Shareholder Disputes

Shareholder & Partnership Disputes

PREMIUM LEGAL SERVICES

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Successful Litigation Cases Handled

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Litigation, Mediation, Trial - Focused

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Years of Combined Legal Experience

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Why You Need Legal Help with Shareholder & Partnership Disputes

When relationships break down between shareholders or business partners, it’s rarely just personal—it’s legal. Disputes over control, profit distribution, mismanagement, or exits can destroy a business if not resolved properly.

These conflicts often involve oppressive conduct, breach of fiduciary duties, or violation of shareholder agreements. Without clear intervention, one party’s actions can jeopardize the company, its employees, and its value. A skilled litigation lawyer helps restore balance, assert your rights, and prevent long-term damage to your position, investment, and business operations.

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ME Law - Civil Litigation Law Firm

WHO WE ARE

ME Law is a litigation-only firm that handles some of the most contentious shareholder and partnership disputes in Ontario. We act for founders, investors, and private companies when the stakes are high and the relationships are tense.

Our goal: to protect equity, clarify legal standing, and secure the outcome that preserves or restructures the business fairly.

Whether you’re being sidelined in decision-making, excluded from profits, or accused of wrongdoing—we bring legal clarity and commercial strategy to restore control.

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How We Help

Business litigation areas

50/50 Shareholder Deadlock & Governance Paralysis

When equal shareholders cannot agree, the result is often governance paralysis. A 50/50 shareholder deadlock can immobilize operations, threaten enterprise value, and require decisive legal intervention—whether through negotiated exit, court-imposed buy-out, or corporate dissolution.

Forced Share Buy-Outs & Court-Engineered Exits

When co-ownership becomes untenable, courts may impose structured exits. Forced share buy-outs and court-ordered remedies are powerful tools designed to restore fairness, finality, and enterprise stability in high-conflict shareholder disputes.

Oppression & Shareholder Claims in Insolvency

Our lawyers regularly handle disputes involving insolvent or near-insolvent corporations, including claims that overlap with bankruptcy proceedings, receiverships, CCAA restructurings, and creditor enforcement actions.

Shareholder Dispute Appeals

We regularly handle appeals involving oppression remedy findings, valuation disputes, forced share purchases, breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud and misrepresentation findings, derivative action rulings, and disputes arising from shareholder agreements.

Shareholder & Partnership Arbitration Lawyers

At ME Law, we represent shareholders, partners, corporate officers, founders, and businesses of all sizes in high-stakes arbitration. We are litigation and arbitration counsel—meaning we are built for disputes, conflicts, and contested matters.

Urgent Injunctions in Shareholder Disputes

When corporate control shifts overnight, shares are diluted, or assets are at risk, waiting for trial is not an option. Urgent injunctions preserve value, protect governance rights, and prevent irreversible damage in high-stakes shareholder disputes.

Why Choose Us

Premium Litigation Services:

Quality over quantity for selected clients in complex litigation matters

Selective Focus

We act for a select group of clients in high-stakes litigation, dedicating focused time and strategic attention to each matter to ensure precise, results-driven advocacy.

Limited Caseload

By limiting our caseload, we provide bespoke, high-level representation, where no detail is overlooked and every legal step is carefully considered. Quality over quantity is embedded in our ethos.

Strategic Execution

Our limited-file approach enables us to deliver thorough, strategic legal work on every matter. We don’t offer surface-level service – we provide clarity, focus, and substance.

Beyond Expectations

Our lawyers invest considerable time in legal analysis, research, and continuous training. This ongoing development allows us to stay ahead and deliver outcomes that often exceed clients’ expectations.

Clients’ Success Stories

Our cases

Hidden Assets Revealed in Estate Dispute Victory

Cross-Border Defence Win: Court Rules in Our Client’s Favor

May Elajami Secures Critical Ex Parte Interim Injunction

Strategic Mediation and Successful Defence in High-Stakes Litigation

Skillfully Navigated Personal Conflicts in Corporate Disputes

Safeguarding a Minor’s Inheritance Rights

How We Work

What To Expect

Clear and Strategic Guidance

Transparent and well-informed advice is provided to help navigate your options and achieve the best possible outcome.

Proactive Client Engagement

Clients can expect consistent communication and dedicated attention to ensure their needs are fully understood and addressed.

Meticulous Attention to Details

Every detail is carefully considered, and strategic oversight is provided to guide clients toward a favorable resolution.

Experienced. Effective. Results-Oriented.

Shareholder disputes often strike at the heart of a business, threatening not only financial value but also relationships and reputations. From deadlocked corporations to claims of oppression, mismanagement, or unfair prejudice, these conflicts demand swift, strategic, and decisive intervention. At ME Law, we provide high-stakes advocacy to resolve shareholder disputes and protect the interests of our clients, whether majority or minority stakeholders.
Our focus is always on preserving value, enforcing rights, and delivering fair outcomes that allow you to move forward.

SHAREHOLDER DISPUTE LAWYERS YOU CAN RELY ON

We represent business owners, investors, directors, and corporations in all forms of shareholder disputes. Our team understands the sensitivity, urgency, and complexity these matters involve, and we bring both legal and business acumen to every case.
Shareholder litigation is a core area of our practice. By combining courtroom strength with negotiation skill, we work to achieve efficient, enforceable solutions that safeguard both financial and strategic interests.

Oppression & Unfair Prejudice Claims
We act in oppression remedy applications under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) and the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), representing shareholders who have been unfairly disregarded or whose rights have been prejudiced by majority conduct.

Deadlock & Breakdown of Relations
When shareholders or directors are deadlocked and unable to move the business forward, we seek court-ordered resolutions, including corporate wind-ups, buy-outs, or the appointment of independent directors or receivers to break the impasse.

Valuation & Buy-Sell Disputes
We represent shareholders in disputes over valuation, forced buy-outs, shotgun clauses, and exit strategies, ensuring that your financial interests are protected and agreements are enforced fairly.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty & Mismanagement
We prosecute and defend claims involving misuse of corporate funds, self-dealing, diversion of opportunities, and other breaches of fiduciary duty by directors, officers, or controlling shareholders.

Fraud, Oppression & Minority Protection
Where misconduct, fraud, or oppressive conduct threatens the viability of the business, we act swiftly to protect vulnerable shareholders and enforce accountability through injunctions and court remedies.

Our Commitment
We approach shareholder disputes with precision, foresight, and determination. Our role is not only to resolve conflicts but also to preserve the underlying value of the business wherever possible. At ME Law, we combine litigation skill with commercial insight to deliver strategic solutions that protect your investment, enforce your rights, and secure fair results.

With us on your side, you can navigate shareholder disputes with clarity and confidence.

Shareholder Oppression Claims

Partnership Dissolutions

Breach of Shareholder Agreements

Mismanagement or Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Derivative Actions

Valuation Disputes

Exit & Buyout Conflicts

Corporate Governance Disputes

Freezing & Injunction Applications

Confidentiality & IP Breaches

Unanimous Shareholder Agreement Disputes

Minority Shareholder Exit Strategies

Clear Guidance. Strong Advocacy.

What we do:

Let us solve your legal issue

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Frequently Asked Questions

Becoming a Client

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How do I start?

The first step is to book a complimentary intake call with one of our intake specialists. During this initial conversation, we’ll gather some preliminary details about your matter, identify the nature of the dispute, and determine whether it falls within our areas of practice.

If we believe we can assist, we’ll then proceed with a conflict check to ensure there are no conflicts of interest under the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Once cleared, we can schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers, where we will review your situation in more detail, discuss potential legal strategies, and outline next steps for formal engagement.

This process ensures that every inquiry is handled carefully, ethically, and efficiently—so that we can provide you with informed guidance right from the outset.

Can you explain the typical steps involved?

Our process is designed to be clear, efficient, and transparent from start to finish.

Initial Intake Call:
We begin with a complimentary intake call to understand the general nature of your matter, confirm it falls within our areas of practice, and gather preliminary information.
Conflict Check:
Before receiving any detailed or confidential information, we conduct a conflict of interest check as required by the Law Society of Ontario. This ensures we can represent you without any professional conflicts.
Consultation with a Lawyer:
Once cleared, we schedule a formal consultation — either in person or remotely — where we review your situation in detail, answer your questions, and outline preliminary legal options or next steps.
Retainer and Engagement:
If you decide to proceed, we provide a Retainer Agreement outlining the scope of work, estimated costs, and billing structure. Upon execution and receipt of the retainer, we officially open your file.
Case Strategy and Next Steps:
Your lawyer will then prepare a strategy plan and begin working on your matter — whether that involves drafting pleadings, engaging in negotiations, or preparing for court proceedings — while keeping you informed throughout.

At every stage, we emphasize clarity, communication, and transparency so you always know what to expect and how your case is progressing.

Why is it necessary to complete a conflict check form after the initial call?

Efforts to avoid conflicts of interest are required by the Law Society of Ontario and form a fundamental part of legal ethics and professional regulation.

A conflict check ensures that our firm has never represented—or is not currently representing—any party whose interests may be adverse to yours. This process protects both you and our firm by confirming that we can act for you with full independence and loyalty.

The duty to avoid conflicts applies to past, current, and prospective clients and is set out in the Rules of Professional Conduct (the Model Code) as well as by decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, including R. v. Neil and Canadian National Railway Co. v. McKercher LLP.

In practice, we conduct conflict checks before receiving detailed information about your matter. This step is an essential safeguard to uphold professional integrity and client trust.

How quickly can you schedule an initial call with a lawyer?

In most cases, we can schedule your consultation within 24–48 hours after completing the initial intake and conflict check process. This ensures that your matter is properly screened and assigned to the most suitable lawyer on our team.

To learn more about what happens next — from intake to engagement — please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, where we’ve outlined each step in detail and answered the most common questions new clients have.