Business and Corporate Law

Key features of Partnership as compared to Joint Venture

A partnership firm can be characterized as an ongoing relationship which exists between the partners. Unlike an incorporated company, partnership firm does not have any legal existence of its own. In the event any of the partners resign or dies or leaves the partnership for any reason, the partnership shall be automatically dissolved, though no impact shall be made on the continuity of business (Buckley and Casson, 2010). The primary rationale for formation of a partnership is undertaking a business venture with the intention to earn profits. Moreover, each of the partner is a co-owner, working together on an agreement to share all the profits as well as losses. In the case ofHurst v, Bryk and ors.(2002) it was opined by the court that all the partners shall be liable jointly and severally for all the debts which have been incurred by their partnership firm. On the other hand, Joint Venture is formulated between individuals or corporates, in order to pursue a common strategic goal, parallel to maintenance of their separate business. As against the nature of a partnership, Joint Venture may be formed to pursue to specific purpose which could be anything in the form of research and development or any such activity (Joint Venture in the UK: Overview,2017). The primary rationale for formation of these relation is for distribution of cost and risk, in addition to contribution in terms of capabilities or technology.

Applicable Legal Framework

The governing law for partnership firms is entailed in the Partnership Act 1890, in accordance to which any association existing between two or more individuals, for conducting operating a business, with the intention to earn profits can be defined as Partnership Firm. In accordance to the 2002 amendment any number of persons can form a partnership, however, the minimum remains to be two (Yamin and Golesorkhi, 2010). It is important to note that all the provisions of the statute shall be applicable on partnerships, unless impliedly or expressly excluded by the parties. In accordance to the stipulated law, every partner has the right to be indemnified against all the liabilities undertaken on behalf of the partnership firm. Unlike the companies, there is no limited liability of partners (Klijn and et. al., 2010). Termination of a partnership could be either through lapse of time or discontinuity of a partner. On the contrary, there is no specific legislation which governs the Joint Venture agreements. However, these relationships shall attract legal provisions in accordance to the specific business structure. Thus, primarily an amalgamation of Corporate and Partnership Law, Common Law rules, Tax Laws, Contract Law and Competition Law shall govern the activities of this form of association (Joint venture,2015).

Comparing the business Structure

In accordance to the law of Partnership, an organization can take the form of following business structures:

• Ordinary Partnership
• Limited Partnership
• Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

An ordinary partnership can be characterized as an entity which has no legal existence of its own. Removal or discharge of even one of the partner shall terminate the partnership. However, the continuity of business shall not be hampered. Further, a limited partnership is created as a result of combination of ordinary as well as limited partners. These partnerships shall be registered with Companies House. The liability in of limited partnership shall be to the extent of investment made by each of them, in addition to any personal guarantee given. Lastly, LLP is one of the most regularized entities, formulated under LLP Act. It requires appointment of minimum two designated members (An overview of Limited Liability Partnerships – Advantages and Disadvantages, 2017). Apart from these, LLP is required to be registered, file Annual Return and file accounts with Companies House.

On the other hand, the business structure of a Joint Venture can be in the form of:

• Limited Company
• General Partnership
• Limited Liability Partnership
• Contractual Relationship

Joint Venture in the form of limited company or LLP, enjoys the position of bodies corporate under English Law. In pursuance to which there existence of a Corporate Veil rendering separate legal personality to the entity. On the other hand, the other two forms shall not enjoy such a status.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Some of the primary advantages of partnership are that the process of establishment of these entities are relatively less complex and time consuming. The partners have the liberty to operate the business in the manner they wish to as minimum external regulations are imposed on the working of these organizations (Das and Rahman, 2010). One important advantage attached with LLP is that in addition to merits of a partnership firm, the partners can also enjoy limited liability. Apart from LLP, every partnership firm suffers from the demerit of joint and several liability in respect to the obligations of the entire firm. Moreover, the profits are required to be shared with other parters and liability remains to be negative.

On the other hand, the fundamental merits which are attached with Joint Venture can be enjoyed by organizations in all the range. Some of the specific allowances which are enjoyed by this form are expansion of business, no outside investment and gaining access to extra resources which could in the form of advanced technology or trained staff. The commitment among the parties have an expiry data (Morse, 2010). However, one of the major disadvantage of this form of organization is to identify right people and build a strong relation of trust. There is more uncertainty in this form of arrangements.

Conclusion

The analysis of all the features attached with Partnership and Joint Venture has led to a conclusion that Xiaojing, Lance and Nick shall adopt a limited Liability Partnership for undertaking their herbal product business. The primary rationale for this recommendation is that this option shall render the benefits of partnership as well as a company. All the three partners can enjoy limited liability of the business, yet work in a partnership format to enjoy the benefit of developing their own terms through the partnership Agreement. Moreover, commencing a business through a partnership relationship shall be more beneficial in comparison to a Joint Venture as the latter may not be able to render certainty to the relationship.

References

Books and Journals

• Buckley, P. J. and Casson, M., 2010. An economic model of international joint venture strategy. In The Multinational Enterprise Revisited (pp. 118-146). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
• Das, T. K. and Rahman, N., 2010. Determinants of partner opportunism in strategic alliances: a conceptual framework. Journal of Business and Psychology.25 (1). pp. 55-74.
• Klijn, E. and et. al., 2010. Combinations of partners' joint venture formation motives. European Business Review.22 (6). pp. 576-590.
• Morse, G., 2010. Partnership law. Oxford University Press.
• Yamin, M. and Golesorkhi, S., 2010. Cultural distance and the pattern of equity ownership structure in international joint ventures. International Business Review. 19 (5). pp. 457-467.

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