Vincent Barbera, shareholder in the firm's litigation section, will be a panelist on the PBI panel "Navigating the Business Divorce Seas 2026."
Charting an optimal course through the often-stormy seas of a business divorce is no easy task. Identifying the root causes of the dispute are a priority, these causes commonly include issues such as control, money, equity, titles and prestige, decision-making authority, honesty (or lack thereof), wrongful conduct, diverging life goals, interpersonal conflict, and disproportionate—or absent—contributions by one or more owners (the “parasitic partner”).
The goal of this seminar is to help practitioners identify the way out of the storm. This CLE addresses the interplay of law, business, finance, negotiating leverage, and practical considerations that arise in business divorce matters. Beginning with a broad overview of the legal and practical issues that frame these disputes, the program provides insight into strategic and tactical considerations, negotiating leverage, and resolution options.
Presenters will walk through key provisions commonly found in operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and partnership agreements, with particular attention to end-game scenarios such as buyouts, sales, mediations, and arbitrations. The program also examines jurisdictional issues, governing documents, potential legal claims, and both adversarial and amicable resolution processes.
This business divorce course will discuss litigation and its pros and cons. Topics include common claims such as fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and minority oppression, the strategic use of injunctive relief, the availability of insurance coverage, and managing the complexities of e-discovery in closely held businesses.
Attendees will learn how forensic accounting can uncover irregularities, hidden transactions, and financial misconduct. Since most of these disputes involve money and a buyout, we will address valuing the business and ownership interests and valuation standards including fair value, fair market value, and book value.
Finally, the program explores post-resolution considerations, including ongoing conduct and restrictive covenants, that are essential to successfully concluding a business divorce.
This session provides practitioners with a thorough and practical framework for analyzing the dispute and advising business owners through every stage of a business divorce.
Register here:https://www.pbi.org/product/navigating-the-business-divorce-seas-2026/