Handling A Business Governance Dispute Requires A Strategic Legal Plan

Internal battles in an organization can feel personal, but the legal process is strictly about facts, duties and compliance with California law. Even if you are confident that you are right, resolving these matters without skilled legal direction can expose you to liability.

Our trusted attorneys at Sullivan Pratt LLP can help protect your position and your business’s future. Drawing from decades of collective experience in complex commercial litigation, our team has successfully resolved numerous high-stakes governance disputes for clients ranging from family-owned businesses to major corporations. Our San Francisco-based attorneys understand the local court systems and procedures that impact your case outcome.

Types Of Business Governance Disputes We Handle

Every internal dispute is different, but most fall into familiar legal categories that require prompt action:

• Partner disputes in LLCs and general partnerships often involve misaligned goals, unequal contributions or mismanagement
• Shareholder disputes in corporations, especially over stock valuation, dividends or control of the board
• Board and management conflicts when leadership factions disagree on the direction or decisions of the business
• Nonprofit member disputes over mission drift, voting rights or improper use of funds

These cases often stem from:

• Operating agreements or bylaws that leave too much room for interpretation
• A breakdown in communication or transparency
• Financial decisions that trigger allegations of mismanagement
• Accusations of a breach of fiduciary duty

Even when things seem straightforward, the path to resolution is not. Legal strategy matters at every step. A misstep can cost more than just time – it can jeopardize your business.

Why Clients Turn To Sullivan Pratt LLP

In our line of duty, we have seen how fragile internal dynamics can become when rules are not clear or responsibilities get blurred. That is why business owners and directors across California turn to us when governance disputes arise. Our team brings:

• A boutique firm’s attention to litigation firepower built on decades of experience
• A record of delivering results in complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy and fiduciary claims
• The authorship of thought leadership, including co-authoring ‘Litigating and Judging California Business Entity Governance Disputes’ (LexisNexis)
• Nationwide service

We believe that even when parties agree in principle, enforcing or negotiating a resolution needs the guidance of a lawyer who knows the litigation climate and how judges in California are likely to rule. Our work has led to multimillion-dollar recoveries and has helped restructure governance frameworks to protect long-term operations.