1. Explain, describe and recognise the distinction between different forms of business organisations.

2. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and produce an informed account of the concept of separate legal personality in the development of Company Law.

3. ¿Differentiate and critically explain the essential principles and concepts underlying the substantive rules of contemporary company law.

4. Apply knowledge of contemporary corporate issues to analyse real-life problem scenarios, generate options, select and apply the appropriate legal solutions.

The students will be provided with a question, based on which the students shall be required to write the assignment. (assessing Learning Outcomes 1 to 4).

The question will require the students to critically analyse existing legal regimes, find evidence and link them to practical issues. Finally, the students are expected make appropriate recommendations. The assignment should draw appropriately on a range of materials, synthesized effectively across national and international policy and legal contexts.

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding and application of the key legal principles relating to company law and its latest developments. This would require an in-depth knowledge on the following:

- Separate Legal Personality and Piercing the Corporate Veil
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Liability (Civil/ Criminal/ Corporate Manslaughter)
- Insider dealing
- Directors
- Shareholders
- Raising Capital
- Capital maintaining theory and Distribution
- Debt and Debt Financing Instruments
- Bonds and issues relating to Bonds
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Corporate Insolvency

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the critical issues relating to the operation of a Company. The module will consider corporate legal concepts both within the domestic and international sphere to enable an exploration of corporate issues. The focus of this important area of law is legal personality, corporate governance and liability, maintaining capital and corporate insolvency. This module also aims at providing students with an in-depth understanding of the relevant corporate laws with particular emphasis on recent developments to the law. Students will gain a critical understanding of the fundamental legal principles which apply to corporate matters in a business context. A comprehensive exploration of the issues and legal principles related to the operation of companies on completion of the module, will enable students to enhance their knowledge, critical thinking abilities and employability in the business arena.

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 200 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 39 hours of direct contact with a tutor and 161 hours of directed, guided and self-study, together with preparation for the assessment. Students are encouraged to spend 6-8 hours per week on reading, preparation for workshops, and consolidation of learning. This 20-credit module will be delivered through 9 interactive lectures and 3 seminars, each of 3 hours duration. Three 3-hour seminars will be held on the 4th, 8th and 12th week for a total of 9 seminar hours.

Lectures will focus on Legal Status of a company, Corporate Governance, Corporate Finance and Insolvency. In the seminars, students will have opportunity to explore different areas of company law with application to real life scenarios.

The emphasis of the module will be to have relevance to the legal practitioner and enable carefully considered decisions to be made for their clients.

Students will be required to participate in a range of learning opportunities which promote construction of knowledge through problem-based learning. Examples of activities include group discussions, oral and written submissions relating to the application of relevant legal provisions. By challenging students to engage in legal analysis on company related matters, students will be prepared to expand their ability to critically analyse the existing laws. The assessment strategy will reinforce this by reflecting the multiple possible outcomes when addressing existing issues in Company Law.

The module handbook and the Learning Management System will specify the materials to be read prior to attending classes.

- Roach L, Company Law (2nd edn, OUP 2022)
- Hannigan B, Company Law (6th edn, OUP 2021)
- Dignam A & Lowry J, Company Law (10th edn, OUP 2018)
- Wild C and Weinstein S, Smith and Keenan’s Company Law (17th edn, Pearson 2016)

Legal databases:
- Westlaw and Staffordshire university online library

International Conventions and Instruments:
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- The UK Corporate Governance Code