A derivative claim can be brought by a shareholder on behalf of a company against a director or another person (or both), usually for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, or mismanagement. The benefit of a derivative claim goes solely to the company, not to the shareholder who initiates it. As an equitable remedy, the court, in exercising its discretion, will consider the conduct and motives of the claimant, as well as the availability of other remedies.
Este artículo analiza los requisitos clave para presentar una demanda derivada.
Motivos para presentar una demanda derivada
En Artículo 260 de la Ley de Sociedades de 2006 (the “Act”), a derivative claim may be brought by a shareholder but only in respect of a cause of action involving an actual or proposed act or omission by a director that involves negligence, default, breach of duty, or breach of trust. A shareholder may bring a derivative claim against a director, another person, or both, and this can apply to a cause of action that arises either before or after the shareholder became a member of the company.
Permiso para interponer el recurso: Un proceso en dos fases
Aunque permission to initiate a derivative claim is not required, a shareholder must apply to the court for permission to continue the claim. At this initial stage, the court examines the evidence provided by the claimant to determine if there is a prima facie case. If the evidence does not make a prima facie case, the court must dismiss the application and may issue any order it considers appropriate.
Sin embargo, si el tribunal considera que la solicitud y las pruebas constituyen un caso prima facie para conceder el permiso para continuar con la demanda, puede dar instrucciones sobre las pruebas que se requieren de la empresa y aplazar el procedimiento para permitir la obtención de las pruebas.
Una vez reunidas estas pruebas, el tribunal procederá a examinar la demanda. En esta fase, el tribunal puede conceder permiso para continuar con la demanda en los términos especificados, denegar el permiso y desestimar la demanda, o aplazar la solicitud y dar nuevas instrucciones.
¿Qué sucede una vez concedido el permiso Prima Facie? (Segunda fase)
At the second stage, a hearing is held where the court evaluates the views of all interested parties to decide if the application should continue. The court closely scrutinises the evidence, among other factors, to determine whether the statutory criteria are met and the claim can be continued.
El tribunal no concederá el permiso si:
- It is satisfied that the person against whom the claim is brought was acting in accordance with their duty to promote the company’s success per Artículo 172 de la Ley, y ningún director que siga este deber desearía continuar con la reclamación; o bien
- The act or omission for which the shareholder seeks to bring the claim has been authorised by the shareholders or ratified by the company.
If neither of these applies, the court will consider adicional factors in deciding whether to permit the derivative claim, including:
- si el accionista actúa de buena fe;
- el importance that a person acting to promote the company’s success would place on bringing the claim; and
- si el accionista dispone personalmente de un recurso alternativo.
Si se concede la autorización, la demanda derivada pasa a juicio. Si se deniega, la demanda se desestima antes del juicio.
¿Qué órdenes puede dictar un tribunal?
Si una demanda derivada prospera en el juicio, el tribunal tiene amplias facultades discrecionales para ordenar soluciones. Estas pueden incluir:
- removing a director from their role;
- condenar a un administrador a pagar daños y perjuicios a la empresa;
- ordering an injunction against a director to prevent specific actions; and
- condenar en costas al director.
Contacte con nosotros: Abogados de Reclamaciones Derivadas
If you have any questions about this topic, please contact Sali Zaher, Abogado asociado, en S.Zaher@rfblegal.co.uk o por teléfono en 020 7467 5766.
