Business Ownership Issues or Disputes

Protecting Client Rights and interests

In the operation of a business, disagreements between owners, partners, or shareholders inevitably arise. Many potential disputes can be avoided by selecting right business organization and governance model when the enterprise is formed. Other disputes cannot be foreseen and arise over time as the growth and development of the business proceeds.

Often, a financial crisis at a company can precipitate an ownership dispute. Sometimes the dispute becomes so serious that it can threaten the continued operation or existence of the firm, at least as it is structured at the time of the crisis. The lawyers at Rayburn Cooper & Durham are highly experienced in corporate bankruptcy matters. They understand how to unravel complex corporate and financial structures and how to determine the true value of business assets and liabilities. And they have a practical understanding of commercial matters and how to assess the long-term viability of a business enterprise.

Rayburn Cooper & Durham represent clients in ownership and governance matters including:

• Shareholder and partner disputes
• Joint venture disputes
• Proxy battles
• Corporate takeovers
• Director liability lawsuits
• Structured transactions of business operations or assets
• And others

As a highly experienced North Carolina business law firm, Rayburn Cooper & Durham advises clients in business formation, commercial transaction, and business growth matters. These clients range in size from large multinational corporations to medium-sized corporations, family-owned businesses, and startup enterprises. Through sound counsel and a careful consideration of the business objectives and financial structure, Rayburn Cooper & Durham can help its clients avoid or minimize the potential for business disputes between the owners of the firm. When a business dispute cannot be avoided, Rayburn Cooper & Durham vigorously asserts their clients' rights.

As with other areas of our practice, our litigation team enjoys a robust stream of conflict referrals. Typically, these involve situations in which the client is a party to litigation against, or merely along with, a bank or large financial institution. These also include situations in which non-litigants require separate counsel in connection with an investigation, a subpoena, or testimony. Often, such conflicts arise in out-of-court situations relating to employment or business transactions, or merely because the anticipation of litigation creates a need for separate counsel.

Attorneys at the firm focusing on ownership disputes include:

Paul R. Baynard
James B. Gatehouse
G. Kirkland Hardymon
David S. Melin
Ross Robert Fulton

For a consultation with a North Carolina business dispute lawyer at Rayburn Cooper & Durham, call (704) 334-0891, or contact us online.