St. Augustine's Largest Law Group
Partnership & Shareholder Dispute Attorneys in Florida
LLC Disputes • Shareholder Litigation • Business Divorce • Jury Trial Lawyers
Business disputes rarely begin with a lawsuit. They often start with a disagreement between business partners, members, shareholders, or managers who once shared a common vision. When communication breaks down and the future of the business is at stake, having experienced trial counsel can make the difference between protecting your investment and losing control of the company you helped build.
65+ Jury Trials
8-Figure Win Experience
Proven Trial Team: read about 3 Jury Trials, 3 Months, 3 Wins
At St. Johns Law Group, we represent business owners, investors, shareholders, LLC members, partners, officers, directors, developers, and closely held companies throughout Northeast Florida in complex partnership and shareholder disputes. Our attorneys understand that these cases involve more than legal issues—they involve years of hard work, personal relationships, valuable assets, and the future of a business.
Unlike many firms that focus primarily on settlements, we prepare every case for trial from day one. That philosophy has produced results in the courtroom, including multiple recent jury trial victories in complex civil and commercial litigation. We believe thorough preparation creates leverage during negotiations and positions our clients for success whether the case resolves through settlement, mediation, or a jury verdict.
Pro Tip: We start with the anticipated Jury Instructions from day one so our cases are built for trial throughout the discovery and motion process.
Why Businesses Choose St. Johns Law Group
Business litigation is not simply about filing motions or exchanging discovery. It is about understanding how businesses operate, identifying the legal issues that matter most, and presenting a compelling case to a judge or jury.
Our commercial litigation team combines decades of experience handling disputes involving:
Corporations
Closely held businesses
Professional practices
Investment partnerships
Family-owned businesses
Whether your dispute involves a closely held LLC with two members or a corporation with numerous shareholders, our attorneys provide strategic guidance while remaining focused on achieving your business objectives.
Trial Lawyers Who Welcome the Courtroom
Many commercial cases settle because one side demonstrates that it is fully prepared to try the case. At St. Johns Law Group, we embrace that preparation.
Our firm has built a reputation for trying difficult civil and commercial cases before juries. We have achieved multiple recent jury trial victories and continue to invest in building a litigation team that is prepared for the demands of trial.
We do not view trial as a last resort—we view it as a core part of our practice.
Our trial team enjoys the challenge of presenting complex business disputes in a clear and persuasive manner. From jury selection and witness examinations to expert testimony, demonstrative exhibits, and closing arguments, we are committed to presenting our clients’ cases with preparation, professionalism, and confidence.
Our attorneys work collaboratively throughout litigation. Every significant commercial case benefits from a trial-tested team that evaluates strategy, develops themes, prepares witnesses, analyzes evidence, and anticipates opposing arguments. That team approach helps ensure that no detail is overlooked before entering the courtroom.
When trial becomes necessary, our clients know they are represented by attorneys who are comfortable standing before a jury and advocating for their interests.
LLC Member Disputes
Limited Liability Companies are among the most common business entities in Florida, but they frequently become the source of significant litigation when members disagree over management, ownership, finances, or the future of the company.
We represent clients in disputes involving:
Member rights
Manager authority
Voting disputes
Profit distributions
Capital contributions
Ownership percentages
Company records
Financial transparency
Removal of managers
Unauthorized transactions
Breach of fiduciary duties
Expulsion of members
Whether you are seeking to protect your ownership interest or defend against allegations brought by another member, our attorneys understand both the legal and practical issues affecting closely held businesses.
Operating Agreement Litigation
An operating agreement serves as the governing contract for an LLC. When disputes arise, the language of the agreement often determines the outcome.
Our attorneys regularly handle litigation involving:
Interpretation of operating agreements
Voting requirements
Management authority
Capital calls
Member withdrawal
Buy-sell provisions
Transfer restrictions
Distribution rights
Deadlock procedures
Dissolution provisions
When an operating agreement is silent or ambiguous, Florida’s Revised Limited Liability Company Act may control important aspects of the dispute. We help clients understand both their contractual rights and the protections available under Florida law.
Partnership Deadlock
Businesses can grind to a halt when equal owners reach an impasse.
Deadlock commonly occurs when:
Two 50/50 owners disagree
Members cannot approve major decisions
Directors are evenly divided
Management authority is disputed
Financial decisions cannot be made
Business operations become impossible
Deadlock can jeopardize contracts, employees, customers, and long-term business value.
We help clients evaluate practical solutions, including negotiated resolutions, buyouts, mediation, judicial intervention, or dissolution when appropriate.
Minority Shareholder Oppression
Minority owners have legal rights.
Unfortunately, majority owners sometimes attempt to exclude minority members from meaningful participation in the business through unfair or improper conduct.
Examples include:
Excluding owners from management
Denying access to company records
Withholding distributions
Paying excessive compensation to majority owners
Self-dealing transactions
Diverting business opportunities
Misusing company assets
Diluting ownership interests
- Scheme to defraud or fraud
Our attorneys aggressively protect minority owners from oppressive conduct while pursuing practical business solutions.
Freeze-Out Litigation
A “freeze-out” occurs when majority owners intentionally force minority owners out of meaningful participation while retaining the economic benefits of the business.
Common freeze-out tactics include:
Terminating employment
Removing management authority
Restricting financial information
Refusing distributions
Blocking access to company records
Excluding owners from meetings
Transferring business opportunities
These cases require immediate legal analysis because delays may significantly impact both business operations and available remedies.
Business Buyouts
Many ownership disputes ultimately resolve through negotiated or court-supervised buyouts.
Our attorneys assist with:
Business valuations
Purchase negotiations
Payment structures
Installment purchases
Earn-out provisions
Tax considerations
Closing documentation
Our goal is to preserve business value while protecting our client’s financial interests.
Fiduciary Duty Litigation
Business owners, officers, directors, managers, and controlling members frequently owe fiduciary duties to the business and, in certain circumstances, to other owners.
Breaches may involve:
Self-dealing
Corporate waste
Diversion of opportunities
Conflicts of interest
Misappropriation of funds
Failure to disclose material information
Unauthorized compensation
Competing businesses
Misuse of confidential information
These claims often involve detailed financial records, forensic accounting, expert testimony, and extensive discovery. Our litigation team has experience managing complex commercial cases involving significant business records and expert witnesses.
Judicial Dissolution
Sometimes a business relationship cannot be repaired.
Click Here to See a 2026 Judgment of Dissolution obtained after a Jury Trial
When continuing operations becomes impossible or unlawful, judicial dissolution may provide the most practical solution.
We represent clients seeking or defending against dissolution actions involving:
LLCs
Closely held corporations
Partnerships
Professional practices
Because dissolution can permanently affect the value of a business, careful strategic planning is essential before pursuing litigation.
Receiverships
In extraordinary circumstances, a court may appoint a receiver to preserve business assets, maintain operations, or protect stakeholders during litigation.
Receivership issues often arise when:
Management has completely broken down
Assets are being wasted
Financial records are unavailable
Fraud is alleged
Businesses face insolvency
Owners cannot agree on operations
Our attorneys represent clients seeking the appointment of receivers as well as businesses defending against receivership requests.
Strategic Litigation Designed for Trial
Every commercial lawsuit is different, but our approach remains consistent.
We begin with a comprehensive evaluation of the facts, governing agreements, applicable statutes, and business objectives. From the outset, we develop a litigation strategy with trial in mind.
Our preparation includes:
Early case assessment
Document preservation
Financial analysis
Electronic discovery
Depositions
Expert witness development
Motion practice
Mediation preparation
- Arbitration
Jury trial strategy
Appellate issue preservation
Preparing every case as though it will be tried often places our clients in the strongest position throughout litigation.
Why Trial Experience Matters
Complex business disputes frequently involve credibility, competing financial experts, conflicting testimony, and sophisticated legal issues.
When a case reaches a jury, experience matters.
At St. Johns Law Group, we enjoy trying cases. Our attorneys thrive on the challenge of presenting complicated business disputes in a clear and persuasive manner. We have built a collaborative, jury-trial-tested litigation team that prepares thoroughly, thinks strategically, and competes vigorously on behalf of our clients.
Whether your matter ultimately resolves through negotiation or proceeds to verdict, you deserve attorneys who are fully prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
Schedule a Consultation with a Partnership and Shareholder Dispute Attorney
If you are involved in an LLC dispute, shareholder disagreement, partnership conflict, fiduciary duty claim, freeze-out, buyout negotiation, dissolution action, or other complex business dispute, contact St. Johns Law Group.
Our commercial litigation attorneys represent clients throughout St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Palm Coast, and Northeast Florida. We combine strategic business advice with experienced courtroom advocacy and a genuine passion for trying complex commercial cases when our clients’ interests require it.
When your business is on the line, choose a litigation team that prepares to win in the courtroom—not just the conference room.
Contact Us:
- 104 Sea Grove Main Street | St. Augustine, Florida 32080
