March 2015

Renowned business appraiser Chris Mercer has written a book called Unlocking Private Company Wealth that’s must reading for business owners and their advisors who should be concerned about wealth management and ownership transition for the closely held and family business. Read more in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading Chris Mercer on Unlocking Private Company Wealth

The intensely personal dynamic of a family business divorce can lead to a multitude of applications to the court for interim relief in an effort to gain the higher ground financially and psychologically. This week’s New York Business Divorce highlights a case in which Justice Emily Pines addressed dueling motions by step-siblings for interim, mandatory injunctions in a battle for control of their late father’s auto dealerships.
Continue Reading Court Denies Mandatory Injunctive Relief in Battle for Control of Family Business

This week’s New York Business Divorce travels upstate, to Buffalo, where a most interesting dispute between 50/50 members of a realty company has played out in litigation before Justice Timothy Walker, focusing on the rights of the non-managing member to bring a derivative summary eviction proceeding against the LLC’s sole tenant. …
Continue Reading Not Your Father’s Derivative Action

Controlling shareholders who oppose corporate dissolution proceedings may be tempted to use company funds to pay their legal fees. This week’s New York Business Divorce features a decision by Justice Orin Kitzes holding in contempt of court a majority shareholder who did just that, …
Continue Reading Court Holds Shareholder in Contempt for Using Company Funds to Pay Legal Fees