Shareholder and Corporate Disputes
Matheson’s specialist dispute resolution lawyers are focused on protecting the rights and interests of our clients in the resolution of all types of Companies Acts proceedings.
Ranging from disagreements between directors and shareholders, succession issues breach of warranty claims, M&A / joint ventures derivative actions, minority oppression claims, hostile takeovers, insider dealing, regulatory investigations and inquiries and CEA investigations.
We advise on the steps you can take to avoid the risk of disputes in the future, including reviewing your articles of association and shareholders’ agreements to ensure any potential points of conflict can be dealt with proactively.
Understanding clients’ businesses and objectives is key to Matheson’s approach. We act proactively and decisively to pursue client’s legal rights and resolve contentious issues in order to advance their best interests both in an out of court.
Mediation and arbitration are increasingly recognised as viable alternatives to litigation, offering quicker, confidential, and more cost-effective resolution. You should contact a legal expert as soon as a dispute arises to try and avoid costly court proceedings.
Experience Highlights
The team has recently advised:
- the minority shareholder and CEO in an acrimonious shareholder dispute concerning control of large second generation family owned Irish group of companies in the entertainment industry.
- a Canadian private equity investor and noteholder in relation to a shareholder dispute with an Irish pharma company.
- majority shareholders of large family owned group of companies in the automotive industry in relation to succession issues.
- the majority shareholders and directors of a significant company in the food industry in relation to the successful resolution of a shareholder dispute.
- the private equity investor in a company in the food industry in relation to a shareholder dispute with the founders.
- minority shareholders in an Irish company with significant property interests in the UK in an oppression action and related injunctive proceedings restraining the attempted removal of one of the director / shareholders from all executive functions with £40m of assets resulting in a buy-out.
- the majority shareholder on a highly contentious and multi-limbed dispute between the shareholders of a large private hospital in Dublin.
- Royalty Pharma in litigation related to its $6.5 billion hostile bid for Elan.
- Worldview Capital in its hostile bid for Petroceltic, the first time a hostile takeover was successfully achieved using the examinership process.
