Your Partnership Needs a Wonderwall

The partnership breakup you won’t see coming (and how to prepare for it while you still love each other)

My younger sister and I used to divide our bedroom with masking tape.

A thick beige line from the closet to the window that squeeled: “Don’t let your stinky bobby socks even think about looking at my side!”

We loved each other. We also couldn’t share a 10x12 room without boundaries.

This summer, I went to the Oasis Live ‘25 Tour concert. (Yes, I’m the prototype Millennial/Gen Xer. Yes, I stood the whole time and sang my heart out to “Wonderwall.”)

Watching two brothers perform on the same stage gave me flashbacks to that masking tape.

The music was great, but the vibe was so awkward! The two brothers never looked at each other. If one brother had a solo, the other would leave the stage. It was total rockstar moody but also… just super awkward.

These brothers’ story makes me think about how partnerships fall apart so slowly that you don’t see it coming, and also how a lawyer can help mitigate the awkwardness.

The Breakup No One Saw Coming

Picture this: August 2009, backstage in Paris. Two brothers who once shared a bedroom and built a music empire are screaming at each other. One grabs a guitar and smashes it. Then he walks out.

Oasis, as we

knew it, died in that moment.

Noel and Liam Gallagher weren’t always enemies. Growing up working-class in Manchester, they were close. Noel taught Liam about music. In the early ‘90s, they formed Oasis and became one of the biggest bands on the planet. Early interviews showed the brotherhood—they’d finish each other’s sentences, laugh at inside jokes.

Then success changed things. Small disagreements became bitter fights. Creative tension turned toxic. It happened so gradually that by the time everyone noticed, it was too late to fix.

All their arguments finally built up to that explosive night in Paris. Noel pulled out the proverbial masking tape and proclaimed that he couldn’t work with Liam “a day longer” and left.

The business aftermath: Cancelled tours. Who owns the name? Who gets royalty splits? The legal untangling took years.

You’re in the Honeymoon Phase Right Now

I see this constantly. Two friends start a business. They’re excited. They finish each other’s sentences and each other’s sandwiches. They split revenue 50/50 because “we’re equal partners” and “we built our business on love first.”

They skip the hard conversations because everything feels good.

Then six months in: one person’s working 60 hours, the other’s doing 20. Someone wants to hire their cousin. Revenue is up, but expenses are eating it.

One partner wants out. Neither knows what that means.

Breakups don’t happen overnight

The business breakup you won’t see coming isn’t about betrayal. It’s about expectations diverging so slowly you don’t notice until you’re screaming backstage in Paris.

Here’s what you need now, while you still like each other:

1. Scope and Deliverables – Who’s responsible for what? Write it down.

2. Revenue Splits and Expenses – 50/50 sounds fair until one person’s contributing capital and the other’s contributing time. Decide before resentment builds.

Because…maybe…you're gonna be the one that... documents the revenue split

3. Decision-Making Authority – Who gets final say on hiring? Pricing? Debt? Document how you’ll break ties.

4. Exit and Dispute Resolution – What happens when someone wants out? (Not if. When.) How do you value the business? Mediation? Arbitration? At least you’ll have a plan.

This Is How You Love Someone in Business

At a young age, my sister and I understood the importance of boundaries better than most people.

Your business partnership can also have healthy boundaries.

But the difference between 2 reactive young siblings and mature business owners is that the time to draw the line isn’t when you’re fighting.

It’s now, when you can still laugh about it.

Real CEOs have hard conversations because they love their partners, not in spite of it.

Documenting your partnership agreement isn’t about distrust. It’s about protecting the relationship by being honest about what could go wrong—before it does.

This is sad to say, the brothers who finish each other’s sentences are the same brothers who’ll smash guitars in Paris.

Your partnership needs its own wonderwall—a boundary that protects both of you.

Reply and tell me: Is your partnership in the honeymoon phase right now, or are cracks already starting to show?

Build smart,

Sonya

P.S. Even though Noel and Liam reunited in 2024, they lost 15 years of collaboration and cost them millions to unravel (no wonder they seemed to go back on tour under duress). The lesson for us: draw the masking tape line now, while you still like each other enough to laugh about it and save what’s important to you.
P.P.S. Should I bring back that masking tape method for sharing a home office with my husband? “Don’t let your clunky binoculars even think about resting on my law books!”
P.P.P.S. Want to see what side of the room your partnership is on? Find out by using this fun prompt with your AI bot of choice.

You are a friendly business assessment bot. Your job is to help entrepreneurs assess whether their partnership needs legal protection.

## INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Introduce the quiz warmly:
"Let's check the health of your partnership! I'll ask you 5 quick questions. Answer honestly—this is just between us. Ready?"

2. Ask these 5 questions ONE AT A TIME (wait for answer before next question):

Q1: "Can you clearly describe—in writing—who's responsible for what in your partnership? (Yes/No/Not Sure)"

Q2: "Have you documented how money, equity, and expenses are split, especially if one partner contributes cash and the other contributes time? (Yes/No/Not Sure)"

Q3: "Do you have a clear process for making major decisions and breaking ties when you disagree? (Yes/No/Not Sure)"

Q4: "If your partner needed to leave tomorrow, do you have written exit terms, a buyout process, and a way to value the business? (Yes/No/Not Sure)"

Q5: "Is it crystal clear in writing who owns the business name, logo, client list, and intellectual property if the partnership ends? (Yes/No/Not Sure)"

3. SCORING:
- Each "Yes" = 2 points
- Each "Not Sure" = 1 point  
- Each "No" = 0 points
- Total out of 10

4. DELIVER RESULTS:

**Score 8-10:**
"🎉 Partnership Health Score: [X]/10 - Strong Foundation!
Your partnership is well-protected. You've thought through the important stuff. Keep those documents updated as your business grows!"

**Score 5-7:**
"⚠️ Partnership Health Score: [X]/10 - Some Gaps
You've covered some basics, but there are holes that could cause problems later. Consider speaking with a friendly business lawyer to fill the gaps before they become expensive."

**Score 0-4:**
"🚨 Partnership Health Score: [X]/10 - Needs Urgent Attention
Your partnership is built on assumptions, not agreements. This is how good partnerships blow up. I strongly recommend speaking with a business lawyer about next steps—before a disagreement forces the conversation."

5. END WITH:
"Want to talk to someone who can help? A friendly business lawyer can guide you through getting these foundations in place. It's easier (and cheaper) to do it now while everyone's still excited, than later when emotions are high."

## TONE: 
Warm, non-judgmental, helpful. Never fear-based or salesy. You're genuinely trying to help them avoid pain.