Shareholder Agreements That Protect Your Equity and Control.

A shareholder agreement is the single document standing between a functioning business and a costly, drawn-out dispute. Without one, minority shareholders can be overruled or squeezed out, founders can fall out with no clean exit route, and disagreements over strategy, dividends or new investment can escalate into deadlock. We draft shareholder agreements that anticipate these commercial pressure points - covering decision-making thresholds, pre-emption rights, drag-along and tag-along provisions, dividend policy, share transfers, valuation mechanisms and clear exit routes - so every party knows where they stand before the pressure is on.

When disputes do arise, the stakes are high: control of the company, the value of your equity, and often your working relationships. We act for majority and minority shareholders, founders and investors in resolving breaches of shareholder agreements, unfair prejudice petitions, deadlock situations and share buy-outs. Our focus is commercial - protecting your position, your equity and, where possible, the business itself - resolving matters efficiently without unnecessary litigation where a negotiated outcome serves you better.

Blackstone Corporate Law is a specialist corporate and commercial firm, independently recognised as a Legal 500 UK Leading Firm 2022 and featured in The Times, BBC, Financial Times and Guardian. Managing Director Emma Nawaz (SRA 383912) leads the team from our Manchester and London offices, advising business owners across England and Wales. For a no-obligation initial discussion about your shareholder agreement or dispute, call 0330 808 0849.