Civil Litigation
Business & shareholder disputes
Shareholder and partnership disagreements, oppression claims, exits, and disputes between business partners who have to keep operating.
Disputes between owners carry an operational cost that pure litigation analysis misses. The strategy has to account for the business continuing to run while the dispute is resolved.
The oppression remedy
Ontario and federal corporate statutes allow a court broad discretion where the conduct of a corporation is oppressive or unfairly disregards a shareholder's reasonable expectations. It is flexible, and it is frequently the leverage that produces a negotiated buyout.
Exit and valuation
Most of these files end in someone buying out someone. Getting to a defensible valuation early — and agreeing the valuator — often shortens the dispute by a year.
Questions clients ask
We have no shareholders' agreement. What now?
The statute and the corporation's articles fill the gap, and the oppression remedy remains available. It is a harder route than a well-drafted agreement, but it is far from a dead end.
This page is general information about Ontario law, not legal advice for your situation. Book a consultation for advice on your own matter.
Consultation
Get a candid read on your dispute.
Send the key documents and you will receive an honest assessment of merits, realistic cost ranges, and a recommended route — including when not to litigate.
- 905-801-8777
- 289-803-2803
- 400 Applewood CrescentSuite 100Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 0C3
- Monday – Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. In-person meetings: by appointment