About

Provided by Lewis Silkin

Partnerships & LLPs
Among all the different ways to structure a business, LLPs and partnerships face a particularly unique range of issues that require a very distinct approach.

Structuring a traditional partnership or LLP needs careful planning and water-tight agreements to ensure that members’ rights and duties are clear, as well as understanding of the tax implications and fiduciary responsibilities which are different to those of employees. However, like all businesses, issues such as protecting a firm’s interests when key individuals retire or a team defects, dealing with disputes or grievances, and best managing mergers or joint ventures may all need to be addressed.

Our highly regarded practice advises on all aspects affecting LLPs, partnerships and the individuals who work within them, both contentious and non-contentious. We also have extensive experience in conducting sensitive investigations for partnerships in relation to misconduct, harassment and fraud.

As well as our well-deserved reputation as the "lawyer's lawyers", we are also trusted legal advisers for many leading firms of accountants, surveyors, architects and management consultants, as well as clients utilising a partnership structure in industries such as financial services, marketing communications and healthcare.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Partnership - UK-wide

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Lewis Silkin has a highly respected offering in the professional services arena, with notable expertise in advising legal and accountancy firms on partnership matters. The team is expert at handling contentious issues, including team moves, performance evaluation and compulsory retirement, as well as sensitive investigations and partner exits following allegations of misconduct. It also handles non-contentious matters, including LLP conversions.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Clive Greenwood
1
Clive Greenwood
1
Band 1

Clive Greenwood is a consultant partner specialising in contentious mandates, including those that relate to performance issues, misconduct claims and restrictive covenants.

Clive is great at working with clients and getting a result; he is delightful to work with.

He's just so good: he finds solutions you didn't know were there.

Chris Hallinan
2
Chris Hallinan
2
Band 2

Chris Hallinan assists clients with a variety of partnership matters, including international structures, redrafting of LLP agreements, governance and succession planning issues.

Chris Hallinan is our trusted adviser for partnership matters.

His advice has been invaluable and he has supported us to make fundamental improvements to our agreements.

He's just technically very strong, very good at assimilating lots of information and bringing it together in a coherent way.

Chris's advice was tailored to our circumstances. He was able to explain the risks involved in the decisions that we had to make and offer up various options that we had not necessarily considered.

Chris was brilliant - he is an expert and managed our needs very well.

Michael Burd
2
Michael Burd
2
Band 2
Michael Burd is an employment law specialist who also has notable expertise in partnership law. He is particularly adept in advising international law firms on partner disputes, exits and claims concerning sexual harassment.

Michael is an absolute superstar. He is always available, hugely experienced, and gives considered, thoughtful and proactive advice.

Eleanor Diamond
Eleanor Diamond
Associates to watch

Eleanor Diamond regularly assists on partnership disputes concerning partner expulsions, discrimination claims and compulsory retirement, among other issues.

Eleanor was great to work with: professional, but with empathy and understanding given the circumstances.

She is a complete pleasure to work with.

Frances Simm
Frances Simm
Associates to watch

Frances Simm advises on contentious partnership matters including partner exits and disputes.

She is very capable, very effective and great to work with.

Ranked Lawyers at
Lewis Silkin

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK-wide

Partnership: Contentious

Clive Greenwood
1
Clive Greenwood
1
Band 1
Michael Burd
2
Michael Burd
2
Band 2
Eleanor Diamond
Eleanor Diamond
Associates to watch
Frances Simm
Frances Simm
Associates to watch
Partnership: Non-contentious

Chris Hallinan
2
Chris Hallinan
2
Band 2