Partnership Dispute Lawyer Burnaby, BC
If you’re in a business partnership that’s breaking down, you’re dealing with a legal problem and a personal one at the same time. Partnership disputes don’t stay contained. What starts as a disagreement over profit distributions or decision-making authority can escalate quickly into frozen accounts, competing legal claims, and a business that can no longer function. The steps you take now determine what options remain available later.
Our Burnaby, BC partnership dispute lawyer at HS Law Corporation has handled business and corporate disputes for over 20 years, across British Columbia and other Canadian jurisdictions. We represent partners on all sides of a dispute. Book a free 30-minute phone or video consultation to discuss your situation.
Why Choose HS Law Corporation For Partnership Disputes In Burnaby, BC?
Partnership disputes move fast once they start. Assets get transferred. Bank accounts get frozen or drained. One partner stops showing up. Another locks the other out. Whatever the circumstances, early legal advice shapes what options remain available to you.
Experience Across Business and Corporate Disputes
Hogan Song, founder of HS Law Corporation, has been practicing business and corporate law for over 20 years. He earned both his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of Alberta and is a member in good standing with the Law Society of BC. His background covers partnership disputes, shareholder conflicts, contract enforcement, and commercial litigation at the BC Supreme Court level and beyond.
As a commercial litigation lawyer in British Columbia, Hogan handles all client matters personally, bringing in associate lawyers at his discretion on complex or multi-party files.
We Represent All Parties
We act for any party in a partnership dispute: the partner seeking dissolution, the one defending against a buyout demand, the party alleging misappropriation, or the one responding to those allegations. That range of experience matters. Understanding the other side’s likely arguments before they make them is a real advantage in litigation and in negotiation.
Connected to the Business Community
Hogan is a member of Small Business BC and sits on the government relations and economic development committee of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. He’s also a board member of the New View Society, heading its asset management committee. The businesses and entrepreneurs we represent in Burnaby are the same kinds of clients we work alongside in the community every day.
Client Feedback
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“I chose HS Law partially because of proximity and partially because of the great reviews. Knowing what i know now, proximity wouldn’t matter, I would be happy to drive anywhere to get such personalized and great service. Hogan was very knowledgeable, patient, and efficient. He really made what seemed like a complicated process very easy for me. Hogan is personable, kind, and honest, all traits that are appreciated when your are dealing with a difficult legal situation. I am a HS Law customer for life!! Thanks Hogan, you are a great ambassador for the legal profession.” – Steve Walford
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Partnership Dispute Cases We Handle In Burnaby
Partnership disputes rarely involve just one issue. A disagreement over profit distributions can expose deeper problems with how the partnership was structured. A partner’s unauthorized decision can trigger a breach of the partnership agreement and a breakdown in the relationship entirely. Our firm handles the full range of these matters for Burnaby clients.
- Business litigation. When a partnership dispute can’t be resolved through negotiation or mediation, it goes to court. We handle the full litigation process, from pleadings through trial, and know when interim relief like injunctions or asset preservation orders is warranted.
- Partnership dissolution. Sometimes the only resolution is to end the partnership entirely. We advise on voluntary dissolution, court-ordered dissolution, and the legal steps required to wind up a partnership’s affairs properly under BC law.
- Breach of partnership agreement. When one partner acts outside the scope of the agreement (e.g., taking on unauthorized debt, diverting clients, or failing to contribute as agreed) the other partners have legal remedies. We assess what the agreement requires and what enforcement looks like in practice.
- Accounting and financial disputes. Disputes over how profits were calculated, how expenses were allocated, or whether a departing partner is owed a buyout often require a formal accounting. We pursue and defend these claims, including court-ordered accountings where a partner has refused to provide records.
- Commercial litigation. Partnership disputes sometimes give rise to broader commercial claims, including fraud, unjust enrichment, or conversion of partnership assets. These run alongside the partnership dispute itself and require careful coordination.
- Corporate and small business matters. Many partnership disputes could have been avoided or contained with a properly drafted partnership agreement at the outset. We advise on partnership structures, agreements, and governance for businesses that want to get things right before a dispute arises.
British Columbia Legal Requirements For Partnership Disputes
Partnership law in BC is governed primarily by the Partnership Act, RSBC 1996, c 348. Whether your partnership has a written agreement or not, this statute sets out the default rules that apply and the framework for resolving disputes when partners can’t agree.
Default rules under the Partnership Act. In the absence of a written agreement, the Partnership Act fills in the gaps. Partners share profits equally, are entitled to participate in management equally, and are not entitled to a salary for acting in the partnership business. These defaults often surprise partners who assumed their arrangement worked differently. Understanding what the Act actually says about your situation is the starting point for any dispute.
Dissolution by court order. Under section 35 of the Partnership Act, a court can order the dissolution of a partnership on several grounds, including when a partner becomes permanently incapable of performing their obligations, when a partner’s conduct is prejudicial to the business, or when it is just and equitable to do so. This last ground is broad and gives courts significant discretion. It’s frequently invoked when the relationship between partners has broken down irreparably.
Limitation periods. Claims arising from a partnership dispute—such as breach of the partnership agreement, misappropriation of funds, failure to account—are subject to the Limitation Act, SBC 2012, c 13, which sets a two-year discovery period for most civil claims. Partnership disputes sometimes simmer for years before anyone takes legal action. Waiting too long can extinguish an otherwise valid claim.
The BC Supreme Court Civil Rules. Litigation arising from partnership disputes proceeds in BC Supreme Court and is governed by the BC Supreme Court Civil Rules. These rules govern everything from how pleadings are filed to how a court-ordered accounting is conducted. Procedural compliance matters; errors at the pleadings stage can limit what you’re able to argue at trial.
Important Aspects Of A Burnaby Partnership Dispute Case
What a Partnership Agreement Actually Controls
If your partnership has a written agreement, it governs most of the dispute. What it says about profit sharing, decision-making authority, buyout mechanisms, and dissolution procedures will determine what options each partner has. Agreements that were drafted without legal input often have gaps or ambiguous provisions that become the core of the dispute itself. Where the agreement is silent, the Partnership Act’s default rules apply, which may not reflect what either party actually intended.
Fiduciary Duties Between Partners
Partners in BC owe each other fiduciary duties. This means each partner must act in good faith, avoid conflicts of interest, and not profit from the partnership relationship at the expense of the other partners. Breaching a fiduciary duty is a serious legal wrong. It can give rise to claims for an accounting of profits, disgorgement of gains, and damages. These claims are distinct from a breach of contract claim and often run alongside one.
Injunctive Relief and Asset Preservation
When a partner is dissipating partnership assets, diverting clients, or taking other steps that could make a judgment meaningless, the court can grant injunctive relief on an urgent basis. This is one of the more powerful tools available in a partnership dispute, but the threshold is demanding. You need to show a strong case on the merits, that irreparable harm will result without the order, and that the balance of convenience favours granting it. Timing is everything, and delay undermines the urgency argument.
Negotiated Buyouts and Valuations
Many partnership disputes resolve through a negotiated buyout of one partner’s interest. The sticking point is almost always valuation. What is the business worth? How are goodwill, receivables, and liabilities accounted for? Parties frequently retain competing valuators, and the gap between their numbers drives litigation. Understanding common legal remedies for partnership disputes before entering negotiations gives you a clearer sense of what a court might order if the matter doesn’t settle.
Court-Ordered Dissolution
When negotiation fails and the partnership relationship has broken down completely, a court-ordered dissolution may be the only practical outcome. The court can appoint a receiver to wind up the partnership’s affairs, order a sale of assets, and direct how proceeds are distributed after debts are paid. This process can be lengthy and costly, which is why most disputes settle before reaching this stage, but knowing that dissolution is available and what it involves affects how both sides approach the negotiation.
Contact HS Law Corporation
If you’re involved in a partnership dispute in Burnaby or the surrounding area, we offer a free 30-minute phone or video consultation. We’ll give you a straight assessment of where things stand and what your options are. Contact us to schedule a time that works for you.
Partnership Dispute Statistics in Burnaby, BC
About 93,000 Canadian businesses shut their doors in a typical year, according to federal small business data from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Among firms that start with only a few people, fewer than half are still operating a decade later. Plenty of those closures trace back to owners who simply could no longer work together. British Columbia counts hundreds of thousands of active companies in its business statistics, and Burnaby holds thousands of them, many structured as partnerships or closely held firms. When money gets tight, insolvencies climb as well, with BC business filings rising more than 26% in 2024 per federal insolvency data.
Common Causes of Partnership Disputes
Partnerships rarely fall apart over a single event. The trouble usually builds, then something tips it over. Recognizing the pattern early gives you a chance to address it, even before working with our Burnaby partnership dispute lawyer.
- Money and profit splits. Disagreements over how profits are divided, or whether they should be reinvested, sit behind a large share of partnership fights. What felt fair at the start can feel lopsided once the money grows. Old assumptions get tested fast.
- Unequal effort. One partner feels they carry the load while the other coasts. Resentment compounds quietly, then surfaces all at once. By the time it reaches us, the relationship is often past repair.
- A vague or missing agreement. Many partnerships run for years on a handshake. When a dispute hits, there’s nothing to point to. A clear agreement drafted during business incorporation or formation prevents most of these problems before they start.
- Unauthorized decisions. A partner signs a lease, takes on debt, or hires someone without consulting the others. That single move can breach the agreement and trigger everything that follows. Authority disputes escalate quickly.
- Money owed to the business. Sometimes the issue is a partner who stops paying in, or a client who won’t settle up, leaving the firm short. Pursuing debt collection early matters, and the same is true when you need to recover on unpaid invoices that strain partnership cash flow.
- Bringing in someone new. Adding a family member, an investor, or a new partner shifts the balance of power. What worked among the founders can stop working overnight. Some of these conflicts edge into shareholder dispute territory once a company structure is involved.
- Diverging visions. One partner wants to grow aggressively, the other wants to stay small and stable. Neither is wrong, but the business can’t go two directions at once. That fork often ends a partnership.
- Personal fallout. A divorce, an illness, or a simple loss of trust between people who once worked well together can unravel an otherwise healthy business. The personal and the legal get tangled, and they have to be handled together, which our Burnaby partnership dispute lawyer can help with.
Burnaby Partnership Dispute Lawyer FAQs
What Does It Cost to Hire a Partnership Dispute Lawyer in Burnaby?
We begin with a free 30-minute phone or video consultation, so you can size up the matter before spending anything. Partnership litigation is billed hourly, and we say so plainly from the first call. What a file costs depends on how complex the partnership is, how the other side behaves, and whether the dispute settles or heads toward trial. We’ll give you an honest estimate of the range, not a number designed to win your business.
How Long Does a Partnership Dispute Take to Resolve?
It varies widely, and a negotiated buyout between two reasonable partners can wrap up in a few months. A contested matter, with a court-ordered accounting and competing valuations, can run a year or more. The biggest variables are how far apart the parties are on money and how willing each side is to compromise. Our Burnaby partnership dispute lawyers push for the fastest, sensible resolution, because dragging a dispute out usually costs everyone.
Can the Business Keep Running While We Fight?
Often, yes, though it takes care. A dispute doesn’t automatically shut down operations, but it can if accounts get frozen or one partner walks away from daily duties. We work to keep the business functioning while the legal issues get sorted, since a company that stops trading loses value for everyone. Protecting the going concern is frequently part of the strategy.
Do We Have to Go to Court, or Can We Settle?
Most partnership disputes settle. Court is the backstop, not the default. We pursue negotiation and mediation first, and treat matters as civil litigation only when the other side leaves no choice. Settling tends to be faster, cheaper, and less corrosive to relationships that may have to continue in some form. That said, we prepare every file as if it could go to trial, which strengthens your position at the table.
Do You Also Handle Shareholder or Corporate Disputes?
Yes, our Burnaby partnership dispute lawyer handles corporate disputes. Many partnership conflicts overlap with company-level fights once a corporation is in the picture. We handle commercial litigation across the board, from oppression claims to breach of contract to fraud. We act for majority and minority owners alike, and we’ve worked both sides of these matters enough to anticipate how they unfold. That breadth shapes the advice we give.
Can You Recover Money or Clients a Partner Took?
We can pursue it. When a partner diverts funds, poaches clients, or walks off with property, the law provides remedies, and acting quickly protects them. The right move depends on what was taken and whether it can still be traced or recovered. We’ll tell you candidly whether pursuing it makes financial sense or whether your energy is better spent elsewhere.
What About Partnership Property or a Shared Lease?
Real estate often complicates a partnership split. A co-owned building or a commercial lease in both names can’t simply be divided. Our real estate litigation work covers these conflicts, and we draw on our commercial real estate practice when a property sits at the heart of the dispute. These issues move fast, so early advice protects the asset.
What Happens at the First Consultation?
You’ll talk to our Burnaby partnership dispute attorney, and we’ll listen to what happened, look at the key documents, and give you a frank read on where you stand, including the hard truths. Sometimes that means telling you a fight isn’t worth it. You’ll leave understanding your realistic options, what each is likely to cost, and what we’d recommend as a next step.
Local Information for Burnaby Partnership Dispute Cases
Burnaby Courts and Local Dispute Resolution Resources
Burnaby does not have its own Supreme Court registry, so partnership claims for the area are generally filed at the New Westminster Law Courts nearby, which house both the Supreme and Provincial Court registries. Many partnership disputes never reach that stage, resolving instead through mediation or a negotiated buyout. Knowing the options and which one fits your situation saves time and money.
What Are Important Local Resources for Burnaby Partnership Disputes?
These are the offices and organizations Burnaby business owners turn to most often when a partnership conflict arises or when they want to understand their options.
- Mediate BC. Phone: 1-877-656-1300. A non-profit roster of trained mediators who handle business and partnership disputes across the province.
- New Westminster Law Courts, 651 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster. Phone: 604-660-8522. The Supreme and Provincial Court registries serving Burnaby commercial matters.
- Civil Resolution Tribunal. Phone: 1-844-322-2292. An online tribunal that resolves smaller claims, generally up to $5,000, without a courtroom.
- Burnaby Board of Trade, 201-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby. Phone: 604-412-0100. A local business association offering networking, advocacy, and support for area companies.
These resources are listed for convenience only. HS Law Corporation does not endorse, and is not affiliated with, any of the organizations above, and we receive nothing for mentioning them.
About HS Law Corporation
HS Law Corporation works across the full legal life of a closely held business, from partnership and commercial disputes to wills and estate litigation. Our matters have reached courts in British Columbia and other Canadian jurisdictions, which gives us a broader vantage point than a single-court practice. Our Burnaby partnership dispute lawyers also advise small business owners on the agreements and structures that prevent disputes from taking root. Our founder stays involved in the community, including as a board member of the Tri-Cities Seniors Action Society.
What Our Clients Say
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“Hogan converts complex concepts into something that is simple and straightforward. He has a wide range of expertise and has leveraged technology into his practice, making him very easy to work with. I highly recommend his services.” – Jeff Graham
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Contact HS Law Corporation
If a partnership dispute in Burnaby is weighing on you, the sooner you understand your position, the better your decisions will be. We offer a free 30-minute phone or video consultation for new matters, and you’ll speak with a lawyer who has handled business disputes for over two decades. You’ll get a straight answer about your options and what each path is likely to cost. We respond promptly to new inquiries. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our Burnaby partnership dispute lawyer.
