Beyond Trust: Protecting Your Business with a Shareholder Agreement (Ep. 35)
Most business owners assume strong relationships are enough to hold a company together. This episode explains why that belief can create serious risk, and how the right agreements can prevent years of conflict.
In this episode, Frankie and Sarah are joined by returning guest Denise Branton, Lawyer and Owner, Byron Street Legal, to break down why shareholder agreements matter more than most business owners realize, especially in family businesses and closely held companies.
What to expect:
- Why “we trust each other” is not a substitute for clear legal planning
- Common misconceptions around shareholder agreements in family and friend-owned businesses
- How shareholder agreements help manage conflict, decision-making, and exits
- What happens when a shareholder dies, becomes disabled, or wants out
- Why template agreements and one-size-fits-all solutions often fall short
- The importance of valuation clarity, including when certified business valuations make sense
- How shareholder agreements intersect with estate planning, and why ignoring this link creates problems
- And more!
Connect with Frankie Loreto and Sarah Netley:
- Courtice.BakerTilly.ca
- LinkedIn: Baker Tilly Canada
- LinkedIn: Frankie Loreto
- LinkedIn: Sarah Netley
- Call: (905) 579-5659
Connect with Denise Branton:
About Our Guest:
For over 20 years, Denise has been advising business owners, helping them navigate complex legal matters, providing strategic counsel, and mitigating risks to achieve their goals.
Denise earned her law degree from Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 2005 and was called to the Ontario bar in 2006. After practicing in Toronto for five years, she moved to Durham Region and eventually opened her own law practice.
Denise’s practice has been focused on working with business owners, regularly advising them on corporate and commercial matters, including real estate, secured financing transactions, corporate reorganizations, buying and selling businesses and shareholders agreements.
With the intersection of business and wills & estates law, it was a natural progression for Denise to bring her expertise into the estate planning area. Denise continues to develop her knowledge in estate planning, wills and trusts and is currently working towards her designation as a Trusts and Estates Practitioner (TEP) with STEP Canada.
Denise’s approach to client service is grounded and practical, with a strong commitment to open communication. Denise is known for her ability to break down complex legal matters into simple terms.
To provide her clients with exceptional legal service and advice, Denise collaborates with experts in various fields, including employment law, tax planning, and wealth transfer strategies.
When establishing her own practice, Denise chose to base it in her local community, reflecting her passion for Durham Region. She actively participates in and influences the growth of both personal and business communities, through her work with Rotary and various speaking engagements within the legal and business sectors.
Outside of the office, Denise, along with her family, enjoys adventure travel that focuses on unique skiing and hiking opportunities, as well as attending her favorite music concerts.
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