Shareholder Agreements That Hold Up
A good shareholder agreement is the document no one reads until something goes wrong - and then it's everything. We draft the kind that actually holds up.
- Drag-along, tag-along, pre-emption rights
- Deadlock resolution mechanisms
- Exit triggers: death, divorce, disability, dispute
What's included
- Custom shareholder agreement
- Decision-making thresholds (unanimous vs majority)
- Share transfer restrictions and pre-emption rights
- Drag-along and tag-along provisions
- Exit triggers (death, disability, divorce, dispute)
- Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses
Without an agreement, your business is one disagreement from court
Two friends start a business. Five years in, one wants to sell, the other doesn't. Without a shareholder agreement, there's no mechanism - just disagreement. These disputes are the most common reason profitable small businesses end up in court. A 30-page document, drafted once, eliminates 95% of them.
- No agreement means no structured way to resolve deadlock
- Death of a co-owner without a buy-sell is usually catastrophic
- Drag-along and tag-along rights protect minority and majority alike
- Share transfer restrictions stop outsiders ending up as owners
A clear process, not a legal maze.
Map the relationships
Who are the shareholders? What percentages? Who's active in the business, who's passive? What are you worried about?
Sam drafts the agreement
Custom clauses covering decision-making, dividends, share transfers, exit triggers, dispute resolution, non-compete and non-solicitation - drafted for your circumstances, not a template.
Review, negotiate, sign
Each shareholder reviews the draft. We handle negotiation between parties where needed. Everyone signs, and the agreement sits alongside the company constitution.
Here's what you get when you work with Sam.
I run a family business and was putting off the succession conversation. Sam made it manageable by breaking it into smaller steps. We've got the shareholder agreement signed and the transition roadmap in place.
Frequently asked questions
A shareholder agreement is a contract between the shareholders of a company that governs their relationship - decision-making, dividends, share transfers, exits, and dispute resolution. It sits alongside the company constitution and is private between the parties.
You may also want to look at
Company Constitutions
Most Australian companies run on the replaceable rules - a generic default that wasn't designed for your business.
Learn moreBusiness Succession Planning
Selling, stepping back, passing to family, or planning for the unexpected - a proper succession plan turns a vulnerable business into a durable one.
Learn moreStrategic Restructuring
Whether you're planning a sale, preparing for family succession, or just cleaning up a structure that's grown organically, strategic restructuring puts your business on firmer ground.
Learn morePut the agreement in place before you need it
Book a confidential conversation with Sam. Most shareholder agreements take 3-6 weeks from brief to signed document.
- Free 20-minute initial conversation
- Fixed-fee quotes before any work begins
- Home visits available across Adelaide
- Typically 2-3 weeks to signed documents