Toronto partnership agreement lawyer for business owners and entrepreneurs. Agreements drafted to protect your interests, reviewed to prevent costly disputes, and structured to keep the partnership on solid ground.
· Reviewed by Jonathan Kleiman, J.D.
Jonathan Kleiman is a partnership agreement lawyer in Toronto who drafts, reviews, and negotiates the agreements that define how business partners work together, share profits, make decisions, and resolve disputes.
Whether you are launching a new partnership, bringing in a new partner, restructuring an existing arrangement, or dealing with a dispute — Jonathan provides clear, practical legal counsel that protects your interests and your investment in the business.
Every engagement begins with a free 30-minute consultation.
If you operate a business partnership in Ontario without a written agreement, the Ontario Partnerships Act fills in the gaps with default rules — including equal profit sharing regardless of what each partner actually contributed, and the right of any partner to dissolve the partnership at any time.
Those defaults rarely reflect how business partners actually intend to run the business. A partnership agreement lawyer replaces those defaults with terms that match your specific arrangement.
Partnership disputes are among the most expensive and disruptive business conflicts. Without clear written terms governing profit sharing, decision-making authority, and exit rights, partners end up in court arguing over issues that a properly drafted agreement would have resolved in advance.
The cost of a partnership agreement is a fraction of the cost of litigating a partnership dispute in the Ontario Superior Court.
A written partnership agreement establishes each partner's rights and obligations from the start — making it clear what happens when the business grows, when partners disagree, and when someone wants out.
Already operating without a partnership agreement? Read more about partnership business agreements in Ontario or contact Jonathan to get one in place before a problem surfaces.
Drafting partnership agreements is the foundation of preventive legal work for business partnerships. Jonathan drafts agreements from scratch, tailored to the specific structure, goals, and risks of your partnership.
Every clause is written with two objectives:
Profit sharing, capital contributions, decision-making authority, management roles, and partner obligations for Ontario general partnerships.
Defining general and limited partner roles, liability protections, investment terms, and distribution waterfalls for limited partnerships registered in Ontario.
Governing contributions, intellectual property ownership, profit sharing, and exit terms for project-based or time-limited business collaborations.
For incorporated businesses where shareholders operate as partners in practice — combining corporate governance with partnership-style profit sharing and management terms.
Before you sign a partnership agreement — or when your business has changed since the original agreement was signed — have the agreement reviewed by a Toronto partnership lawyer.
Partnership agreements should be reviewed and updated whenever there is a material change — adding a new partner, changing capital contributions, expanding into new markets, or restructuring profit sharing.
An outdated agreement creates the same risks as having no agreement at all.
Even well-drafted partnership agreements can lead to disagreements. When a dispute arises between business partners, Jonathan pursues resolution in the most cost-effective way available — starting with direct negotiation, moving to mediation if needed, and proceeding to litigation when necessary.
Partnership disputes under $50,000 are handled in the Ontario Small Claims Court.
Disputes above the Small Claims threshold proceed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Jonathan represents partners in both courts.
Free 30-minute consultation. No fee, no obligation.
A partnership agreement lawyer in Toronto protects business owners and investors by ensuring the agreement addresses the issues that cause partnerships to fail.
Jonathan drafts agreements that balance each partner's investment, effort, and risk — so the partnership operates on clear terms from day one.
If more than one person has a financial stake in a business, a partnership contract lawyer should be involved to document the arrangement before problems arise.
Toronto business owners and partners come to Jonathan for help with:
Every clause should be drafted with both the day-to-day operation and the worst-case scenario in mind. A business partnership agreement lawyer anticipates the issues that arise when partners disagree — and writes around them.
Most partnership disputes happen between people who trusted each other completely at the start. A good partnership agreement is not a sign of distrust — it's a sign that both partners take the business seriously.
When a partnership needs to end, the process of dissolution depends on what the partnership agreement provides:
Jonathan reviews the partnership agreement's dissolution provisions, buyout clauses, and any restrictions on partner exits.
Determining the fair market value of the departing partner's interest, using the valuation method specified in the agreement or accepted accounting principles.
Jonathan negotiates the buyout price, payment terms, transition responsibilities, and post-exit obligations including non-compete restrictions.
Once terms are agreed, Jonathan handles the legal documentation — asset distribution, liability settlement, and registration of dissolution where required.
Whether you are selling your interest in the business or winding up the partnership entirely, having a partnership agreement lawyer manage the process protects your financial interests and minimizes conflict.
Jonathan earned his B.A. (with distinction) at McGill University and his J.D. at Queen's University. He has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2011.
Your partnership lawyer should be someone you can call when a question comes up — not someone you have to schedule weeks in advance to reach. Jonathan handles partnership matters for small businesses, startups, and established firms across the Greater Toronto Area.
Whether you need a new partnership agreement drafted, an existing one reviewed, or help resolving a partnership dispute — bring the details and get an experienced read on your situation.
Call 416-554-1639 or book a free consultation.
The questions Toronto business owners and entrepreneurs ask most often about partnership agreements, partnership disputes, and working with a partnership agreement lawyer.
Ontario does not require a written partnership agreement to form a partnership — but operating without one is extremely risky. Without a written agreement, the Ontario Partnerships Act applies default rules that may not reflect how you and your partners actually intend to run the business.
A partnership agreement lawyer drafts a custom agreement that covers profit sharing, decision-making, dispute resolution, and exit strategies tailored to your business.
Most partnership agreement drafting and review matters are handled on a flat-fee basis. Jonathan quotes the fee before work begins so there are no surprises.
Complex agreements involving multiple partners, significant capital contributions, or detailed buyout provisions may be quoted separately.
A comprehensive partnership agreement should include each partner's capital contributions, profit and loss sharing ratios, roles and responsibilities, decision-making authority, dispute resolution procedures, restrictions on transferring partnership interests, non-compete and non-solicitation clauses, dissolution and exit provisions, and what happens if a partner dies or becomes incapacitated.
A partnership agreement lawyer ensures nothing critical is missed.
Yes. Partnership agreements should be reviewed and updated whenever there is a significant change in the business — such as adding a new partner, changing profit-sharing ratios, bringing in outside investors, or expanding operations.
Jonathan reviews existing agreements, identifies gaps or outdated terms, and drafts amendments that reflect the current state of the partnership.
If your partnership agreement includes a dispute resolution clause, the process outlined in that clause governs — typically mediation followed by arbitration or litigation.
If there is no agreement or the agreement is silent on disputes, the Ontario Partnerships Act and common law apply. Jonathan represents partners in disputes involving profit sharing, fiduciary duty breaches, unauthorized transactions, and partnership dissolution.
Partnership dissolution in Ontario depends on whether you have a partnership agreement with dissolution provisions. If you do, the agreement governs the process.
If you don't, the Ontario Partnerships Act sets out default rules — including that any partner can dissolve the partnership at any time by giving notice. Jonathan handles the legal process of dissolution, including asset distribution, liability settlement, and winding up the business.
Without a written partnership agreement, the Ontario Partnerships Act applies default rules — including equal profit sharing regardless of each partner's actual contribution, and the right of any partner to dissolve the partnership at any time.
This often leads to disputes over money, decision-making authority, and exit terms. The cost of drafting a proper partnership agreement is a fraction of the cost of litigating a partnership dispute.
Get it drafted right the first time, or get your existing agreement reviewed before a dispute surfaces. Free 30-minute consultation with a Toronto partnership agreement lawyer.