If you’re setting up a company with co-founders or partners in Dublin, a properly drafted shareholders’ agreement is one of the most important legal documents you can put in place. Our fixed-fee Shareholder Agreement service provides bespoke, solicitor-drafted agreements for companies in Dublin and across all of Ireland — protecting your rights, preventing disputes, and providing a clear framework for running your business.
Why Every Multi-Shareholder Company in Dublin Needs a Shareholders’ Agreement
When you incorporate a company with co-founders or investors, the Companies Act 2014 provides a basic legal framework — but it leaves many of the most important questions unanswered. Without a shareholders’ agreement, you are relying on default statutory rules that may not reflect what you and your co-shareholders actually agreed. The consequences of not having one typically only become apparent when things go wrong — and by then, the cost of resolving a dispute without a documented agreement is significant.
Common scenarios where the absence of a shareholders’ agreement causes serious problems include:
- A co-founder leaves and retains their full equity stake with no ongoing obligation to the company
- Shareholders deadlock on a key decision with no mechanism to resolve it
- A shareholder sells or transfers their shares to an unknown third party without the other shareholders having any right of first refusal
- Disagreements over dividend policy, investment decisions, or company direction
- No agreed mechanism for valuing and buying out a departing shareholder
What Our Shareholders’ Agreement Covers
Our solicitor-drafted shareholders’ agreements for companies in Dublin are bespoke documents covering all the key provisions:
- Share ownership and classes: How shares are allocated, the rights attaching to each class, and any preference arrangements
- Decision-making: Which decisions require unanimous consent, a majority vote, or board approval — and how deadlocks are resolved
- Director appointments: Shareholder rights to appoint directors and board representation
- Founder vesting: Share vesting schedules to ensure founders earn their equity over time
- Pre-emption rights: Existing shareholders’ right of first refusal on new share issues or transfers
- Tag-along and drag-along: Protections for minority shareholders and mechanisms for majority exits
- Non-compete and non-solicitation: Restrictions on shareholders who leave the company
- Dividend policy: How profits are distributed and when
- Exit provisions: Buyout rights, valuation mechanisms, and what happens when a shareholder wants to exit
- Confidentiality: Obligations on shareholders regarding company information
How It Works
- Submit your enquiry — Tell us about your company, number of shareholders, and key terms you want covered
- Solicitor review — A qualified Irish solicitor contacts you to confirm scope and issue a fixed-fee quote
- Agreement drafted — A bespoke shareholders’ agreement is prepared reflecting your agreed terms
- Execution — The final agreement is sent to all shareholders for signature
Why Choose Online Legal Services for Your Shareholders’ Agreement in Dublin?
- Fixed fees: Transparent pricing — no hourly billing or unexpected costs
- Bespoke drafting: Every agreement is tailored to your company — not a generic template
- Company law expertise: Our solicitors understand the Companies Act 2014 and Irish corporate law
- Fast turnaround: Typically delivered within 3–5 working days
- Law Society regulated: All work carried out by solicitors regulated by the Law Society of Ireland
Also frequently needed alongside a shareholders’ agreement: Company Incorporation, NDA, and Employment Contracts. Need to discuss your company structure? Book a 30-minute consultation with one of our corporate solicitors today.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified Irish solicitor.