Partnership Disputes Solicitors

Complex partnership disputes require legal expertise delivered at speed whilst being meticulously accurate. Our corporate and commercial law solicitors, based in Holborn and with over 20 years of experience, will ensure your dispute is resolved smoothly.

Under section 33 of the Partnership Act 1890, your partnership is automatically dissolved by the death or bankruptcy of any partner, unless you and your partners have agreed otherwise in writing. If you are in dispute with a business partner over management, profit shares, or their conduct, your position depends heavily on whether a written partnership agreement addresses the issue, or whether you are relying on the 1890 Act’s default terms. We advise on partnership disputes from offices in Stratford E15, Holborn WC1V, and Croydon CR0, and we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

What does our partnership disputes service cover?

A partnership dispute can escalate quickly once trust between partners breaks down, and early advice protects both the business and your personal position. We advise and act on:

Disputes over the interpretation and enforcement of an existing partnership agreement.
Dissolution disputes under the Partnership Act 1890, including disagreements over when and how your partnership has ended.
Disputes over profit shares, capital contributions, and drawings between partners.
Expulsion disputes, including challenges to the validity of a partner’s removal from the firm under section 25 of the Partnership Act 1890.
Winding up the partnership’s affairs following dissolution under section 38 of the Partnership Act 1890, including completing transactions begun before dissolution but not yet finished.
Disputes over a partner’s authority to bind the firm, including your liability for actions taken by one partner without the others’ consent.
Breach of fiduciary duty claims, where a partner has acted in their own interest at the expense of the partnership.
Negotiated exits, including buying out a partner’s share where you and your partners want to avoid a full dissolution.
Advising on converting a disputed partnership into a limited liability partnership or limited company to give you clearer governance going forward.

Why choose Law Lane for partnership disputes?

Our Holborn office is well placed for City businesses and corporate clients. We advise start-ups and growth-stage companies that have outgrown informal arrangements and need proper documentation before they can take the next step, as well as more established businesses facing specific transactions or disputes.

We are a multilingual firm. Our solicitors speak a range of languages, and we advise many clients from international backgrounds doing business in England and Wales. If your transaction involves overseas shareholders or cross-border elements, we can manage the English law side clearly and effectively.

Get in touch

If you are in dispute with a business partner, our commercial team can advise you on protecting the business and your own position.

Phone: 020 7870 4870

Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk

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Frequently Asked Questions – Partnership Disputes

What automatically dissolves my partnership?

Section 33 of the Partnership Act 1890 provides that, unless you and your partners have agreed otherwise, your partnership is dissolved by the death or bankruptcy of any partner. Other triggers under the wider Act include a partner giving notice to dissolve the partnership, the court ordering dissolution, or the expiry of a fixed term your partnership was formed for. A written partnership agreement can override these default triggers, so review yours as soon as a dispute arises.

What happens to the business after dissolution?

Section 38 of the Partnership Act 1890 provides that, following dissolution, each partner’s authority to bind the firm and the partners’ other rights and obligations continue so far as necessary to wind up the partnership’s affairs and to complete transactions already begun but not yet finished. You still owe obligations to your former partners after dissolution, and we advise on untangling these fairly.

Can I be expelled from a partnership without my agreement?

Section 25 of the Partnership Act 1890 provides that no majority of partners can expel you unless the partners have expressly agreed a power of expulsion. If your partnership agreement contains no expulsion clause, an attempt to remove you without your consent may not be valid, and we can advise you on challenging it.

What can I do if a partner is acting against the interests of the business?

You and your partners owe each other duties of good faith, and a partner who acts dishonestly, misuses partnership assets, or competes with the partnership without consent may be in breach of those duties. Depending on your partnership agreement and the severity of the conduct, your options can range from an account of profits to dissolution of the partnership. We advise on the evidence you need to bring, or defend, this type of claim.

How much does an initial consultation cost?

We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation for company and commercial matters. At that meeting, we listen to your situation, identify the legal issues, and explain the steps and costs involved. Get in touch to arrange a time.