We never signed a partnership agreement. Are we still partners?

Possibly. A partnership can exist without a written agreement, and the Partnership Act then sets the default rules. We work out where you stand.

Am I liable for debts my partner ran up?

Partners are generally liable for partnership debts. Separating cleanly, and notifying the right people, limits your exposure from then on.

Most document work (leases, agreements, structures) is quoted as a fixed fee from the outset. Debt recovery is staged: a fixed fee for the letter of demand and for a statutory demand, then a written estimate for any court step. Larger matters such as a business sale or a contested proceeding are scoped and estimated in writing before we start, and you are told early if anything changes.

When a partnership ends,
end it fairly.

Partners fall out over money, workload and the future of the business. We help partners separate, share what they built, and resolve disputes without destroying the business in the process.

Book a free 15-minute call Call 03 8386 9502

Client reviews

Commercial law clients,
in their own words.

All 84 Google reviews

4.5★★★★★
Google rating from 84 client reviews
Every quote on this page is a public Google review, reproduced in the client’s own words. Read them all →
We engaged Joshi Lawyers for a business purchase and found them to be very professional, dedicated and helpful. Dinesh has a significant degree of knowledge in business and commercial law matters. We were advised about everything in detail and kept informed about our matter’s progress at each stage.
Anqi HuangBusiness purchase · Google review, 2017
Our first experience in Australia using any lawyer. All advice given was very fair and to the point. It was them who suggested the statutory demand process, which we used for a speedy recovery, and it worked.
GNS Group AustraliaDebt recovery · Google review, 2023
Dinesh solved my dispute in 4 months where the other lawyer I had prior took 12 months giving me no foresight on my case. Dinesh has a clear foresight in his cases and closes all objections with ease and makes you aware of your standing.
Dheeraj WadhwaniBusiness dispute · Google review, 2018
From business settlements to my recent land settlement, they have never failed to impress me. Thank you Dinesh and your team for taking the stress from us and dealing with all sorts of issues and disputes very professionally.
Aarti AroraBusiness owner and investor · Google review, 2017

Is this you?

When people come to us about partnership disputes.

Each of these is a good reason to call, and none of them is too early.

Your partner has been taking more than their share.
One partner wants to leave and the other wants to keep trading.
There is no written partnership agreement.
The partnership owes money and you do not know who is liable.

How we help

Partners usually agree on more than they think. We start there.

Where there is a partnership agreement, it sets the rules for exits, valuation and dissolution. Where there is not, the Partnership Act 1958 fills the gaps. Each partner can usually be liable for the partnership’s debts, which makes a clean separation important.

We work out each partner’s position, take the accounts where needed, and negotiate a separation or dissolution. Court is the last step, not the first.

What we do

Advice on the partnership agreement or the Partnership Act
Accounts and the division of profits and assets
Exits, buy-outs and dissolution
Liability for partnership debts
Negotiation and mediation
Court proceedings where agreement fails

Book a free 15-minute call

What happens first

Your first week with us.

A matter should feel different from the first call. This is what you can expect before anything is signed or sent.

What it costs

The first call: what the real question is
Most commercial matters turn on one or two points. We find them first, so the work goes where it counts.
Within the week: a strategy and a written estimate
What a good outcome looks like, how we propose to reach it, and what it will cost, before any letter is sent.
Deadlines first
Statutory demands, court documents and notices carry short time limits. We deal with those before anything else.
From then on: one senior lawyer
You deal with the same lawyer throughout, and you are told early if anything changes.

Your team

Who you will deal with.

Matters are run by the people below, not handed down.

Meet our people

Questions

Frequently asked questions

If your question is not here, it is a good reason for the free call.

We never signed a partnership agreement. Are we still partners?
Possibly. A partnership can exist without a written agreement, and the Partnership Act then sets the default rules. We work out where you stand.
Am I liable for debts my partner ran up?
Partners are generally liable for partnership debts. Separating cleanly, and notifying the right people, limits your exposure from then on.
What does it cost?
Most document work (leases, agreements, structures) is quoted as a fixed fee from the outset. Debt recovery is staged: a fixed fee for the letter of demand and for a statutory demand, then a written estimate for any court step. Larger matters such as a business sale or a contested proceeding are scoped and estimated in writing before we start, and you are told early if anything changes.