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
Combine a business divorce with a marital divorce and what do you get? Find out in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading The Art of Manager Removal
In this week’s New York Business Divorce, read about several strands of case law employing different language to express the same concept: a closely-held business interest transfer restriction or buy-sell agreement that would impose a “forfeiture,” cause the interest to become “void,” result in “annihilation of property,” or “bestow a windfall” upon a co-owner, is unenforceable as against public policy.
Continue Reading Stock Transfer Restrictions and “Annihilation of Property”
If you want to find out what can happen when an LLC agreement authorizes member removal for any or no reason but doesn’t address compensation for the terminated member’s interest, read this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading LLC Forced Buy-Out Pits Fair Value Against Fair Market Value Against Power to Amend Operating Agreement
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 recent Commercial Division ruling involving a realty holding LLC unable to develop its property raises interesting questions about whether the LLC can achieve its stated purpose under the standard for judicial dissolution. Learn more in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading And a Time to Every Purpose Under . . . the Operating Agreement?
In this week’s New York Business Divorce, read about a recent decision dismissing a partnership dissolution petition finding the alleged partnership unenforceable under the doctrine of illegality. Outcomes like this are rare. Learn why in this week’s article.
Continue Reading The “Illegality” Defense to Partnership Formation
State courts far and away are the dominant arena for business divorce litigation. Just for kicks if not giggles, this week’s New York Business Divorce takes a look at some recent cases involving partnership disputes decided by federal courts.
Continue Reading Federal Courts Wade Into Business Divorce: Recent Decisions of Interest
In this week’s New York Business Divorce, we continue to explore the subject of advancement and indemnification of legal fees, this time under the laws of Delaware.
Continue Reading The Contract is King: Advancement and Indemnification Under Delaware Law
Last week, the Court of Appeals announced a major clarification of the law of advancement and indemnification of legal fees in disputes among closely-held business owners. Read about it in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Warning: If You Want Legal Fee Advancement or Indemnification, You May Need to Amend Your Partnership, Shareholder, or Operating Agreement