Shareholder & Partnership Disputes in Sydney

When shareholders or business partners clash, the fallout can be catastrophic. Cash flow stalls. Decision-making freezes. Reputation and market position become collateral damage. At New South Lawyers, our Shareholder Dispute Lawyers cut through the noise fast. We act decisively to realign control, reset governance, and protect the commercial trajectory of your business before disruption becomes dismantling. We don’t react — we intervene.

Our lawyers have decades of experience representing directors, minority shareholders and equity partners in high-stakes Shareholder & Partnership Disputes. We’ve acted in matters involving misappropriation of company funds, strategic exclusion from management decisions, and attempts to force a low-value buyout during a cashflow crunch. We understand both the personal friction and the commercial exposure — and we execute strategies that minimise internal damage while maximising legal leverage.

These disputes typically surface when there’s a breakdown in trust: misaligned vision, uneven profit distribution, unilateral decision-making or inappropriate use of business resources. We identify the core issue quickly, assess your legal position under the Corporations Act, and build a strategy that prioritises influence, control and commercial continuity.

In one recent matter, we acted for a minority shareholder being pushed out ahead of a significant contract negotiation. Our intervention halted the process, re-established voting parity and ultimately secured a favourable share valuation on exit.

We advise and represent clients in a wide range of internal business conflicts, including:

• Breach of shareholder or partnership agreements
• Director and fiduciary duty claims
• Minority shareholder oppression and exclusion
• Misappropriation of funds or assets
• Deadlocks in decision-making or management
• Buy-out and share valuation disputes
• Business dissolution or exit negotiations

Each matter is handled with discretion, strategy, and a focus on preserving value.

When directors fail to act in the company’s best interests — whether through conflict of interest, negligent oversight or opportunistic behaviour — we intervene swiftly. Our lawyers enforce your rights under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), securing injunctions, financial recovery or structural change where required.

Minority shareholders are protected from unfair prejudice. We’ve acted in cases where majority stakeholders attempted to dilute shares ahead of restructure or excluded individuals from financial decisions. We don’t just defend rights — we re-establish positional influence through court orders or strategic negotiation.

Partnership disputes are often emotionally charged. We strip out sentiment and focus on strategic separation — structuring exit terms, coordinating valuations and drafting settlement deeds that safeguard confidentiality and future income. Whether the goal is to remain in control or exit cleanly, we manage the transition without destabilising the business.

Early intervention prevents escalation. We drive negotiation from a position of authority, using mediation to secure favourable terms while suppressing internal disruption and external visibility. Our focus is commercial continuity — not compromise.

When negotiation fails, we escalate with precision. Our litigators act in the Supreme Court of NSW and Federal Court, obtaining injunctions, share transfer orders and — where necessary — winding up applications. We take control of narrative, momentum and outcome.

Internal disputes can trigger external doubt. Our strategies are confidential, commercially focused and designed to contain reputational risk. Every action aligns with your long-term objectives — immediate control, future positioning, exit or enforcement.

When shareholders or partners enter dispute, clients come to us because they want decisive action — not diluted advice. We combine deep technical knowledge with real-world commercial insight. We don’t just manage conflict. We restore control, protect equity and position you for outcome.