Separating properly.
WHY IT MATTERS
Most partnerships end, and how they end determines the damage.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What the agreement requires: notice, process and consequences.
WHAT TO PLAN
The sequence: notice, transition, separation.
WHAT TO ADDRESS
Customers currently being served Work in progress Outstanding payments Shared materials and information Use of names and marks Systems access Public communication
WHY CUSTOMERS FIRST
They are the ones harmed by a badly managed separation.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
How customers are transitioned and who tells them.
WHY AGREED
Conflicting messages to customers destroy confidence in both parties.
WHAT TO AGREE
A joint message, where possible.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT WORK IN PROGRESS
Complete it, or transfer it properly.
WHY
Abandoned work harms customers and it produces claims.
WHAT TO SETTLE
Amounts owed both ways, before separation.
WHY
Settling afterwards is substantially harder.
WHAT TO REMOVE
References to the partnership from both parties' materials Access to each other's systems Shared credentials
WHAT TO RETURN OR DESTROY
Confidential information and materials.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What obligations continue: confidentiality, non-solicitation, warranties.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
A termination record, signed.
WHY
It prevents later dispute about what was agreed.
WHAT TO AVOID
Publicly attributing blame.
WHY
The industry is small and it is remembered.
WHAT TO PRESERVE
The relationship, where possible.
WHY
Circumstances change and parties work together again.
