Good books on Company Law

[p_c_e]

Hello, I would like to study in detail such questions as company formation, obligations and duties of limited companies, general duties and responsibilities of company directors (from the moment when it is formed till its dissolution). Perhaps, I need a textbook for lawyers (I am not a lawyer) and I would like to buy a couple of books, which will be accessible even to a non-lawyer. I am a director for almost a year, but still many things are not clear to me.

I tried to find something on bookdepositary, but I found there books, which were published before 2007. I believe they are out-of-date, because law changes very quickly, and in 2006 new Companies Act was adopted.

Could you please recommend me 1-2 books?
Thank you.

 

[Steve Sellers]

This should be the cornerstone of your learning http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/contents

Followed by http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/45/contents


Actual books:

The law society books are fairly well wrote and offer a good starting point for learning: http://bookshop.lawsociety.org.uk/ecom_lawsoc/public/saleproduct.jsf?catalogueCode=9781853288180

A bit more expensive but also a bit more advanced:

http://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/store/uk/Company-Law-Premium-Set/product

Above and beyond those mentioned, for anything more substantial you should expect to pay £1000 ish for a proper practitioners handbook.

 

[CKG]

This is a good starting point. Not super detailed but detailed enough to get you on the right path for further learning.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Run-Lim...EJWY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362050588&sr=8-1

 

hi p_c_e. This might sound stupid but I really would concentrate on business books and resources about starting and running companies than spend time reading the legislation and caselaw behind it. A lot of it is very dry stuff and you'll find in an everyday context it won't help you much.

A book about forming a company will tell you how to do it. A legal book about company law probably won't, but it will discuss the relevant sections of the Companies Acts and look at case law examples where companies may or may not have been formed properly, or whether or not a company can undertake certain activities unders its Ms & As...

If you really want to look at the law itself then that fine obviously, but if you're interested in it as a businessperson rather than a lawyer I would avoid the legal resources and concentrate on business resources.

 

[p_c_e]

Yes, I understand that, and I totally agree with you. But I would like to read only a couple of books about the company law. I believe each director should know the law, and his/her duties and responsibilities so as not to make a mistake. Surely, in order to learn all the minor details about the company law one should consult a lawyer. But I think that each director should know at least the basics of company law, shouldn't he?

 

[teddys]

The company law consists of 1300 sections and possibly is the single largest piece of legislation ever drafted. The law comprises various chapters on everything from incorporation to dissolution including accounting, auditing, shareholders, share capital, charges, directors etc etc. Then again there are provisions applicable to private limited companies and public companies. If it is not your intention to become a chartered secretary or a lawyer you would better read something like the basics of company law and then may be a director-specific one like this.