Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Start Your Partnership on Terms You Both Understand
A partnership can be the simplest way to build a business together — and the easiest to get wrong. Without a clear agreement, profit sharing, decision-making and liability are left to default rules that rarely match what the partners actually intended. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who drafts partnership agreements across Europe.
- Roles, profit & liability
- Decision-making and exit
- No fee to get matched
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Who this is for
People building a business together who want the terms clear from the start
A partnership agreement is a contract between two or more people who run a business together, setting out how profits and losses are shared, how decisions are made, and what happens when someone wants to leave or a partner dies. In many European jurisdictions, partners who trade together without an agreement fall back on default rules that may give them unlimited personal liability, equal profit shares and unwelcome outcomes on exit — regardless of what they intended. Whether you are forming a professional practice, a family business or a venture between friends, a clear agreement turns assumptions into obligations and prevents the disputes that later strain both the business and the relationship. We match you with a lawyer who drafts partnership agreements and understands the specific legal form — general, limited or otherwise — that fits your situation and your country.
Why partners get stuck
Partnerships often start on a handshake
and end in a dispute over what was ‘obvious’.
Without written terms, default legal rules and fading memories take over — usually to nobody’s benefit.
Unlimited personal liability
In many jurisdictions, general partners are personally liable for the debts of the business, including those incurred by another partner. Without an agreement that structures roles, authority and the partnership form itself, partners can be exposed far beyond what they expected.
Profit shares that don’t match reality
Default rules commonly split profits equally, even when one partner contributes more capital, time or expertise. Without an agreed formula, resentment builds and the division of earnings becomes the seed of a later dispute.
No path out when things change
What happens when one partner wants to retire, sell, or is no longer able to work? Without an exit mechanism — valuation, buy-out terms, notice periods — a departure can stall the business or force a costly negotiation at the worst time.
What you get
An agreement that matches how you actually work together
We only match you with lawyers who draft partnership and business agreements regularly in your jurisdiction.
Defined roles and authority
Your lawyer sets out what each partner contributes, who can bind the business to what, and how day-to-day decisions are made — so authority is explicit and the risk of one partner overcommitting is contained.
Fair profit and loss sharing
An agreed formula for distributing profits and bearing losses that reflects each partner’s actual contribution, replacing default rules that may not match your intentions or your circumstances.
Liability protection
Advice on the partnership form — general, limited or another structure — and on terms that limit exposure, so partners understand and manage their personal liability rather than discovering it later.
Exit and succession planning
Notice periods, valuation methods, buy-out terms and what happens on death or incapacity, agreed in advance so that a departure is orderly and the business can continue.
Coverage
Partnership agreement lawyers across Europe
Partnership law — including the forms available, liability rules and registration requirements — is set nationally, so the right lawyer is one who works with your specific country’s rules on a regular basis. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Partnership agreements — common questions
What is a partnership agreement?
It is a contract between the partners in a business that sets out how they share profits and losses, make decisions, contribute capital and work, and what happens when a partner leaves or dies. It replaces the default rules that would otherwise apply and lets partners define terms that reflect their actual arrangement.
Do partners have personal liability?
In a general partnership, partners are usually personally liable for the business’s debts, potentially beyond their capital contribution. The exact rules vary by country, and choosing a different structure — such as a limited partnership or a company — can change this, which is a key reason to take legal advice before forming.
What should a partnership agreement include?
Common provisions cover capital contributions, profit and loss sharing, decision-making and voting, each partner’s roles and authority, dispute resolution, and exit mechanisms such as notice periods, valuation and buy-out terms, as well as what happens on death or incapacity.
What happens if we start trading without an agreement?
In most jurisdictions, default partnership rules apply automatically. These often include equal profit sharing and joint and several liability, which may not match what the partners intended. It is advisable to formalise the arrangement as early as possible, before assumptions cause problems.
Can one partner leave without dissolving the business?
That depends on the terms of your agreement and the law of your country. A well-drafted agreement sets out notice periods, valuation and buy-out so that one partner can exit while the business continues, rather than forcing a dissolution and sale of assets.
What is the difference between a partnership and a limited company?
A partnership is typically a simpler, often unincorporated arrangement where the partners own and run the business directly and may bear personal liability. A limited company is a separate legal person, generally limiting owners’ liability to their shareholding. The right choice depends on your goals, tax position and risk appetite, and varies by country.
Free case review
Build your partnership on terms, not assumptions
Tell us about your business and partners and we’ll connect you with a partnership agreement lawyer in your country — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.