Corporate Risk

Corporate issues rarely start as disputes, but many become them – they lie hidden in every deal. This is why we help companies, boards and fiduciaries identify and manage risk from the outset, before theoretical questions become real life disputes.

Our team combines corporate, disputes and restructuring expertise to support clients through every stage of the corporate lifecycle, from early governance challenges and shareholder concerns to restructurings, insolvency and enforcement action.

By helping clients to anticipate challenges before they arise, we can reduce litigation risk in transactions, navigate complex cross-border structures, manage shareholder pressure and, ultimately, resolve contentious situations effectively.

When clients come to us

Clients seek our support when:

complex deals raise contentious possibilities
there is shareholder activism or a shareholder dispute is escalating
directors are facing conflicts or governance challenges
there are concerns about breach of directors’ duties
a restructuring is becoming contentious
a company is approaching or in the zone of insolvency
fraud, asset tracing or enforcement issues arise

There are not separate legal challenges, which is we take an integrated approach by bringing together specialists from across disciplines to support the way corporate issues develop in practice.

We advise on the laws of BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg, with teams across European, Asia-Pacific, Middle Eastern and US time zones. This allows is to co-ordinate advice across jurisdictions and support boards, fiduciaries, shareholders and creditors involved in complex cross-border structures.

Corporate risk rarely follows a straight path, which is why we support clients at every stage of their journey.

Supporting clients across the corporate lifecycle

Governance and board decisions

Strong governance helps businesses deal with complexity and respond effectively when challenges arise. We advise boards, directors and fiduciaries on managing risk, making informed decisions and meeting their responsibilities.

We advise from the earliest stages of the corporate lifecycle on:

directors' duties and liability
governance challenges and board decision-making
conflicts of interest
corporate benefit and proper purpose
fiduciary and board risk
professional director liability

Structuring and transactions

Decisions made during a transaction can have significant consequences long after a deal completes. Drawing on our corporate, disputes and restructuring experience, we help clients identify and manage potential risks early on.

We advise on:

private equity investment
litigation-informed structuring
governing law and jurisdiction advice
deal protection mechanisms
enforceability of deal protections
disclosure and misrepresentation risk
cross-border structuring challenges
minority shareholder risk analysis
minority shareholder management

Shareholder pressure and conflict

Differences in strategy, control or value can quickly develop into wider governance issues and formal disputes. We help clients navigate shareholder activism and conflict while protecting value and maintaining commercial flexibility.

We advise on:

shareholder disputes
unfair prejudice claims
minority shareholder disputes
derivative actions
joint venture disputes
partnership disputes
valuation and appraisal disputes

Financial pressure and distress

When businesses face financial pressure, directors, shareholders, fiduciaries and creditors are often required to make difficult decisions under increased scrutiny. We help clients assess risk, evaluate their options and respond accordingly.

We advise on:

directors' duties in the zone of insolvency
corporate distress
restructuring and insolvency risk
restructuring planning and implementation
contentious restructurings
cross-border restructuring matters

Disputes, enforcement and recovery

When issues become contentious, we empower out clients to protect their position, recover assets and pursue practical resolutions acrossinternationally.

We advise on: