Alex Kennedy

Alex specialises in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Employment Law. Educated at Cambridge University, Alex will navigate through difficult situations taking every to opportunity achieve results. He prides himself in finding the possible in the impossible.

Shareholder and director disputes

When people go into business together, they rarely imagine falling out. This is especially true of friends and family. Entrepreneurs understandably prioritise getting up and running rather than imagining how their relationship might break down, but when a dispute crops up this causes problems, especially where the company is held equally between two shareholder/directors.

Disputes between shareholders or directors can be fraught at the best of times, especially if the relationship was poorly defined because of inadequate articles of association or a badly drafted shareholders agreement. Particular expertise includes:

Expertise

• Analysing the strength of the case.
• Plotting strategy.
• Finding funding for litigation.
• Clearly presenting the case.
• Managing expectations.
• Sound knowledge of the legislation and case law.
• Exploring settlement opportunities.

Recent cases

• Securing fair value for employee’s shareholding.
• Defending a director being pursued for alleged breaches of duty.
• Minority shareholder problems recently resolved.
• Resolving director claims and disputes.
• Results with shareholder dispute cases.
• Shareholder dispute: a swift solution.
• Director-shareholder exits business and creates deadlock.
• Director breach of duty.

Partnership disputes

Alex has helped resolve partnership disputes in a wide variety of sectors, from lawyers and accountants to recruitment agents, funeral directors and vets. Alex can act for the partners or the partnership. Each case is delicate and highly-fact specific requiring his skill and judgement at each step.

Expertise

• Familiarity with various legal structures of partnership.
• Identifying relative strengths of case.
• Psychological insight.
• Commercial awareness.
• Mediation and Alternative dispute resolution.

Recent cases

• High value multi-party partnership dispute.
• Challenge to terms of business.
• Cashflow problems? What not to do to avoid the storm.
• Commission agreement dispute.
• Licence and trade-mark infringement.

Employment disputes

Alex represents both employers and employees in a variety of situations including changes to employment contracts, wrongful or unfair dismissal, enforcing and defending against restrictive covenants and consulting or advising on redundancy. The law is fast paced and employees are becoming more litigious meaning specialist knowledge is needed. Particular expertise includes:

Expertise

• Taking clients to a conclusion quickly to save time and money.
• Familiarity with fair grievance and dismissal procedures.
• Setting out the path forward which usually involves a strategy designed to encourage settlement.
• Drafting watertight settlement agreements.
• Negotiating settlement agreements.
• Preparing Employment Tribunal strategy

Recent cases

• Obtaining compensation when an employee was induced into employment by false promises.
• Enforcement of restrictive covenants.
• When do founders become Employees?
• Unsigned contract enforced.
• Implications of becoming an employee shareholder.
• Protected disclosure & whistleblowing.
• Taking employers through a redundancy process.
• Employment Tribunal win against constructive dismissal.

Insights

• Have Judges had enough of whinging employees?
• External employment law support – a guide for small business
• Directors duties to avoid conflicts of interest

Case Studies

• Induced into employment by false promises
• Cashflow problems? What not to do to avoid the storm
• Securing fair value for employee’s shareholding

Testimonials

From Trustpilot

“An efficient, speed, friendly service, provided by a personable solicitor, who listened to everything I had to say before giving me advice which was really helpful. I would definitely recommend Gannons to anyone looking for a professional legal service in London”