Joint Ventures / Partnerships

A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets.

A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. Relationship of Partners to Each Other Each partner has a right to share in the profits of the partnership. Unless the partnership agreement states otherwise, partners share profits equally. Moreover, partners must contribute equally to partnership losses unless a partnership agreement provides for another arrangement. Each partner also has a duty of loyalty to the partnership. Each partner is jointly liable with the partnership for the obligations of the partnership. Taxation is one of the primary reasons to form a partnership is to obtain its favorable tax treatment.

Dissolution of a partnership generally occurs when one of the partners ceases to be a partner in the firm. Dissolution is distinct from the termination of a partnership and the "winding up" of partnership business. Although the term dissolution implies termination, dissolution is actually the beginning of the process that ultimately terminates a partnership. It is, in essence, a change in the relationship between the partners.

Accordingly, if a partner resigns or if a partnership expels a partner, the partnership is considered legally dissolved. Other causes of dissolution are the Bankruptcy or death of a partner, an agreement of all partners to dissolve, or an event that makes the partnership business illegal. Nevertheless, unless the partnership agreement states otherwise, dissolution begins the process whereby the partnership's business will ultimately be wound up and terminated.