General Partnerships Flashcards
What are the three requirements for a general partnership under the Partnerships Act 1890?
- Two or more persons
- Carrying on a business in common
- With the intention to make a profit
Does persons include corporate bodies as well as people?
Yes
What is business?
Buying or selling goods, or providing services, for a fee
Is it material if a business never actually realises a profit?
No, as long as they intend to
What does a party receiving a share of the profits of a business raise the presumption of?
That a partnership exists
In what three situations will receiving a share of the profits of a business not raise the presumption that a partnership exists?
Money is:
- Repayment of a debt
- Remuneration to employee/agent
- Annuity to a survivor of a partner on account of their share or to a person who has sold the goodwill in the business
Is an agreement to share losses prima facie evidence of a partnership, and can lack of one prevent the formation of a partnership?
No to both
Does a party need to contribute capital to be considered a partner?
No
What is the limit on the number of partners that can be in a general partnership?
There is no limit
Does a general partnership have a legal personality separate from its owners?
No
Can the partners use a partnership agreement to override most rules in the Partnership Act, and what is the effect of this?
Yes.
Most of the rules in this deck will not apply if the question provides that the partnership agreement overrides them.
What is the general rule for a partner’s ability to bind the partnership and other partners?
A partner in a partnership is an agent of the partnership and the other partners, and can bind both as long as he has authority
What are the two ways an act can bind the firm through actual authority?
Act:
- Done in a way showing intention to bind the firm, or
- By any person actually authorised by the firm to undertake the act
What is implied actual authority?
Where there is no express actual authority, but the partners have allowed a partner to regularly do something
What type of act must a partner make to bind the firm through apparent/ostensible authority?
An act carrying on the business of the firm in the usual way
What two things must be true for apparent authority to not bind the firm?
- Partner had no authority to act, and
- The person with whom the partner was dealing either knew the partner had no authority to act, or did not think the person with whom they were dealing was a partner
What are the two questions to ask in determining whether business of the firm was being carried on in the usual way?
- Would a reasonable person think a business of this kind would usually do this act?
- What authority would a reasonable person expect a partner in such a business to have?
What four things have case law shown partners will have the authority to do?
- Buy and sell firm goods
- Receive debt payments due to the firm
- Hire employees
- Employ a solicitor to act for the firm
When will notice given to a single partner be deemed given to the firm?
When it is given to a partner who habitually acts in the business
(except where the notice-giver and the partner are engaged in fraud against the firm)
If it turns out that there was neither actual nor apparent authority, who is bound?
Only the partner who entered into the dealing, in their personal capacity
What is a general partner’s liability for debts of the partnership?
Unlimited
What does it mean that partnership liability is joint and several?
A creditor can pursue one or all of the partners
When will the partners be jointly and severally liable for torts committed by another partner?
When the tort is committed in the course of business, or with authority of the partners
Is an incoming partner liable to the creditors of a partnership for anything done before becoming a partner?
Not unless they agree