A well-structured corporate framework should protect shareholders’ interests while supporting the company’s long-term growth. We advise businesses, founders, shareholders, and investors on corporate law matters, including cross-border transactions and international business ventures. Long-term business objectives are considered from the outset.

Company formation and shareholder agreements

Decision-making authority, consent requirements, and the terms of a potential future exit should be clearly defined from the outset. We draft and negotiate articles of association, shareholder agreements, and voting agreements addressing voting and information rights, equity ownership, and restrictions on share transfers. We also advise on company formation, including Austrian limited liability companies (GmbHs) and Flexible Companies (FlexKapG), and structure equity arrangements for founders and employees. Founder & startup mediation can complement this legal work by helping clarify expectations and establish a solid foundation for long-term collaboration before disputes arise.

Ongoing corporate counsel

We provide ongoing advice on shareholder resolutions, capital measures, profit distributions, company register filings, and the appointment or removal of executive managers. Each measure is evaluated in the context of the shareholders’ respective interests and the implications for future collaboration.

Corporate restructuring and share transfers

Bringing an investor, transferring ownership interests or restructuring a company can significantly affect the balance of influence and responsibility. We advise on share transfers and the entry and exit of shareholders, addressing purchase price arrangements, exit compensation, and business valuation in conjunction with the available legal structuring options. Where necessary, independent valuation specialists are engaged to assess the company’s value. In business succession matters, legal requirements are reconciled with the personal interests of those involved.

When a dispute emerges

When a shareholder dispute begins to emerge, we help you assess your legal position, potential commercial impacts, and the available courses of action. Based on the specific circumstances of your case, we carefully evaluate whether shareholder mediation as a form of commercial mediation offers a viable path to resolution or whether court proceedings are necessary. Throughout this assessment, we consider urgent measures and applicable deadlines, as well as your priorities, whether preserving the business relationship or securing an orderly exit from the company.

When is a tailored shareholders’ agreement advisable?

It is particularly valuable when multiple shareholders or investors are involved, especially where their contributions and expectations differ. It should reflect the parties’ intended working relationship and establish clear rules for changes or the resolution of future disputes.

Related links: Liability of Executive Managers · Corporate Litigation · M&A · Private Equity · Contract Law · Shareholder Mediation · Founder & Startup-Mediation · Business Succession · Contact