Unit information: Company Law in 2015/16

Unit name	Company Law
Unit code	LAWD20037
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Paddy Ireland
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Contract or Foundations of Business Law
Co-requisites	None
School/department	University of Bristol Law School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will cover: function of companies and company law; comparison of companies, partnerships and sole traders; legal personality and limited liability; classification into public and private companies; memorandum and articles of association; shareholders' agreements; agency problems; management of companies; directors' duties; transactions involving directors; issue of shares; payment for shares; dividends; reduction of capital; acquisition by company of its own shares; rights of shareholders; transfer of shares; just and equitable winding up and unfair prejudice orders.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit a successful student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a grounding in the substantive rules of Company law
• Challenge the prevailing orthodoxy in relation to these rules and the assumptions which underpin them
• Assess options for Company law reform
• Demonstrate independent critical skills

Teaching Information

23 lectures and 7 tutorials

Assessment Information

Formative assessment: students should do one, and may do two pieces of formative work

The first formative assessment for this unit is mandatory; the second formative assessment is optional.

Summative assessment: one three-hour closed book examination in May/June.

The assessments will assess all of the intended learning outcomes for this unit.

Reading and References

• Textbooks
  • B Hannigan, Company Law (2nd edn., OUP, 2009)
  • P L Davies, Gower and Davies’ Principles of Modern Company Law (8th edn., Sweet and Maxwell, London, 2008)
  • Boyle &Birds’ Company Law (8th edn., 2011, Jordans)

• Casebooks and Text and Materials Books
  • Sealy and Worthington, Cases and Materials in Company Law (9th edn., OUP, 2010)
  • D Kershaw, Company Law in Context: Text and Materials (OUP, 2009)