access

• Breach of Duties

• Lack of Financial Information Access

• Shareholder Hierarchy

There are a variety of different ways that a dispute with a shareholder can be solved to reach the best outcome for everyone involved. This may mean that the original Shareholder Agreement needs to be reviewed, so that the rights of the shareholder can be re-established. If this is unable to clear any confusion or misunderstanding, there are other options to help settle a dispute, including:

• Removal of one or more shareholders

• Holding a shareholder's meeting

• Hiring an advisor

• Traditional methods of dispute resolution (i.e., mediation, arbitration, negotiation etc.)

Our shareholder dispute solicitors are experienced in helping business owners and shareholders find resolutions for any active disagreements, so that disputes can be solved efficiently and minimal damage to the business is caused. At Forbes Solicitors, we can provide you with high quality legal professionals who specialise in shareholder disputes and are trained in methods of conflict resolution.