Family businesses are wonderful additions to communities because they create jobs for many. From the inside, the owners keep money within members and the decision-making close to home. However, close relationships are prone to legal tension when owners disagree about...
Schwartz Law Firm recently secured a highly favorable ruling in a complex shareholder appraisal dispute following a statutory merger for its Iowa based client (plaintiff). The case centered on the fair value of a minority shareholder’s stake in a closely held...
Owning shares in a private corporation can give you a financial stake in the company, but it may not guarantee you equal influence. Minority shareholders hold fewer shares than controlling owners, which can limit their decision-making power. Even so, the law provides...
Corporate governance is how a company is managed and the rules that guide its decisions. It involves shareholders, board members, and executives. Good corporate governance makes sure that everyone works in the best interest of the company. When shareholder disputes...
Majority owners hold significant control in a business, but that control comes with responsibility. When they use their power to benefit themselves at the expense of other owners or the company, courts may view that as self-dealing. Understanding what self-dealing...
If you are a minority shareholder in a Minnesota company, being excluded from decisions or denied profits may be more than unfair—it could be grounds for a legal claim. Shareholder oppression occurs when majority owners use their control to reduce your influence or...
Shareholders typically invest in businesses as a way of turning their capital into ongoing revenue and/or because they truly believe in the business’s purpose. Successful business investments allow shareholders to receive dividend payments and influence how the...
Limited liability companies (LLCs) are a popular business structure for many reasons. LLCs protect members from direct liability while simultaneously extending certain tax benefits. An LLC may appear more formal and therefore more professional than a sole...
Vendors provide critical services for companies. They import unique products or refine raw materials that organizations use to manufacture products. Finding reliable and cost-effective vendors can be one of the biggest challenges of running a successful company....
It seems like almost everyone these days has a social media presence. Even if someone isn’t on any popular social media sites, they can find themselves “going viral” if someone catches them behaving badly in public or private and posts it online. Some people’s bad...