The Situation

What began as a promising joint venture between a founder and a venture builder became strained over time, driven by shifting roles and diverging expectations. As the company matured, concerns arose around the fairness of the initial setup, particularly the equity stake and post-handover involvement in other ventures. With no resolution in sight, tensions grew and the risk of legal escalation increased.

Our Approach

We focused on de-escalation and pragmatic resolution, bringing both parties back to the table to reach a fair and forward-looking agreement. The negotiated settlement included:

• A clearly defined buyout mechanism

• Waiver of selected rights under the shareholder agreement

• A success-based upside for the venture builder

The Impact

Both parties were able to separate cleanly and constructively through a fair and actionable exit solution that respected the needs and realities of both sides. The founder regained full control of the company, and the venture builder exited with a success-based upside and no further claims. No lawsuits. No reputational damage.

"Alfred turned a tense situation into a resolution that enabled both parties to go their separate ways, free to focus on their respective paths." Peach Zwyssig, Co-founder & CEO, Axelra AG

The Team

Thierry Barbey, Founding Partner (Legal Advisory)

Diego Seitz, Founding Partner (Business Consulting)

Sandro Stich, Senior Associate (Legal Advisory)