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.

 

 

New York’s highest court last week handed down its long awaited decision in Congel v Malfitano, in which the court tackled a number of highly important issues affecting partnership dissolution and valuation cases. Get the full story in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading New York’s High Court Takes Fresh Approach to Wrongful Dissolution, Sustains Valuation Discounts, Limits Damages in Partnership Case

This week’s New York Business Divorce examines an interesting appellate ruling from Colorado denying enforcement of a non-compete against a shareholder-employee of a medical practice who dissented from a merger and demanded payment for the fair value of his shares.
Continue Reading You Dissented From a Merger. Are You Bound by Your Non-Compete?

Last year, in Pokoik v Norsel Realties, the trial court cited the plaintiff’s “litigious nature” and personal animus in dismissing his derivative claims based on conflict of interest. You’ll be interested to learn in this week’s New York Business Divorce that an appellate panel last week reversed the decision and reinstated the claims based on its finding that the parties’ relationship was not “especially acrimonious.”
Continue Reading Appeals Court Reinstates Derivative Claims Dismissed for Conflict of Interest Where Parties’ Relationship Not “Especially Acrimonious”

50/50 shareholders disagree whether to liquidate the business or continue it. Is that enough for a deadlock dissolution petition? Find out in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading One 50% Shareholder Wants to Sell or Liquidate the Business. The Other Wants to Keep It Going. Is That Deadlock?

The Appellate Division in Shapiro v Ettenson interpreted New York’s LLC Law as permitting the adoption of post-formation LLC operating agreements by majority vote, i.e, without the consent of the minority. This week’s New York Business Divorce focuses on Shapiro’s impact on member expulsion.
Continue Reading LLC Member Expulsion: What Hath Shapiro Wrought?

The implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing continues to sow confusion as to its utility and application in disputes among business co-owners, in which often it is misconceived as a quasi-fiduciary claim invoking the court’s equity powers to right any wrong, when in fact it is a narrow, contract-based doctrine. A recent Delaware Chancery Court decision provides a highly useful guide, as explained in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Will Someone Please Re-Name the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing?

Remember the “purposeless purpose clause” that featured prominently in last summer’s appellate ruling in the LLC dissolution case, Mace v Tunick? On remand, following a trial, Justice Alan Scheinkman once again dismissed the case. Find out why in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading The Purposeless Purpose Clause Makes a Comeback — Or Does It?

This week’s New York Business Divorce previews and links to the latest podcast episode of the Business Divorce Roundtable featuring an interview with business appraiser Chris Mercer in which he shares ten “confessions” about his experience testifying as an expert witness in business valuation cases.
Continue Reading Confessions of a Business Appraiser: A Conversation with Chris Mercer

If you’re a business appraisal aficionado, you won’t want to miss this week’s New York Business Divorce featuring two recent decisions by the Delaware Chancery Court involving fair value and insolvency determinations.
Continue Reading Delaware Chancery Court Rulings Address Valuation and Insolvency Disputes

This week’s New York Business Divorce offers its annual Winter Case Notes with synopses of five recent decisions in business divorce cases involving LLC dissolution, cash-out merger, LLC member expulsion, and more.
Continue Reading Winter Case Notes: LLC Deadlock and Other Recent Decisions of Interest