Case Study
Founder-led small business
The situation.
A long-standing and highly trusted employee relationship had broken down over time, creating tension across the wider team and affecting day-to-day operations.
The business owner needed external support to handle the situation properly, without escalating it, and without losing focus on the rest of the business.
Small business
Founder-led operation with a small, tight-knit team.
Established
Operating for several years with embedded employee relationships.
8 weeks
From initial diagnosis through to signed settlement and close-out.
Settlement reached
Both parties moved on professionally. Business regained stability.
Our Approach
We handled this end to end, from first conversation through to signed settlement.
Listen and assess
Direct conversation with the owner to understand the history, the working relationship, and what had genuinely broken down. Mapped the legal and commercial risk.
- Direct owner conversation
- Relationship history review
- Legal and commercial risk assessment
Handle directly
Led the difficult conversations, settlement discussions, and documentation directly, keeping the owner informed without putting them in the firing line.
- Difficult conversations led
- Settlement discussions
- Clear documentation throughout
Close out cleanly
Signed settlement reached without escalation. Internal communication handled to protect the stability of the wider team.
- Signed settlement
- Internal team communication
- Post-exit business stability
Work with Us
Got a situation that needs handling?
One-off matter or ongoing support. We'd rather have an honest conversation than send you a brochure.
