If you petition for deadlock-based dissolution, be prepared to liquidate via public sale. This week’s post explores the Second Department’s recent decision reversing a post-dissolution buyout of one shareholder via private auction.
Continue Reading Second Department Rejects Private Auction for Deadlocked Corporation
When a shareholder petitions for dissolution, many states have statutes allowing the corporation to respond by buying out the complaining shareholder. This week’s post takes a look at several recent decisions concerning buyout elections across the country.
Continue Reading A Cross-Country Road Trip of Elections to Purchase in Dissolution Proceedings
Statutes and caselaw have imposed several limitations on shareholders’ ability to enter into enforceable voting agreements. But those limitations apply in the corporate context—few have migrated over to LLC member voting agreements. And as a recent decision from the First Department demonstrates, LLC member voting agreements may have fewer formality requirements than one might expect.
Continue Reading First Department Recognizes Cause of Action for Specific Performance of LLC Member Voting Agreement
We’re blurring the lines between the corporation and the LLC. But I’d still rather be a minority shareholder in a New York corporation than a minority owner of a New York LLC. Find out why in this week’s post.
Continue Reading The Corporation is Becoming More Contract Focused, But Don’t Call it an LLC Just Yet
In an apparent first of its kind decision, the Second Department reinstated dissolution claim brought by the estate of a deceased LLC Member. This week’s post considers the decision and its potential impact.
Continue Reading Who Died and Made You a Member? Second Department Resurrects LLC Dissolution Petition Brought by Deceased Member’s Estate.
Can two contested dissolution petitions—one by each 50% shareholder based on the other’s alleged misconduct—yield a shortcut to uncontested dissolution? See what the Second Department has to say in this week’s post.
Continue Reading Dueling Dissolution Petitions Beget Dissolution Without Consideration of Alternate Remedies
Creditors take note: New York’s Business Corporation Law gives creditors a path to intervene in a contested dissolution proceeding.
See that path at work in this week’s post.
Continue Reading Potential Creditor Drags Corporation in Stalled Dissolution Proceeding into Receivership
A court is empowered to correct a mistake solely in the reduction of an agreement to writing. This week’s post shows that power at work in the interpretation of a sailboat-owning LLC’s operating agreement.
Continue Reading Scrivener’s Error Keeps Sailboat-Owning LLC Afloat
In business divorce litigation, the expert appraisers often are the key witnesses. A recent PwC Study analyzing the success of challenges to expert appraisers inspires a deeper dive into some keystone cases where courts excluded the expert testimony of an appraiser.
Continue Reading Challenges to Expert Appraisers in Valuation Proceedings
A claim for “usurpation of corporate opportunity” is simple to allege, but difficult to prove. Two recent cases out of the Manhattan Commercial Division and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York explore the bounds of the corporate opportunity doctrine under New York and Delaware law.
Continue Reading A Recurring Business Divorce Feature: Usurpation of Corporate Opportunity