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Brilliant minds able to communicate potential problems and prepare you for what is likely to occur

Legal 500 UK 2022

If you are a Partner or Member of an LLP then your pay structure, rights, and obligations will differ to those of regular employees. We understand this and regularly advise partners in Professional Services entering into partnership or LLP agreements, and in relation to partnership LLP disputes and exits.

Partners’ and LLP Members’ remuneration packages usually relate to a share of profits rather than salary, and in investment management, carried interest schemes are common. We are familiar with and advise in relation to these, particularly on an exit to ensure that you receive your full entitlements.

As a Partner you are a fiduciary, meaning that you owe greater obligations of loyalty to the Partnership than employees do to their employers, and you may be required to account to the Partnership in respect of any breach of your fiduciary duties. This changes the landscape when advising in relation to disciplinary and performance matters, and the steps to be taken by a Partner to exit and move to a competitor. Members of an LLP may also owe fiduciary duties and we will be able to advise in relation to those. Post termination restraints against Partners or LLP Members are more likely to be enforceable than against employees, and this is a common battle ground for departing Partners/Members.

Partners and LLP Members remain entitled to discrimination and whistleblowing protections and we routinely act for Partners/Members in the Employment Tribunal in relation to such matters.

Most partnerships are in the professional services sectors and as such are regulated. We understand the interplay between asserting your contractual and statutory rights, whilst observing your regulatory obligations and preserving your reputation.

Examples of our work:

  • Acting for an equity partner of a well-known management consultancy. Negotiating their exit in context of complex LLP notice provisions and post termination restraints enabling them to take up a new high profile senior role and advising on complex bonus and share provisions in their new contract.
  • Acting for a partner in real estate investment management firm in relation to their threatened expulsion as a Partner, including negotiating in relation to ‘co-invest’ interest and ‘carried interest’ benefits in various investment vehicles.
  • Acting for an equity partner in relation to a allegations of misconduct which led to a referral to the applicable regulatory body. We were able to successfully deal with the matter which resulted in no action being taken by the regulatory body.
  • We are a leading global investment firm’s panel of solicitors recommended to departing Partners who require advice on their settlement agreements. The remuneration structures include carried interest and dollars at work and we regularly advise in relation to these.
  • Acting for a female equity partner of a global US head quartered law firm following an attempt to expel her from the partnership. Issued proceedings for sex discrimination, and following mediation, reaching a seven figure severance.

Contact our Employment Team
telephone: 020 7691 4000
or email: enquiries@edwincoe.com

Quotes

They were friendly, professional and helped me navigate a situation I had no idea how to deal with. They put a smile on ...
Client Feedback 2023
They were friendly, professional and helped me navigate a situation I had no idea how to deal with. They put a smile on my face at a time I felt super lost and low, always feeling calm and kept me moving in the best direction for my case.

Client Feedback 2023

Clients value the Team: “They took time to understand my case and worked quickly and efficiently to ensure I received...
Client Feedback 2023
Clients value the Team: “They took time to understand my case and worked quickly and efficiently to ensure I received the best outcome possible, whilst always outlining the pro's and con's of each option”.

Client Feedback 2023

Clients recommend the Team due to their “extremely helpful and personable experience”.
Client Feedback 2023
Clients recommend the Team due to their “extremely helpful and personable experience”.

Client Feedback 2023

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Employment

Partnership Disputes and LLPs

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