Shareholder & business-partner disputes
Legal advice on shareholder and partnership disputes, including management deadlock, access to information, disputed decisions and negotiated business exits.
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Protect the business while addressing the disagreement
A disagreement between owners can quickly affect management, payments and customer relationships. The first step is to identify the legal entity, decision-making powers and documents governing the relationship, together with any action that requires urgent attention.
Share ownership, management authority and bank-signing powers are distinct questions. Available remedies depend on the company framework, constitutional documents, agreements and dispute clause. A negotiated exit may need valuation advice as well as legal documentation.
How the firm can assist
Drawing on her commercial practice, Hyam El Hachem can assess the documents and evidence, advise on a negotiation strategy and coordinate proceedings with counsel authorised in the relevant forum where necessary.
- Review voting, information, transfer and reserved-decision rights.
- Organise the chronology and assess disputed resolutions or commitments.
- Structure settlement, a buyout or a documented change in governance.
- Company records, shareholder agreements and ownership details.
- Relevant resolutions, correspondence and disputed transactions.
- Immediate deadlines and the preferred commercial outcome.
An initial outline is enough. Detailed records can follow through a process agreed with the firm.
Questions clients often ask
Can I exclude the other shareholder from the business?
Do not assume that ownership alone authorises changes to access, management or signing powers. The governing documents and applicable law should be reviewed before taking action.
Must a shareholder dispute end in litigation?
No. Negotiation, mediation or an agreed exit may be possible. The appropriate route depends on the urgency, relationship and enforceable rights involved.
Define the mandate
Clarify your objectives, the jurisdictions involved and any immediate deadline.
Review the legal position
Examine the relevant documents and identify the decisions requiring advice.
Agree the next steps
Set out the work, professional responsibilities and practical sequence.
Experience with a personal point of contact
Hyam El Hachem is an Attorney at Law with the Beirut Bar Association. Following her training at Awada Tyan Law Firm, she established her own firm in 1996 and expanded her practice to the UAE in 2005.
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