Partnerships Flashcards
What is the definition of a partnership?
An association of 2 or more persons who co-own a business for profit.
-legal persons (company) (anyone legal capacity to K)
-
How to determine if a partnership exists:
TOTALITY OF CIRCS TEST (imprecise)
- co-ownership of property does not in itself established Partnership
- Receipt of share of profits is prima facie evidence that he is partner, but this inference NOT drawn if profits were payments of debt, wages, annuity t widow etc., loan interest, or purchase of something
Does the formation of a partnership require written formalities?
NONE whatsoever.
How does partnership liability work?
General, Ptrs jointly and severally liable for everything chargeable to the partnership
What if someone calls himself a partner, or allows someone else to present him that way, but is not?
He is liable to anyone who relied on the representation that he was a partner
Duty of loyalty in a partnership
Partner must:
- Account to the partnership and hold as trustee for it any benefit derived in conduct (including winding up) of business, use of aprntersip property, or appropriation of paternjhip opportunity.
- do not act adverse to the partnership in any affairsv (including winding up business) (can use defense that transaction was fair to partnership)
- No competing in business before dissolution
Describe partner’s duty of care
In the conduct or winding up of parntnership:
refrain from engaging in
1. grossly negligent or reckless conduct,
2. wilfull or intentional misconduct, or
3. knowing violation of law
3 crucial elements of a partnership
(1) an intention to be partners,
(2) co-ownership of the business, and
(3) a profit motive
How is joint venture different from a partnership?
A joint venture is similar to a partnership but is more limited in scope and duration,
and principles of partnership law apply to the
joint venture relationship
“Joint adventurers, like copartners, owe to one another, while the enterprise continues, the duty of the finest loyalty.”
What can limit the bounds of a partner’s fiduciary duty?
“The existence and scope of a fiduciary duty depends upon the language of the parties’ agreement.”
HOWEVER, FINEST loyalty and UTMOST care
when does a partnership form?
- division of PROFITS (not paying debts)
- sharing of control over business (most commonly different spheres of control)
Who can be a partner in a partnership?
Anyone with a legal capacity to contract.
NOT-
-minor
-intoxicated
-insane
YES: any company that can contract
What intent is required to form a partnership?
NOT to form a partnership. It’s:
- carry on a business together, each has some control (so not a principal-agent)
- for profit
Corporations can form a partnership by…
Needs to be way more formal than with natural persons. Filiing stuff
When two or more persons share profits…
presumption of a partnership.
Legal condsequences of having a partnership
- partnership is separate legal entity separate from each partner. Can sue, own property
- Partnership liability. Partners are personally liable for partnership obligations (unlike corporation) if partnership $ is exhausted.
- No entity-level taxation. Taxed when income is distribution to partners (less tax, nicer than corp)
What is a partnership agreement? “It is the law of partnerships”
- Partnerships can kinda set the terms of their partnerships however they want.
- Need not be written. New terms also need not be written
- What if no partnership agreement, just a partnership? STATE LAW FILLS THE GAP
What aspects of partnership agreement are mandatory?
- Personal liability to 3Ps is mandatory
- Can’t deny partners access to books and records
- Can’t waive fiduciary duties
Every partner is a fiduciary of…
the partnership