We represent founders, minority shareholders, and investors in high-stakes disputes over ownership, control, and value. Our matters involve closely held companies, venture-backed startups, and PE-backed businesses across state and federal courts. We have litigated business disputes involving billions of dollars in claimed damages.
We represent founders and investors when the corporate structure stops protecting them, including minority shareholder oppression; freeze-outs; drag-along abuse; and fiduciary embezzlement, fraud, and self-dealing.
A large part of our practice involves founders and early investors forced out of companies they built: a board restructures the company to wipe out minority shareholders, a majority shareholder forces a sale, a lender withholds financing to extract concessions, a co-founder is fired the day before a vesting cliff, an earnout is structured to fail. The corporate documents are usually well-drafted. The questions are how those documents were used, and whether the conduct around them gives rise to fiduciary breaches, fraud, or contract claims.
We also handle disputes involving M&A transactions, including challenges to acquisitions, earnout litigation, and disputes over reps and warranties. These cases typically involve sophisticated parties on both sides and turn on a deep understanding of the transaction documents, the operating reality of the business, and the duties of controlling shareholders, officers, and directors.
Our corporate cases involve novel technology, including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, intellectual property rights, and alleged hacking.
Eight-figure confidential settlement for a founder ousted by majority shareholders following a major M&A transaction.
Represented the founder and CEO of an Oscar-winning movie production company after his primary investors forced him out, locking him out of the company’s offices while he was away on business. The dispute spawned four lawsuits, multiple appeals, and a confidential settlement.
Represented an investor in a series of complex real-estate financings in the Middle East. After defeating summary judgment, the case settled on confidential terms for the full amount of the investment.
Early executive forced out for opposing the CEO’s proposed restructuring. Forensic investigation uncovered evidence of embezzlement. Settled on a confidential basis.
Founder disputes require fast judgment, deep knowledge of the contractual and legal framework, and strategic coherence. The corporate structures are complex, the personal stakes are high, and the opposing side is usually well-capitalized. We staff these cases small and tight. The partner who takes the case runs the case. Decisions are made in real time.
Most of these disputes are won or lost before setting foot in a courtroom. The theory of the case, the forum, and the opening moves all set the trajectory.
We work closely with corporate counsel—often the same counsel who drafted the agreements in dispute. We coordinate to preserve privilege, gather evidence, and develop a litigation strategy that aligns with the client’s broader business objectives.
Lead counsel in founder, investor, and complex business litigation matters, including minority oppression, freeze-outs, earnout disputes, and post-closing claims. Previously outside counsel to multiple technology startups, negotiating the same types of formation, fundraising, and M&A transactions involved in our litigation practice. Eighteen years in litigation; former clerk to the Honorable David O. Carter (C.D. Cal.).
Full biographyWorks on the firm’s business disputes and class actions, with a background in data privacy and cybersecurity. A 2022 graduate of Stanford Law School, he previously practiced in DLA Piper’s data, privacy, and cybersecurity group, advising Fortune 500 companies on privacy compliance and risk management.
Full biography