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Limited liability partnership or LLP meaning

What does Limited liability partnership or LLP mean?
Commonly used by professional services firms and joint ventures, an LLP lets owners (members) manage the business like partners while limiting their personal liability for the LLP’s debts. In England & Wales and Scotland, “limited liability partnership” is a statutory corporate form created by the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 and subsidiary regulations. An LLP is a separate legal entity, may contract, sue and be sued in its own name, and is generally tax‑transparent (treated as a partnership for UK tax purposes where it carries on a trade or profession with a view to profit). Members agree internal rights and profit‑sharing under an LLP agreement; “designated members” have filing and compliance duties. LLPs must register and file accounts at Companies House. In Northern Ireland, an LLP is formed under equivalent Northern Ireland legislation and is treated consistently with Great Britain for corporate, accounting and tax purposes. In Ireland, “LLP” status is available to partnerships of solicitors under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. It limits partners’ personal liability but does not create a separate legal entity; the firm remains a partnership under the Partnership Act 1890. Outside that context, there is no general corporate LLP form in Ireland.
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View the related Checklists about Limited liability partnership or LLP

CHECKLISTS
Registering Company Charges at UK Companies House: Practical Checklist, MR01 Process and 21-day Deadline (CA 2006 Part 25)

Use this Checklist when filing charges at Companies House where a UK company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) created the charge on or after 6 April 2013, and also read it alongside Practice Notes: How to register security at Companies House and Registering security at Companies House. For the purposes of Part 25 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) on Company Charges, a 'charge' also covers a mortgage. Accordingly, references to a 'charge' in this Checklist should be understood to include a mortgage. Checklist The fourth column can be used to record observations or comments while progressing through the Checklist, capturing any points as the Checklist is worked through...

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CHECKLISTS
Admitting a new LLP member: legal, regulatory and practical checklist (UK)

This checklist highlights the principal matters to review when a new individual joins a limited liability partnership (LLP), covering legal, regulatory and practical considerations. Identity of new member Full name and residential or registered address of the incoming member? Confirm the individual is not an undischarged bankrupt and is not prohibited from acting as an LLP member or as a company director. Check whether any current agreements or restrictive covenants (eg employment, LLP, joint venture, finance documents) could limit their ability to join or commit to the LLP. LLP agreement and other documentation What mechanism in the current LLP agreement governs the admission of new members? Will a deed of adherence/accession be required? Are any amendments needed to the terms of the existing LLP agreement? Do any related contracts require variation or consent, eg leases and IP licences?...

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CHECKLISTS
UK LLP formation and governance: legal, regulatory and practical checklist for lawyers

This checklist outlines the main points to address when establishing a limited liability partnership (LLP), covering legal, regulatory and practical considerations. Number and identity of the members How many members will there be, and who are they? Eligibility: a member must not be an undischarged bankrupt, nor disqualified from acting as an LLP member or a company director. Capacity of each member: individual, company, other entity or body. For individuals, provide: full name and any former business name(s) used within the previous 20 years usual residential address (plus any CA 2006, s 243 exemption from disclosure to credit reference agencies as it applies to LLPs) service address (this can be the LLP’s registered office) country or state of residence date of birth For corporations, provide: name (and any firm name) registered or principal office registration number (for a UK company)...

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View the related Flowcharts about Limited liability partnership or LLP

FLOWCHARTS
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Formation: Conditions and Step-by-Step Registration Flowchart

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View the related News about Limited liability partnership or LLP

NEWS
High Court confirms PPNs extend to LLPs and that defective enquiry notice service remains valid—Sword Services Ltd v HMRC

Sword Services Ltd and others v Revenue and Customs Commissioners What was this case about? The taxpayers brought a judicial review to contest payment notices (PPNs) issued by HMRC to members (ie partners) of several film production partnerships, seeking to have those notices quashed. PPNs are a form of accelerated payment notice (APN) given to partnership members. As with an APN, a PPN requires tax to be paid upfront while HMRC’s enquiries into the relevant arrangements are concluded. For more on the accelerated payments regime, see Practice Note: Accelerated payment notices. The taxpayers argued that the PPNs were unlawful on two bases: They were issued to members of a limited liability partnership (LLP), but schedule 32 to the FA 2014 (the PPN legislation) does not, in the taxpayers’ view, authorise HMRC to issue PPNs to LLP members; it applies only to other forms of partnership, such as general or limited partnerships. Condition A, one of the statutory requirements that must be met before...

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NEWS
UK corporate weekly update: directors' duties cases, LLP confirmation statement updates, SPA warranty time-bar ruling, FCA listing reforms, and EU SME/third-country ESRS delay - 9 May 2024

In this issue: Environmental, social and governance Limited liability partnerships Directors Private M&A Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Environmental, social and governance European Sustainability Reporting Standards for SMEs and non‑EU undertakings have been formally postponed. Directive (EU) 2024/1306 of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated 29 April 2024, amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards the time limits for the adoption of sustainability reporting standards for particular sectors and for specified third‑country undertakings, has now been published in the Official Journal. See: LNB News 08/05/2024 39. Limited liability partnerships Companies House has released an updated version of the limited liability partnership confirmation statement form (LL CS01). The document confirms LLP particulars on the public Companies House register. The new edition applies to LLPs with a confirmation date on or after 5 March 2024, while LLPs dated 4 March 2024 or earlier must continue to use the previous...

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NEWS
UK restructuring and insolvency update: MVL-to-CVL conversion, Etridge clarified, Petrofac RPs fairness, director disqualifications, ECCTA/LLP identity rules, CBIR disclosure - weekly highlights, 3 July 2025

In this issue: Corporate insolvency process Personal insolvency Document review Restructuring Directors and insolvency Creditor participation Employees and insolvency Partnership insolvency International restructuring and insolvency Daily and weekly news alerts New content New Q&As Corporate insolvency process Contested debt and shift from members’ voluntary liquidation to creditors’ voluntary liquidation (Noal SCSp v Novalpina Capital LLP (in members voluntary liquidation)) This ruling makes clear that where a company in members’ voluntary liquidation (MVL) cannot satisfy all liabilities in full, together with interest at the official rate, within the timeframe specified in the directors’ declaration under section 89 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), it must move into creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL). There is no solvency assessment available to alter that timeframe. As the entity is already in liquidation, the liquidator lacks any discretion and is required, by IA 1986, s 95, to effect the conversion from MVL to CVL....

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View the related Practice Notes about Limited liability partnership or LLP

PRACTICE NOTES
Converting to an LLP: pensions implications, TUPE, section 75 debts, scheme transfers, consultation and life assurance for transfers from partnerships or companies

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) An LLP is a statutory business vehicle created under the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2000 (LLPA 2000). From 6 April 2001, LLPs have been capable of being formed in England and Wales. Notable features of an LLP are: It is a corporate body and separate legal entity, with a legal personality independent of its members. It has unrestricted capacity. Its members benefit from limited liability, whereas partners in a general partnership have unlimited liability (although, for tax purposes, an LLP is treated as a general partnership). Members may determine their own arrangements, via an LLP members’ agreement, including: obligations to contribute to the LLP allocation of management responsibilities profit distribution mechanisms the appointment and removal of LLP members members’ duties to provide for their retirements An LLP is also distinct from a limited partnership constituted under the Limited Partnership Act 1907....

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Money Laundering Regulations: reporting material beneficial ownership discrepancies—scope, CDD and ongoing monitoring, materiality examples, and reporting to Companies House or HMRC (companies, trusts and overseas entities)

Practice Note This Practice Note sets out guidance on the obligation to report material discrepancies in beneficial ownership information. It is aimed at organisations within scope of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017), SI 2017/692, as amended, when engaging with clients or customers that are corporate bodies and trusts, including overseas entities. It is not a guide for corporate bodies or trusts on their own obligations concerning beneficial ownership information and registration. The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/860, in force from 1 April 2023, expanded the scope of discrepancy reporting so that it applies: throughout the life of the business relationship, rather than being confined to client inception only to entities recorded on the Register of Overseas Entities (a public register of the beneficial owners of overseas entities which own land and property in the UK) Before establishing a business relationship...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Auto-enrolment in workplace pensions: categorising workers and jobholders, territorial scope, qualifying earnings, pay reference periods, exceptions and contractual enrolment (England and Wales)

FORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT : The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill secured Royal Assent on 18 September 2023, becoming the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 (the Act), and was published on 19 September 2023. The Act confers powers on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to make regulations to: lower the minimum age at which otherwise eligible employees must be automatically enrolled and re-enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers; remove the Lower Earnings Limit from the qualifying earnings band so that contributions are calculated from the first pound of earnings; and revise the requirements for the annual review of the qualifying earnings band. Adjustments to automatic enrolment eligibility will proceed following a consultation on the detailed implementation method and timing. The commencement of section 1 of the Act is set to be ‘on such day or days as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint’. For further information, see: DWP press release, Work...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent: Pro-licensee Technology IP Evaluation and Option to Negotiate Licence Agreement (England and Wales)

This Agreement is dated [ insert date ] Parties [ insert licensor name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], registered number [ insert company or LLP number ], with [ registered office OR principal place of business ] at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and [ insert licensee name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], registered number [ insert company or LLP number ], with [ registered office OR principal place of business ] at [ insert address ] (Licensee) Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party; together, the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties. Background The Licensor is the proprietor of the Technology IP. The Licensee has agreed...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent minutes for LLP members’ meeting approving a proposed transaction and authorising execution of documents

registration number OC : [ insert registration number ] [ insert name ] LLP Minutes of a meeting of the members (the Meeting) of [ insert name ] LLP (the LLP ) Convened at: [ insert place of meeting ] Date and time: [ insert day, month and year of meeting ] at [ insert time of meeting ] [ am or pm ] Present [ insert name of member to be the chair ] (Chair) [ insert names of members who are physically present ] [ insert names of any members present by telephone as permitted by the limited liability partnership agreement ] (by telephone) [ insert names of any members present by other means ]...

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PRECEDENTS
Limited liability partnership (LLP) members' agreement precedent: governance, capital, profit sharing, admission/expulsion, intellectual property and dispute resolution (England and Wales)

This llp Agreement is dated [ insert date and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties The persons identified in Part A of Schedule 1 ( Initial Members ); and [ insert name ] LLP, a limited liability partnership (registration number OC [ insert number ]), whose registered office is at [ insert address ] ( LLP ). background [ The LLP was formed under the Act on [ insert date ]. OR The Initial Members plan to incorporate the LLP under the Act on, or immediately following, the date of this agreement. ] The Initial Members enter into this agreement to define the LLP’s internal arrangements and to set out their respective rights, obligations and duties in relation to the LLP...

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View the related Q&As about Limited liability partnership or LLP

Q&As
LLP insolvency: ranking of members’ capital and current accounts vs unsecured creditors; can this be altered by agreement?

In partnership with Alexander Stewart of Hogarth Chambers If a limited liability partnership (LLP) becomes insolvent, the preferred view is that members’ entitlements to amounts due under their capital and current accounts are subordinated to the claims of external unsecured creditors. That said, it can be contended that members’ claims for advances or loans made to the LLP—despite being entered in their current accounts—stand on the same footing as those of external unsecured creditors. LLPs are established by the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 (LLPA 2000). In several respects, including insolvency, LLPs are akin to limited companies rather than partnerships; see: Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and insolvency—overview. Where an LLP is insolvent, it is terminated by voluntary or compulsory winding-up. The winding-up regime under the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) operates alongside LLPA 2000, s 14 and the Limited Liability Partnerships Regulations 2001 (LLPR 2001), SI 2001/1090, reg 5 and LLPR 2001, SI 2001/1090, Sch 3 (as amended)...

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