For your business

Buying or Selling Shares.

Support for buying or selling shares privately

We help individuals understand the legal and financial implications of buying or selling shares in a company, trust or estate context.

Legal Advice for Buying or Selling Private Shares

Buying or selling shares in a private company involves both commercial and personal considerations. We provide clear, practical legal advice to help you understand your rights, responsibilities, and risks throughout the process.

Buying Shares Privately

Private share deals often involve trusts, family holdings, or special governance terms. Legal review helps you clarify rights, obligations, and hidden risks before you commit. We also assist with:

Reviewing share purchase agreements and supporting documents

Explaining terms, conditions, and obligations in plain language

Identifying risks tied to trusts, private company structures, or family‑held shares

Checking valuation, liquidity, minority rights, and enforceability before you proceed

This is especially important for closely held businesses and family trust arrangements.

Selling Your Shares

For share sellers or transfers, we support you with:

Drafting or reviewing sale and transfer documents

Advising on shareholder agreements, consents, and transfer restrictions

Ensuring your legal and financial interests are properly considered

Share Transfers Within Families or Estates

We regularly help with private share transfers involving:

Trust restructures or trustee changes

Succession planning or estate administration

Family settlements, relationship property, or intra‑family agreements

Where We Work

Our team is based in Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Masterton. We serve individuals and families across the Wellington region and throughout New Zealand, delivering advice that balances commercial and personal considerations.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Private Share Transactions:

Yes. Legal advice ensures the agreement reflects your interests, complies with company law, and addresses important details like warranties, governance rights, and exit terms.

A share sale transfers ownership of the company, including its liabilities. An asset sale involves transferring specific business assets. We help you evaluate which option best fits your situation.

Risks may include undisclosed liabilities, governance uncertainties, or conflicts with existing shareholders. We assist you with due diligence to uncover and manage these potential issues.

Yes. Selling a minority interest often involves conditions such as rights of first refusal, shareholder agreement obligations, or approval requirements. We review those terms to help you structure a clear, fair transaction.