Companies, Shareholders and Directors

Whether you’re a shareholder, a director or both, you’ll want to make sure that your interests in the company are looked after, and so will your fellow shareholders and directors.

Which is why it's vital to ensure that everyone understands how the company is going to be managed and controlled, what their role is, and what will happen if there are any disputes over this.

A shareholders agreement manages the relationship between the shareholders.  It is a document that should be drafted and agreed as soon as possible after the incorporation of your company.  The drafting of such an agreement will focus the minds of the individual shareholders to ensure that the agreement reflects how decisions are to be made, how shares are to be transferred, how the company may be sold, restrictions on exiting shareholders not to set up in competition and how any issues can be resolved.  This names but a few of the areas a shareholders agreement will look at.

We look at the same time to dovetail your articles of association with your shareholders agreement.  If someone breaches the shareholders agreement then that is a simple breach of contract claim but if they are to breach the articles of association, then the action they have taken can be unwound.

All of the above means doing your homework up front. Some of the issues will be easy to identify and resolve, but many may not be. You’ll need someone who has experience of these issues to guide you through the process and make sure that every eventuality is considered and planned for.

We’ll take time to understand the commercial realities of what you are trying to achieve as well as to explain what the law says on the subject.

We’ll provide clear advice and practical solutions, not merely a list of problems and pitfalls.

We can help you with:

  • Directors service agreements
  • Shareholders agreements and articles of association that dovetail with your shareholders agreements
  • Corporate governance issues
  • Directors’ duties
  • Settlement agreements
  • Disputes relating to directors or shareholders
  • Directors as employees
  • Restrictive trade covenants/non competition clauses

For more information, please get in touch with us

    We use your name, email address, company name and telephone number for the sole purpose of providing you with information regarding this specific enquiry. Your information is transferred and stored securely at all times. We never share your information with any third parties. For more details, please read our privacy policy.