August 2025

How exclusive is the “exclusive” fair value appraisal remedy of Business Corporation Law § 623? So exclusive, according to the Second Department, that the statute bars a shareholder who consented to an asset sale from suing the other shareholder for making off with the sale proceeds after the closing. Let’s unpack this harsh result in this week’s New York Business Divorce.

Continue Reading Seller Beware: The “Exclusive” Fair Value Appraisal Remedy Really is Exclusive

This week’s New York Business Divorce features an intra-family battle concerning the precise contours of admittance as a “full” member of the family business.

Continue Reading For Embattled Bich Family, “Full Membership” Requires Admittance Without Precondition

A recent decision from one of our favorites, Albany County Commercial Division Justice Richard M. Platkin, is a reminder to would-be assignees of limited partnership interests that without total compliance with the terms and conditions of the partnership agreement, an attempted assignment conveys only economic rights (i.e., the right to distributions, profits, and losses), but not voting or management rights, even if both sides to the assignment genuinely intended transfer of all ownership rights.

Although not an LLC case, the concept of Marini v Marini Realty LP (2025 NY Slip Op 51138[U] [Sup Ct, Albany County July 2, 2025]), applies equally to LLC members: to become a full-blown equity holder with all attendant rights and privileges, compliance with the governing contract (or if none, the default rules under the Partnership Law and Limited Liability Company Law) is essential. Standard language in such contracts requires unanimity for admission of new equity owners. After all, who wants to take on a new partner without one’s consent? Less than total compliance conveys only economic benefits, not voting or management rights.Continue Reading Hoping to Take Assignment of an LP or LLC Interest? Best Read the Contract