Separate From Your Partner on Fair Terms with an Orlando Business Divorce Attorney
A business divorce is the separation of co-ownersof a closely held company—by buyout, buy-sell enforcement, or court-ordered dissolution. As an Orlando, Florida business divorce attorney, Keough Law protects your stake and your company's value while the partnership ends.
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The partnership is over—the company doesn't have to be
You built the company together. Now you disagree on everything—growth, money, who does the work. Decisions stall. Employees pick sides. Customers notice. Every month the standoff continues, the business you both own is worth less.
A business divorce gives you a structured way out. It's a focused part of our partnership and shareholder dispute practice—built around getting you a fair price and a clean break.
- Owners are deadlocked and decisions have stopped.
- A partner stopped contributing but still takes profits.
- You want out and need a fair price for your share.
- A co-owner is trying to squeeze you out.
Four things that shape every split
No two business divorces are alike, but the outcome almost always turns on the same four issues.
The governing documents
Your operating agreement, shareholder agreement, or partnership agreement usually sets the exit rules—buy-sell triggers, notice, and valuation method.
A defensible valuation
Most business divorces turn on price. The valuation method, the date, and any discounts can swing the number dramatically.
Control during the split
Who runs operations, signs checks, and talks to customers while the separation plays out—before value walks out the door.
A clean exit mechanism
A negotiated buyout, an enforced buy-sell clause, or a court-supervised dissolution—each with different cost, speed, and leverage.
Leverage decides the price
The owner who controls the books and the bank account often tries to dictate terms —lowballing the value, delaying, or cutting the other out of information.
We level the field with records demands, valuation experts, and, where warranted, claims for breach of fiduciary duty.
“Take it or leave it”
- "Your share is worth almost nothing"
- "You can’t see the books"
- "The agreement doesn’t let you leave"
- "We’ll just wait you out"
A fair exit, on paper
- Independent valuation evidence
- Statutory records and inspection rights
- Buy-sell and dissolution remedies
- Deadlines that force a decision
End the partnership, not the business
Keough Law represents owners on both sides of the table—those buying out a partner and those being pushed out—with a focus on a fair price and a clean, final separation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“Splitting from my partner was the hardest business decision I've made. Shaun kept it professional, got me a fair number, and let me get back to work.”
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Business Divorce Matter
How business divorces resolve
We start with the fastest, least expensive path that gets you a fair result, and escalate only when the other side forces it.
Negotiated buyout
One owner buys the other out at an agreed price and terms, often with a release of claims.
Buy-sell enforcement
Triggering the exit and valuation rules already written into your agreement.
Fair-value election
A court-supervised purchase of shares at fair value instead of dissolving the company.
Judicial dissolution
A court-ordered wind-up, sometimes with a receiver, when no other exit works.
From standoff to clean break
Map the documents
We review your agreements, ownership records, and finances to identify the exit rights and leverage each owner actually has.
Stabilize the business
We secure access to books, bank accounts, and operations—and seek court protection if a co-owner is draining value.
Negotiate the exit
With a valuation in hand, we push for a buyout or separation on fair terms, often through mediation.
Litigate if needed
If negotiation fails, we pursue judicial dissolution, buy-sell enforcement, or fiduciary claims to force a resolution.
Spend on the exit, not the war
Business divorce work is billed hourly and scoped to your goal—usually a negotiated exit. Litigation is a lever we pull when it improves your price, not a default.
Your free initial consultation is general only—a chance for us to understand your situation and whether it's a matter we can take on.
A deal lawyer who can litigate
You work directly with Shaun Keough, who drafts operating and shareholder agreements and litigates them. When a split stalls, we use emergency injunctions to protect the company and specific performance to enforce buy-sell rights. For transactional exits, see our business dissolution services.
Business divorce questions
What is a business divorce?
A business divorce is the separation of co-owners of a closely held company—an LLC, corporation, or partnership. It can be a negotiated buyout, the enforcement of a buy-sell agreement, or a court-ordered dissolution when the owners can no longer work together.
Can I force my business partner out of the company?
It depends on your agreements and the type of entity. Many operating and shareholder agreements include buy-sell provisions, expulsion rights, or drag-along clauses. Without those, Florida law provides remedies such as judicial dissolution, and a partner who has breached fiduciary duties may face claims that create leverage for an exit.
When can a Florida court dissolve an LLC?
Under Florida Statute §605.0702, a member can ask a court to dissolve an LLC in situations such as deadlock that harms the company, illegal or fraudulent conduct by those in control, waste or misappropriation of company assets, or when it is no longer reasonably practicable to carry on the business under its governing documents. Courts can also appoint a receiver or custodian.
What if a shareholder petitions to dissolve our corporation?
Florida Statute §607.1436 allows the corporation or other shareholders in certain cases to elect to purchase the petitioning shareholder’s shares at fair value instead of dissolving the company. That election often converts a dissolution fight into a valuation fight—and a path to a buyout.
How is my ownership interest valued in a business divorce?
Your agreement may dictate the method—a formula, an appraisal process, or a fixed price. If it doesn’t, the parties or the court typically rely on business valuation experts. Issues like the valuation date and whether discounts for lack of control or marketability apply can significantly change the result.
Ready to protect
what you've built?
Schedule a free initial consultation. We'll learn about your situation and whether it's a matter we can take on.