Company law

In its strictest sense, a company lawyer will advise clients on the rules and requirements of the Companies Act 2006, which is the prevailing legislation governing how UK companies are incorporated, registered, governed and dissolved. Company law is relevant to almost everything a company does, from filing annual returns and information about its officers and share capital to proper procedure in relation to board decisions. A specialist company law barrister will advise a client if there is uncertainty about a proposed course of action; they will also be engaged when a dispute turns on a point of company law. The Companies Act is hugely important for the directors and officers of companies, as some types of breach can have serious personal consequences. Lately, shareholders have become more willing to disagree with company executives and this could mean more involvement from the Company Bar.