Three Lessons From Recent Decisions In Shareholder Disputes

Shareholder disputes are often complex and multi-faceted, and no two are identical. Despite their unique nature, recent Commercial List decisions have identified and reviewed issues common to many shareholder disputes at different stages.

In this blog, we review key takeaways from three recent Commercial List decisions that broadly apply to litigating and resolving complex shareholder disputes.

1. Settlement Agreements – Matas Management Services Inc v Voreon Inc

In any settlement agreement, parties must be mindful of all terms and carefully consider how the agreement is likely to unfold. This is especially important in shareholder disputes, where settlements frequently involve overlapping issues and multiple steps over longer periods of time (e.g., valuation issues, deferred compensation, or other forms of consideration).