Pitcoff Law Group

Pitcoff Law Group Pitcoff Law Group, PC:
Your Business Litigation & Corporate Transactional Law Firm

08/28/2026

Is running a large, scaling company actually harder than running a small one?

Ross Pitcoff (Ross Pitcoff) sat down with Ryan Serhant (Ryan Serhant) — star of Million Dollar Listing New York (Million Dollar Listing NY) and Netflix US’s Owning Manhattan (Owning Manhattan), author of Sell It Like Serhant, and founder & CEO of ., the luxury real estate brokerage and media company he built from the ground up.

After scaling SERHANT.., into a multi-billion-dollar real estate powerhouse, Ryan knows firsthand that growing a company comes with challenges that don’t exist when you’re starting out.

In this clip, Ross asks Ryan a question every founder eventually has to confront: “Is running a large, scaling company harder than running a small one?”

His answer might surprise you.

08/27/2026

SELENA GOMEZ IS BEING SUED BY INVESTORS IN HER OWN STARTUP — AND THERE’S A LESSON HERE FOR EVERY CELEBRITY FOUNDER.

Gomez (Selena Gomez) co-founded Wondermind (Wondermind) with her mother, Mandy Teefey, and entrepreneur Daniella Pierson (Daniella Pierson).

Investors have filed a alleging they were misled before investing nearly $1.2 million in the company.

One allegation involving Gomez is particularly interesting: investors say her celebrity and massive social-media following were part of what made the company attractive, and that they were told she would be actively involved in building and promoting it.

The investors allege that didn’t happen.

Gomez’s lawyer has called the claims meritless and says they will seek dismissal. Her side also says Gomez invested millions of dollars herself and was not responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations.

But here’s the bigger lesson: What exactly are investors buying when they invest in a founder? Technology? Intellectual property? A management team? Or, sometimes, the founder herself?

There’s a big difference between: “Selena Gomez is associated with this company” and “Selena Gomez is actively building and marketing this company.”

If your reputation, audience, or personal involvement is part of the pitch used to raise money, everyone needs to be crystal clear about what you’re actually committing to do.

The company you sell to investors needs to be the company you’re prepared to build.

"My business partner is making decisions without telling me. Would that be considered a ?"You find out about an importa...
08/27/2026

"My business partner is making decisions without telling me. Would that be considered a ?"

You find out about an important company decision after it already happened. A major contract was signed. A financial decision was made. A new business relationship was created. But you were never involved in the discussion.

For many , the frustration is not just about the decision itself. It is the feeling that someone is running a company you own without you. The question becomes: “Is this just a disagreement between owners, or is something more serious happening?”

Business owners, officers, and directors often have responsibilities to act in the best interests of the company and, in certain circumstances, other owners. That does not mean every decision must be approved by everyone.

Companies need people who can make decisions and operate efficiently, but problems can arise when someone uses their position of authority to intentionally exclude others or hide important information. Examples may include:

1. Making major financial decisions without proper disclosure

2. Entering transactions that benefit one owner personally

3. Withholding important company information

4. Making decisions that affect ownership interests without transparency

5. Creating a pattern where one person controls everything

The difference between normal business management and a fiduciary issue often comes down to intent, authority, and impact. A business partner may have the ability to make certain decisions, but they may not have the right to use that authority for personal advantage or to harm the company or other owners.

If you believe a business partner, officer, or director is making decisions without proper transparency, Pitcoff Law Group can help you evaluate your options and determine the best path forward. For more information, contact our office today: (646) 386-0990. We would be happy to assist you.

We've recently been asked, “My changed the passwords and locked me out. What are my rights?”You log in one day and rea...
08/27/2026

We've recently been asked, “My changed the passwords and locked me out. What are my rights?”

You log in one day and realize you no longer have access. The company email has been changed. You cannot access financial accounts. You are locked out of important software systems. Maybe your business partner says it is temporary. Maybe they claim they are just “protecting the company.” But for many business owners, this raises a much bigger question: “Can my business partner legally cut me out of the company I own?”

The answer depends on the circumstances, the company’s structure, and the reason access was restricted. Business owners often share access to important company systems, including:

1. Banking platforms
2. Accounting software
3. Customer relationship systems
4. Company email accounts
5. Digital files and records

When one owner removes another owner’s access, it can create serious concerns—especially if that access involves information needed to understand or protect the business.

Not every access restriction is automatically improper. Companies may need to protect systems, respond to security concerns, or limit access for legitimate reasons. However, problems arise when access is removed as a way to:

1. Prevent an owner from reviewing information
2. Hide financial activity
3. Exclude someone from participating in decisions
4. Gain leverage during an ownership dispute

A key issue is whether the action was taken to protect the company, or to unfairly restrict another owner’s rights. These disputes are becoming more complicated because ownership is often tied to digital access. Control over passwords, platforms, and company data can effectively become control over the business itself.

If you have been locked out of company systems or believe a business partner is improperly restricting your access, Pitcoff Law Group can help you evaluate your options and determine the best path forward. For more information, contact our office today: (646) 386-0990. We would be happy to assist you.

08/26/2026

Imagine building a company, and then getting fired from it. Now imagine trying to take it back.

That’s essentially what’s happening at Better.com (Better). Earlier this month, Better’s board removed founder Vishal Garg as , but Garg isn’t going quietly. He’s now trying to replace members of the board and regain control of the company, claiming support representing more than 50% of Better’s voting power.

Better disputes his efforts and has now sued its own founder in federal court, alleging that Garg coordinated with other shareholders, failed to make required securities disclosures, and made misleading statements while seeking shareholder support.

Better has also adopted what’s known as a “poison pill” — a shareholder rights plan designed to prevent someone from suddenly acquiring or consolidating control. But the bigger lesson here goes far beyond Better.com.

Founding a company does not mean you control it forever. Ownership, voting rights, board seats, and executive authority are four different things.

As companies raise money, bring in investors, issue different classes of stock, and build boards, founders can slowly give away something they may not realize they’re giving away: Control.

I’ve seen this happen in closely held companies, too. Someone says, “But I started the company.” My response? That’s important emotionally, but show me the documents.

Because when a business relationship breaks down, what matters isn’t who had the original idea. It’s who has the legal power to make the next decision.

"Can a Shareholder Force a Buyout Instead of Fighting in Court?"Not every ends with the company shutting down. In many...
08/26/2026

"Can a Shareholder Force a Buyout Instead of Fighting in Court?"

Not every ends with the company shutting down. In many cases, the real issue is not that the business should disappear. It’s that the owners can no longer work together.

One shareholder wants out. Another wants to continue operating the company. The question becomes: “Can one shareholder force a buyout instead of spending years in litigation?” The answer depends on the circumstances, the company’s governing documents, and the legal claims involved. A is often considered when:

1. The business is valuable and operating successfully
2. Ownership conflict is preventing progress
3. One owner wants to exit
4. Continuing the relationship is no longer practical

A buyout can provide a way for the business to continue while allowing owners to separate their interests. However, the difficult part is often determining what the ownership interest is actually worth. Shareholders may disagree about:

1. The value of the company
2. Whether certain assets should be included
3. How future earnings should be considered
4. Whether discounts should apply
5. How the buyout should be structured and paid

This is why valuation often becomes one of the biggest battles in shareholder disputes. A shareholder who wants to exit may believe their interest is worth one amount. The remaining owners may believe it is worth something very different. The legal process can involve reviewing:

1. Financial statements
2. Company records
3. Ownership agreements
4. Business performance
5. Contributions made by each owner

However, a buyout is not always automatic. The availability of a buyout depends on the company structure, applicable law, the claims being made, and the specific circumstances of the dispute.

For shareholders facing an ownership dispute, understanding whether a buyout or another resolution may be available can make a significant difference in the next steps. If you are considering separating from a business partner or facing a shareholder dispute, Pitcoff Law Group can help you evaluate your options and determine the best path forward.

08/25/2026

We’re not done celebrating yet! Inc.

Being recognized on the 2026 'Inc. 5000 List' as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies is an incredible milestone for Pitcoff Law Group, and one we’re proud to share with the clients, colleagues, and team members who have helped us get here.

Growth like this doesn’t happen because of numbers alone. It comes from the trust our clients place in us, the dedication of our team, and the relationships we’ve built along the way.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey and proud of how far Pitcoff Law Group has come.

And, of course, we’re not done yet!

08/25/2026

Would you turn down $15 billion just to keep control of your family business?

That’s essentially the question facing the family behind Jack Daniel’s (Jack Daniel's) right now.

Brown-Forman (Brown-Forman), the company that owns Jack Daniel’s, has been controlled by the Brown family for more than 150 years. And because of the company’s voting structure, the family has maintained control even though Brown-Forman is publicly traded.

But now, according to reporting, there’s a multibillion-dollar takeover proposal on the table—and members of the family are fighting over what happens next.

Some reportedly believe the company should seriously consider a sale.

Others want to preserve something their family has controlled for generations.

And that’s where this becomes much bigger than Jack Daniel’s.

I represent business owners in partnership and shareholder disputes, and one of the biggest misconceptions I see is that every owner wants the same thing.

They don’t.

One owner may want maximum value.

Another wants control.

Another wants to sell.

Another wants their children running the company twenty years from now.

And those differences may not matter when everything is going well.

But introduce a major offer, declining performance, a leadership change—or simply the passage of time—and suddenly those differences become everything.

That’s why sophisticated business owners need to think about more than who owns what percentage of the company.

What happens if somebody wants out?

What happens if somebody wants to sell?

Who actually controls that decision?

And in a family business: what happens when the next generation doesn’t agree with the last one?

Because sometimes the biggest fight in business isn’t about what the company is worth.

It’s about whether the company should ever be for sale.

08/21/2026

What was the biggest obstacle when it came to scaling your business?

Ross Pitcoff (Ross Pitcoff) sat down with Ryan Serhant (Ryan Serhant) — star of Million Dollar Listing New York (Million Dollar Listing NY) and Netflix US’s Owning Manhattan (Owning Manhattan), author of Sell It Like Serhant, and founder & CEO of ., the luxury real estate brokerage and media company he built from the ground up.

After scaling SERHANT.. into a multi-billion-dollar real estate powerhouse, Ryan knows firsthand that growing a company comes with challenges that don’t exist when you’re starting out.

In this clip, Ross asks Ryan what he believes was the biggest obstacle he faced when it came to scaling his business.

His answer might surprise you.

One of the biggest misconceptions in closely held companies is that ownership automatically means having control. It doe...
08/21/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions in closely held companies is that ownership automatically means having control. It does not.

A may own part of a company but still have limited involvement in daily decisions, especially if another group controls the board or holds the majority of voting power. But limited control does not mean unlimited exclusion.

Shareholders often have rights connected to their ownership interest, including rights involving:

1. Access to certain company records
2. Receiving required information
3. Voting on specific corporate matters
4. Protecting their financial interest in the company

Problems arise when minority feel like they are owners only on paper. They may experience situations such as:

1. Being left out of major business decisions

2. Being denied access to financial information

3. Learning about transactions after they occur

4. Being excluded while other owners continue benefiting from the company

However, depend heavily on the company’s structure and governing documents. A corporation’s bylaws, , and ownership arrangements can significantly impact what rights exist and how disputes are handled.

One thing that has become increasingly important in shareholder disputes is documentation. Courts often look closely at:

1. What agreements were made between owners

2. How decisions were communicated

3. Whether shareholders were treated consistently

4. Whether company records support the actions taken

The question is not simply whether a shareholder feels left out. The question is whether their legal rights as an owner have been restricted or improperly affected.

If you believe you are being excluded from your company or your shareholder rights are being impacted, Pitcoff Law Group can help you understand your options and determine the best path forward. For more information, contact our office today: (646) 386-0990. We would be happy to assist you.

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