Limited liability partnerships - overview

Created by the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2000 (LLPA 2000), an LLP is a body corporate that gives members the benefit of limited liability but allows the flexibility of a general partnership.

An LLP is a vehicle for two or more persons intending to carry on a lawful business with a view to a profit. Individuals within an LLP are known as members rather than partners. Partnership law does not generally apply to LLPs.

An LLP has its own legal identity and can:

An LLP is responsible for its liabilities, while each member's liability will, generally, be limited to the amount that he has agreed to contribute. The limited liability protection may be lifted where members have:

If the LLP membership falls to one, the LLP may continue to carry on business for six months, after which the benefits of limited liability will be lost and the member will become jointly and severally liable with the LLP for all debts and liabilities incurred during and after that period.

Partnership name, incorporation and stationery

There are restrictions on which names can be used for an LLP. The name should not be offensive or similar to an existing LLP or company name and must have 'Limited Liability Partnership' or 'LLP' as a suffix (or the relevant Welsh equivalent, as necessary).

To incorporate an LLP an application needs to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in a prescribed form. The form sets out the:

On receipt of the appropriate form and fee the Registrar of Companies will issue a certificate of incorporation. The certificate is conclusive evidence that the formalities for establishing an LLP have been complied with.

LLP documentation and media must bear the full name of the LLP including the relevant suffix; certain documentation and media must also state the place of registration, registered number and the registered office.

Members, authority and status

Both individuals and corporate bodies may be members of an LLP, the minimum number of members for the LLP to carry on a business being two with no maximum limit.

Every member is an agent of the LLP. The LLP will not be bound by anything done by a member on its behalf if:

Although there are no directors or shareholders of an LLP, a member is subject to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and may, under that legislation, be disqualified from being a member of an LLP.

Each LLP must have a minimum of two designated members, the details of whom will be contained in the incorporation document. Any changes to the designated members (or their details) will need to be filed with the Registrar of Companies. Until an appropriate filing is made all members will be designated members. Designated members generally ensure that certain requirements in the LLP legislation are met, including:

Failure to carry out these and other duties may result in a criminal offence or a fine.

An ex-member is liable to a third party dealing with the LLP for acts and omissions occurring until the third party has had notice of the cessation of his membership or notice of the cessation of membership has been filed with the Registrar of Companies .

The agreement and default provisions of the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2000

As an LLP has no memorandum and articles of association, the members are free, subject to LLPA 2000, to regulate the LLP as they see fit. The LLP will usually be governed by a written agreement that may already be in existence before incorporation. The agreement may, among others matters, deal with:

The agreement is a private document and there is no requirement to file it with the Registrar of Companies. Where there is no agreement, LLPA 2000 and associated regulations set out default provisions as to how an LLP is run. The default provisions do not generally offer adequate solutions to many of the problems that may arise and may not suit the manner in which members wish to run their business. These default provisions include that all members:

Conversion to a limited liability partnership

An existing general partnership wishing to convert into an LLP must establish an LLP and enter into a transfer agreement to transfer the existing business and assets. When converting the business of a general partnership into an LLP other matters to consider are:

Accounts and tax

LLPs must produce and publish accounts, generally equivalent to those produced by a similar sized limited company. The accounts and an annual return will be filed with the Registrar of Companies.

As an LLP is tax-transparent, the earnings of an LLP are taxed as a general partnership, ie for members who are individuals each member is taxed individually on their own income or gains, rather than using corporation tax rates. If an LLP member is another business, such member will usually be liable to pay corporation tax on any income received from the LLP.