Are you concerned about protecting your rights as a corporate investor in San Diego?  Shareholders have rights under federal and California law.  However, in many cases the behavior of majority shareholders and corporate directors and managers can prevent you from exercising those rights.  This can result in issues from simple access to the books or corporate records to the threat of a merger with another company which threatens the value of your holdings

The experienced shareholders and investors rights attorneys at the Watkins Firm have more than 40 years of experience protecting your rights as a corporate investor or shareholder here in San Diego and throughout California.  We protect minority investors and shareholders and those with corporate interests and resolve disputes and conflicts in a timely and cost-efficient manner.  Our attorneys help you to seek and obtain answers to questions regarding accounting or access to detailed financial and corporate documents.  We resolve questions and concerns regarding the under-payment or nonpayment of dividends.

Is your corporation considering or planning a merger, acquisition or the sale of the corporation to another entity?  You have options and protections under the law.  Shareholder oppression occurs in many forms.  In many cases it is somewhat veiled, requiring careful insight, analysis and action by our experienced shareholders rights attorneys.  Asserting your rights as a corporate investor may involve the prevention of a merger or acquisition which is designed to dilute the value of minority shares.  In these cases, majority interests may attempt to structure a transaction which fundamentally changes the voting power and financial compensation associated with your shares.

Our attorneys will guide you through these disputes and provide sound counsel and legal advice.  We work to resolve any investor dispute while protecting  your rights as a corporate investor to gain access to information while protecting the integrity and value of your investment.

Pro-Tip: “Well, first of all, let’s be clear. We’re talking about privately held companies. Yes. When you invest in a company down the street, that’s not on the New York stock exchange, you still become a shareholder and shareholders have rights. First thing you should think about when you become a shareholder is like shareholders should be treated in a like or similar fashion. When you join a corporation by investing and you find out that someone with a similar shares as you is getting paid more dividends than you are, you are not going to like that. And you shouldn’t because that’s why we have different classes of shares. 

You have to look and find out if there’s a shareholder’s agreement, which could define who gets what and who gets paid. What, but generally speaking, if you want to pay people differently than what their ownership is, you should have a limited liability company. But if you’re selling shares, you’re still subject to shareholder laws in the state of California and other places. And those shareholders have a right to vote. They have a right to see certain disclosures. If you have over 5%, you get to see more financial documents of the company and you have a right to dividends. If people are, if other people are getting dividends, then you have a right to show up at this annual shareholders meeting.  

If you have invested in a company here in San Diego or anywhere in California and you are concerned about how you’re being treated and your investment, call us.  We can and will help.” – Dan Watkins, Founding Partner

Are you concerned about the actions of the Board of Directors, company management or majority shareholders? We invite you to review our podcast Episode 10 – The Importance of a Strong Corporate Attorney as well as the strong recommendations of our clients and contact the Watkins Firm or call 858-535-1511 for a complimentary consultation today. Learn more about your rights and how our experienced, proven team can protect and preserve your interests.