Are you in business with, or advising a business with, a disruptive minority partner, shareholder, or member? What can you do about it? In this week’s New York Business Divorce we consider one option – the “cash-out” or “freeze-out” merger.
Continue Reading The Cash-Out Merger Solution to the Problem Minority Owner
Expulsion and Removal
LLC Member Expulsion: What Hath Shapiro Wrought?

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?
Winter Case Notes: LLC Deadlock and Other Recent Decisions of Interest
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
Then There Were Two: Court Rejects Minority Shareholder’s Claim of Wrongful Termination Under Founders Agreement

The minority and majority owners of a Brooklyn-based vodka distillery duke it out in the case examined in this week’s New York Business Divorce centering on the proper construction of provisions in a Founders Agreement concerning the right to, and consequences of, terminating a founder.
Continue Reading Then There Were Two: Court Rejects Minority Shareholder’s Claim of Wrongful Termination Under Founders Agreement
Thinking About Becoming a Minority Member of a New York LLC Without an Operating Agreement? Think Again

Few recent cases in the business divorce field are as important as last week’s appellate affirmance in the Shapiro case, allowing majority LLC members to adopt an operating agreement that binds non-signatory minority members. Get the story in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Thinking About Becoming a Minority Member of a New York LLC Without an Operating Agreement? Think Again
Another Frozen-Out Minority LLC Member’s Petition for Dissolution Bites the . . . Sushi?

Brooklyn’s newest Commercial Division Justice, Sylvia G. Ash, last month handed down an interesting decision denying a petition for judicial dissolution of an LLC brought by a 25% member alleging freeze-out. Catch up with the latest developments in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Another Frozen-Out Minority LLC Member’s Petition for Dissolution Bites the . . . Sushi?
Tom Rutledge Takes on LLC Member Expulsion

This week’s New York Business Divorce serves up a provocative article by, and an informative podcast interview with, Kentucky lawyer Tom Rutledge, a leading expert on closely held business entities, on the hot-button topic of LLC member expulsion.
Continue Reading Tom Rutledge Takes on LLC Member Expulsion
New Jersey Supreme Court Raises the Bar for Judicial Expulsion of LLC Members

The New Jersey Supreme Court last week issued an important decision tightening the criteria for judicial expulsion of an LLC member. Get the story in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading New Jersey Supreme Court Raises the Bar for Judicial Expulsion of LLC Members
LLC Case Notes: Member Expulsion, Withdrawal, and LLC Purpose
This week’s New York Business Divorce highlights a trio of recent decisions involving LLC disputes concerning the membership rights of the estate of a deceased member, the intended purpose of the LLC as the basis for a dissolution claim, and the power to expel a member. …
Continue Reading LLC Case Notes: Member Expulsion, Withdrawal, and LLC Purpose
One Parking Lot, Two Brothers, Three Decisions
The Appellate Division, Second Department, last week decided three appeals in the same business divorce case, addressing important issues concerning claims for LLC dissolution, equitable buyout, and use of company monies for legal fees defending dissolution proceedings. This week’s New York Business Divorce has the story.
Continue Reading One Parking Lot, Two Brothers, Three Decisions