Director and shareholder disputes

The law relating to directors’ duties and shareholder disputes was overhauled relatively recently by the Companies Act 2006, and our Commercial Disputes team is well placed to advise our clients on the effects that these changes are likely to have.

We regularly advise company directors on the scope of their duties to their companies under the Companies Act 2006, as well as advising our company clients on potential claims against their directors, either directly or by way of derivative claim brought by a shareholder of the company.

We also assist clients in relation to disputes between shareholders, including claims brought by minority shareholders, as well as acting for clients involved in partnership disputes, including advising in relation to the dissolution of a partnership.

Examples of some of our recent instructions in this area include: 

  • acting for the former directors of a successful national company in relation to allegations that they had breached their fiduciary duties as directors
  • representing a technology company in respect of a threatened minority shareholder action upon the exclusion of a founding shareholder from management
  • acting for an international manufacturer based in Ireland/USA (in cooperation with New York based lawyers) in respect of a shareholder dispute with the UK based insolvent company, including representing the client’s interests in contested insolvency proceedings and in respect of the purchase of assets from the Liquidator
  • advising the purchaser of a financial services company regarding pre-emptive action and procedures available under UK company law in relation to a potential minority shareholder action.

For further information on this or any other litigation issue, please contact Stuart Evans by emailing Stuart or by calling him on 08450 990045, or speak to your usual contact in the Commercial Disputes Team.


Here is an article we have written on issues relating to director and shareholder disputes:

Directors and the Credit Crunch - be careful of what you are saying to the outside world