Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

General partnership definition

What does General partnership mean? A general partnership is the standard, unlimited-liability business structure used when two or more persons run a business together for profit, sharing management and profits. In UK and Irish practice it aligns with the “partnership” defined in the Partnership Act 1890 as the relationship between persons carrying on a business in common with a view of profit. The Act is not a complete code and preserves common law and equity; case law shapes partners’ authority, fiduciary duties and dissolution. Key features include informal formation (no incorporation), each partner acting as agent of the firm within the ordinary course...

General Partnerships under English Law (Partnership Act 1890): Framework, Partner/Worker Status, Authority, Liability, Property, Holding Out and Collective Investment Scheme Issues

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Practice notes

This Practice Note examines general partnerships established under the partnership Act 1890. It sets out the key statutes and case law that shape the legal framework for partnerships. It also explains how to assess whether an individual is a partner, when partners may properly be regarded as employees or workers, the extent of a partner’s authority, partners’ liability for the firm’s debts and obligations, and the treatment of partnership property...

Sources of partnership law

The principal source of law for a general partnership governed by English law (as distinct from a limited liability partnership, a limited partnership, or a partnership incorporated under Scottish law) is the Partnership Act 1890 (PA 1890), which has remained largely unchanged for more than a century. However, it is not a comprehensive code: it expressly preserves the rules of equity and common law applicable to partnerships, except where these conflict with the express provisions of the PA 1890. Frequently, partners put in place a written agreement setting out their mutual rights and duties, although this is not compulsory (see Practice Note: General partnership agreements)...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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