Course Resources Archive

This module aims to cover the general principles of Company Law.  The module examines the various structures through which businesses may be run; the method of establishing and running a company; ways of financing and conducting the affairs of a company; the duties and rights of directors; shareholder rights; insolvency.

Brief comparative overview of the legal structures available for the carrying on of business; pre-incorporation matters (promoters and pre-incorporation contracts); incorporation; types of companies; corporate personality; piercing the corporate veil; company constitutions; corporate powers and their division; membership and the general meeting; directors; meetings of directors; duties and liability of directors; corporate governance; company contracts; shareholder remedies and the protection of minority shareholders; general introduction to corporate finance; debt and equity finance; raising share capital; capital maintenance; subscriptions for and allotment and issue of shares; and dealings in shares.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. demonstrate comprehensive and accurate knowledge and understanding of those areas of company law identified in the indicative syllabus above and form a critical judgement on areas of controversy within the topics studied;

2. demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of social and economic policy considerations arising in this area.

3. critically analyse complex problems in relation to the regulation of companies, apply the legal principles studied to these problems, evaluate competing arguments or solutions and present well supported conclusions both orally and in writing;

4. read and study primary and secondary sources of company law, with minimal staff guidance; critically analyse, interpret, evaluate and synthesise information from a variety of sources;

5. identify sources for research and further develop a strategy for research using standard and electronic research tools

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.