Joint operator in trouble after cold (9)
I believe the answer is:
corporate
'joint' is the definition.
('corporate' can be similar in meaning to 'joint')
'operator in trouble after cold' is the wordplay.
'in trouble' indicates anagramming the letters.
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'cold' becomes 'c' (eg on taps).
'operator' with letters rearranged gives 'orporate'.
'orporate' put after 'c' is 'CORPORATE'.
(Other definitions for corporate that I've seen before include "belonging to a large company" , "Poor crate could be legally united into a body" , "Of a legal entity acting as an individual" , "Relating to a large group or company" , "Joint" .)