A new client with a dilemma: He set up a company some years ago with an ex colleague. All was going well until a few months ago when his partner wanted to split the business but he didn’t. Now the client is seriously ill and away from the business a lot and his partner is making mischief in his absence. The client’s wife wants to know what will happen to his shares and where it could leave her. When setting up a company a shareholders agreement is vital – it means that the ownership of shares, and what the rules would be if anything happened to co-owners, is not left to chance or the inevitable battle. The frustrating thing is that, like a Will, it is easy to do but often doesn’t get done.
