Partnerships often start because two people with great business ideas believe they will work together well. Whether you started a business with a family member, friend, or colleague, getting along is key to smooth operations of the partnership. However, there is always the chance that a conflict could arise and a partner could want to take legal action against you.

Do You Have a Partnership Agreement?

The first place to turn to see how legal conflicts between partners should be resolved is the partnership agreement. Such agreements often address this matter and may limit the abilities of partners to file a lawsuit. Instead, a partner may be required to engage in arbitration or another alternative dispute-resolution method to resolve the problem.

Texas Partnership Law

If there is no partnership agreement or your agreement does not address dispute resolution, the situation will be governed by Texas partnership law. The law gives partners the right to file claims for the following:

  • Breaching a partnership agreement
  • Violating a duty to the partnership, such as the duty of loyalty or care, that resulted in harm to the partnership
  • To enforce any rights under the partnership agreement or under the law

The law allows lawsuits to be filed seeking legal or equitable relief from you.

Defending against Legal Claims by Partners

If you are facing a lawsuit from a partner, it is critical that you seek representation from an attorney with experience in business litigation who can help you defend against such claims. Qualified legal representation can help significantly limit or avoid liability on your part.

However, you may be able to avoid such legal conflicts altogether if you seek help from a business lawyer to draft an effective and enforceable partnership agreement that can help resolve disputes in less costly ways than litigation.

Speak with a Houston Business Litigation Attorney Regarding Your Situation Today

The Weisblatt Law Firm has helped many partners and other business owners resolve conflicts through both negotiation and litigation. If you are facing a legal dispute regarding your business, call our business litigation lawyer for help at 713-666-1981.

1http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/BO/htm/BO.152.htm#152.211

Houston Business Contracts Attorney

Attorney Andrew Weisblatt

Mr. Weisblatt has practiced continuously since becoming licensed in 1992 and has represented businesses ranging in size from one person start-up ventures to multi-national corporations employing hundreds of people in multiple countries. From 2005 through 2009 Mr. Weisblatt was in-house counsel and chief operating officer of a multi-national corporation in the steel products industry. That in-house position provided valuable insight into how businesses work and what they actually need from their lawyers – both in-house and outside counsel. Attorney Bio