Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 167: Listen and Learn -- Direct and Derivative Actions (Corporations)
PODCAST: Williams Mullen GovCon Perspectives - Why Was My SWaM Certification Denied, and What Can I Do?
Episode 10: The Marketability Discount Revisited: Interview with Greg Barber
We have been enjoying a nice spring in Dallas – moderate temperatures, not too much rain and mostly sunny skies. In the investing world, these conditions signal that the time is ripe for a private company investment. But just...more
[co-author: Mourice Okon] a) Types of business entities in Kenya - Kenya has 5 main types of business entities that is, sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, companies, non-governmental...more
When longtime business partners in private companies go through a business divorce, emotions often run high. One or both of the partners may be seeking a “revenge premium” in the business divorce process based on their...more
Throwing the baby out with the bath water is a pithy expression that suggests exercising caution when business partners in private companies are seeking to achieve a business divorce. The majority owner and the departing...more
On March 3, a committee of the Delaware State Bar Association (DSBA) announced revisions to Senate Bill 21 (SB 21) aimed at paring back some of the proposed protections seen as too controller-friendly....more
Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick held again last week that the pay package that Tesla’s board of directors awarded to Elon Musk in 2018 suffers from “fatal flaws,” and it was therefore rejected. This was the second...more
Majority owners of private companies are empowered to exercise control over their businesses, but if they disregard the valid concerns of their minority partners, they may sow the seeds for a divisive business divorce in the...more
Money talks when the majority owners of private companies add new business partners who contribute additional capital. When these investors are high-powered PE firms or high-profile companies, with large balance sheets and...more
The judgment in Jaffé & Another v. Greybull Capital LLP & Others gives an excellent insight into how the English courts are grappling with issues arising from the fallibility of memory....more
In a costly episode of Aaron Sorkin’s adage that “decisions are made by those who show up,” the majority shareholder in a pair of family-controlled oil and gas companies learned of about 850,000 reasons why attendance can be...more
“It all started when the distributions stopped.” In my travels as a business divorce litigator, I’ve seen many disputes between LLC co-owners that begin with that message. A minority owner is content to remain a “silent...more
Conflicts between co-owners in private companies are common, but the vast majority are worked out through dialogue and negotiation. When these internal conflicts cannot be resolved, however, minority investors may file suit...more
Key Takeaways - On 3 July 2024, the Council of the European Union (the “EU Council”) published its revised Update of the EU Best Practices for the effective implementation of restrictive measures (“Best Practices”).This...more
On June 27, 2024, in Matrix Parent, Inc., et al. v. Audax Management Company, et al., the Delaware Superior Court denied Audax’s motion to dismiss, allowing to proceed H.I.G. Capital’s fraud claims in connection with its...more
Hindsight can be a wonderful thing, especially if hard-earned lessons are adopted by others who are willing to learn from past mistakes. When private company owners and investors share with me some of the wisdom they have...more
Minnesota has a unique statute that allows minority shareholders in a closely held corporation to initiate an action for a buy-out of their interests. Minn. Stat. § 302A.751, subdivision 2. Under the Minnesota Business...more
A fully informed stockholder vote can help protect a company and its directors from lawsuits challenging a transaction. Under Delaware law, board decisions may enjoy deference under the business judgment rule where...more
Business owners of private companies invest huge amounts of time and resources in their business, which may include the bulk of their financial capital. For owners who do not want most of their net worth to remain tied up in...more
Private company owners strive for success but getting there is not an easy or straight path. I have been working closely with business owners now for more than 40 years, and I have been reflecting on the key character traits...more
In the case of TripAdvisor Inc., the Delaware Court of Chancery held that the corporation’s decision to reincorporate in Nevada is subject to the entire fairness standard. The court found that, based on the facts pled,...more
Most institutions in our society make decisions upon the consent of the majority, from legislatures passing important bills to families deciding on what movie to watch on movie night. ...more
The Delaware Chancery Court invalidated a substantial equity award to Elon Musk – the largest in history. It applied the entire fairness test instead of the more deferential business judgment rule, finding that Musk...more
More often than not, the centerpiece of an intra-owner business dispute is a claim that those in control of the business breached their fiduciary duties to the company or the minority owners. While often easy to assert, the...more
Majority owners of private companies have many important decisions to make, but one of their most impactful will be selecting the people to serve as the company’s managers (for LLCs) or as directors on its board (for...more