Photo of Peter A. Mahler

Peter A. Mahler is a litigator focusing on business divorce cases involving dissolution and other disputes among co-­owners of closely held business entities, such as limited liability companies, corporations, and partnerships. Peter represents both control and non-control owners, often involving family-owned businesses. Frequently counseling business owners prior to litigation, he advises them of their rights and also assists in designing and negotiating an amicable separation between parties. Peter’s counsel helps avoid litigation by means of a buy-out, sale, or division of business assets.

 

 

Does a New York court have jurisdiction over suits involving foreign entities in which the plaintiff seeks forced sale of assets or forced buy/sell? Get the answer in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Court Blocks “End Run” Around Bar to Subject Matter Jurisdiction in Suit to Dissolve Foreign LLC

Shareholder derivative actions pose unique pleading challenges designed by statute to preserve management’s role in deciding the company’s business affairs. This week’s New York Business Divorce highlights a pair of recent appellate rulings dismissing derivative actions for failure to plead demand futility with sufficient particularity.
Continue Reading The Demanding Demand Requirement in Shareholder Derivative Actions

The sale of a family-owned business triggers a dissolution petition over the contested disposition of the sale proceeds, leading to a noteworthy decision earlier this month by Justice Richard M. Platkin. Get the story in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Siblings Battle Over Spoils from Sale of Family-Owned Business

This week’s New York Business Divorce examines a rare court case at the intersection of business divorce and bankruptcy law, in which the court had to decide whether one of several managing members of an LLC had authority on his own to file a bankruptcy petition on the LLC’s behalf.
Continue Reading Who Gets to Play the Bankruptcy Card Under Your LLC Agreement?

Is a former director and officer entitled to advancement of legal fees incurred in the defense of legal claims asserted against her by the corporation? That was the question decided by VC Glasscock of the Delaware Chancery Court in a case where the corporate charter’s indemnification and advancement provisions were not a model of clarity.
Continue Reading Ambiguous Advancement Provision Favors Former Officer and Director