Resolve Partnership Disputes Before They Disrupt Your Business

A partnership dispute is a disagreement between co-owners about how a business is run, paid, or divided. For a partnership dispute lawyer Coral Gables business owners can consult, the first step is reading the written agreement. KEW Legal focuses on business disputes for owners and investors across Miami-Dade and South Florida. Kristina E. Wilson is the attorney responsible for this page.

What a Partnership Dispute Is and Who This Service Is For

A partnership dispute is a conflict between co-owners over the business itself. It can involve an LLC, a partnership, or a closely held corporation. Florida handles each entity type under its own set of laws, so the entity type matters from the start. Florida’s partnership rules are in Chapter 620.

This service is for LLC members, partners, shareholders, and investors. It fits anyone who needs to resolve a conflict with a business partner, ideally before the conflict reaches a courtroom.

For an LLC, the operating agreement comes first. Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0105, the operating agreement governs relations among members. The statute fills in only what the agreement leaves out. That is why the agreement is the first document we review.

Disputes This Practice Covers

The most common disputes involve money, votes, and exits. The agreement’s terms on these points often decide the outcome.

• Ownership and capital. Disagreements over ownership percentages and whether each owner paid the capital promised.
• Distributions and profit splits. One owner receives payments while another does not, or the split is unclear.
• Amending the operating agreement requires every member’s consent.
• Deadlock. Two equal owners who cannot agree can stall the business.
• Exits and buyouts. Disputes over withdrawal, valuation, and the buyout price.

Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0601, a withdrawal can be wrongful. A person who wrongfully dissociates is liable to the company and other members for damages caused by the departure.

For a partnership, Fla. Stat. § 620.8701 requires the partnership to buy a departing partner’s interest when the business keeps running. Interest runs from the date of departure to the date of payment.

These conflicts often connect to other business matters. Vendor contracts, succession planning, and business sales can arise from the same disagreement.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

The process moves from a consultation to document review, then to the path you choose. That path may be negotiation, mediation, or litigation.

1. Consultation. The initial consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue. We review the facts and your goals.
2. Document review. We read the operating or partnership agreement, any amendments, buy-sell terms, and the financial records tied to the issue.
3. Options. We explain negotiation, a written demand, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Under Fla. Stat. § 44.102, a court must refer a filed civil action for monetary damages to mediation when one party asks, with listed exceptions. If your agreement has an arbitration clause, Fla. Stat. § 682.02 makes it valid and enforceable, with limited exceptions.
4. Action. We carry out the path you choose and update you at each stage.

The length of each stage turns on the facts, the agreement’s terms, and how the other side responds. We discuss a realistic timeline at the consultation.

What to Gather Before Your Consultation

Gather your agreements, ownership records, money records, and a short timeline before your first meeting. A complete file lets the review move faster.

• Your operating or partnership agreement, every amendment, and any buy-sell or shareholder agreement.
• Formation documents, ownership records, and proof of capital contributions.
• Financial statements, distribution records, and bank records tied to the dispute.
• Emails, texts, and notices exchanged with your partner.
• A written summary of your goals, such as keeping the business, negotiating an exit, or recovering funds.

For LLCs, the records rules matter. Under Fla. Stat. § 605.0410, an LLC keeps a current list of members and managers and a copy of its operating agreement. It also keeps financial statements for the three most recent years, if any. Within 10 days after a member’s demand, the company must say what information it will provide, and when and where.

Why Work with KEW Legal in Coral Gables

KEW Legal handles the business side of partnership disputes, not only the courtroom side. The firm works as outside general counsel for owners and investors. It helps them keep the business moving while the conflict is resolved.

The firm’s work covers partnership, vendor, employment, succession, commercial lease, and property matters across Miami-Dade and South Florida. A partnership conflict often touches several of these areas, so they can be reviewed together.

KEW Legal has offices in Coral Gables and Sunny Isles Beach. This page covers the Coral Gables practice, and Kristina E. Wilson is the lawyer responsible for it. Our team, made up of assistants and office staff, helps with document collection and scheduling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk Through Your Partnership Dispute with KEW Legal

If your partner has stopped sharing distributions or a buyout has stalled, your agreement is the place to start. Call 305-990-2300 or send us a message to schedule your consultation with KEW Legal in Coral Gables.