Two or more persons associated together as partners in any business or pursuit who transact business under a common name, whether it comprises the names of such persons or not, may be sued by their common name in all civil actions, whether hitherto denominated as legal or equitable in nature; and the judgment in the action binds the joint property of all the associates in the same manner as if all had been named defendants, had been sued upon their joint liability and served with process. Any one or more of the associates, or their legal representatives, may also be sued for the obligation of all.