Shareholder disputes, resolved.
Locked in a fight over control, money or your exit from a company you helped build? We help shareholders, directors and business owners take back control – quickly, strategically and cost-effectively.
- Award-winning solicitors
- FREE consultation & strategy call
- Senior lawyers, fast response
Whether you’re a majority shareholder being held to ransom, a minority shareholder being frozen out, or two 50/50 owners at a stalemate, we’ll help you protect your stake and force a resolution so you can get what you’re owed or get back to business.
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Why Clients Choose CGM & Partners
Laser-Focused on Commercial Law
We don’t do family law or personal injury. We’re built for business litigation and deals. We know what commercial people care about: outcomes, timing and cost.
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Your matter is run by experienced solicitors who act fast, communicate clearly and don’t waste your time. You are not passed down to a junior.
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Shareholder dispute FAQs
What is a shareholder dispute?
A shareholder dispute is a disagreement between shareholders, or between shareholders and directors, about how a company is run or how shareholder rights are exercised. Common flashpoints include control and decision-making, withheld dividends, exclusion from management or meetings, refusal to provide company records, breach of a shareholders’ agreement, director misconduct, and disagreements over a buy-out or exit.
What rights do I have as a shareholder?
Your rights come from the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the company’s constitution and replaceable rules, and any shareholders’ agreement. They commonly include voting rights, the right to properly declared dividends, rights to certain company information, and the right to be treated fairly by those in control. We’ll review your specific documents to tell you exactly where you stand.
What is shareholder oppression?
Under section 232 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), oppression is conduct that is contrary to the interests of members as a whole, or oppressive, unfairly prejudicial or unfairly discriminatory to a shareholder. Being frozen out of management, denied information, or having profits diverted can all amount to oppression.
What can a court do about it?
The court’s powers under section 233 are broad. They include ordering a buy-out of your shares at a fair value, granting an injunction, modifying the constitution, appointing a receiver, regulating the company’s future conduct, or winding the company up.
What if there's no shareholders' agreement?
You still have remedies. We start with the constitution and replaceable rules, then look to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (including the oppression remedy and statutory derivative actions) and equitable remedies. A shareholders’ agreement helps, but you’re not without options without one.
What's the difference between a company constitution and a shareholders' agreement?
A constitution is the company’s rulebook for governance. A shareholders’ agreement is a private contract between shareholders that can deal with ownership, control, funding, dividends, exits and dispute resolution in more detail. It often overrides the replaceable rules between the parties.
What is a derivative action?
A statutory derivative action lets a shareholder bring proceedings in the company’s name where the company itself won’t act – for example, against a director for breach of duty. It requires the permission of the court under the Corporations Act.
Can I be forced to sell my shares or force someone else to?
Sometimes. A shareholders’ agreement may contain buy-sell, drag-along or tag-along provisions. Even without one, a court can order a buy-out as a remedy for oppression. We advise on both forcing and resisting a buy-out and on getting the valuation right.
Will my dispute have to go to court?
Not always. Many shareholder disputes resolve through negotiation, mediation or a buy-out. A shareholders’ agreement may require mediation first. But where the other side won’t move or is causing active harm, we don’t hesitate to litigate to protect your interests.
What if shares are being diluted or assets moved right now?
Urgent court orders may be available, including injunctions and freezing (Mareva) orders, to stop shares being improperly issued or company assets being dissipated while the dispute is resolved. Speed matters, so get advice immediately.
What kind of clients do you act for?
Business owners, founders, directors, shareholders and private companies on both sides of a dispute. We also act for insolvency practitioners appointed to companies in dispute.
What's it going to cost?
We’ll quote your options in the free call. For advisory work we offer fixed fees; for litigation
we offer capped-fee stages with clear scopes so you’re never left guessing.
Shareholder problems we solve every week.
Shareholder oppression
Being excluded from management, denied information or having profits withheld or diverted? We bring and defend oppression claims under section 232 of the Corporations Act to stop unfair conduct and get you a remedy.
Minority shareholder rights
A minority stake doesn’t mean no rights. We protect minority shareholders being frozen out and advise majority owners on how to act without exposing themselves to a claim.
Deadlock and 50/50 disputes
When equal shareholders can’t agree and the business grinds to a halt, we break the impasse through negotiated exits, buy-outs or winding-up applications if needed.
Share buy-outs and exits
The cleanest resolution is often one side buying the other out. We negotiate exits, resolve valuation fights and document the deal so it’s final.
Breach of shareholders’ agreement
Where a shareholder or director has breached the shareholders’ agreement or company constitution, we enforce your rights and recover your losses.
Director duty and boardroom disputes
Ready to Resolve Your Shareholder Dispute?
The longer you wait, the more damage a shareholder conflict can do to the business and your stake in it. Let’s take back control.
- Immediate guidance from experienced solicitors
- No cost, no obligation
- Discreet, commercial and clear
Use the form below or call (02) 9191 1527.
How it works
Book your free call
Submit the form or call us. We’ll arrange a confidential, no- obligation strategy call with a senior lawyer – usually same day for urgent matters.
We’ll assess your position, explain your realistic options and what each pathway costs. You’ll leave knowing exactly where you stand and what to do next.
We act – negotiating, forcing a buy-out or litigating – to resolve the dispute and protect your stake, keeping you informed the whole way.
Book a no-obligation consultation
Submit the form below to speak with one of our experts.
Get in touch
Speak directly with our principal about your shareholder dispute. Confidential and no obligation to proceed.
- (02) 9191 1527
- office@cgmpartners.com.au
- Australia wide
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