that is true in both personal life and in business. partnerships are governed by state partnership laws and by contracts known as partnership agreements. one of the keys to a long and successful partnership is solidarity between each of the partners. but adding a new partner to the mix can disrupt trust and potentially derail momentum that has been built up over time. long-term partnership agreements often contain provisions that require consent from the other partners before a new partner is added — largely to ensure that the original solidarity and energy remains intact.