Dr Talbot traces the history of the fundamental principles of English com-
pany law, including the doctrine of separate corporate personality, directors’
duties, minority protection and the doctrine of ultra vires from both a black
letter and contextual perspective. Relevant aspects of the Companies Act
2006 are thoroughly examined.
Drawing on the influence of American law and American scholarship,
the book considers the ideas which have informed corporate governance in
England. It includes a case study of mutual building societies’ march to the
market and corporate identity. The hybrid approach adopted in the text pro-
vides a contextual and critical framework in which to understand company
law as well as a broad picture in black letter law terms.
The aim is to invigorate what many students and academics consider a dry
subject by uncovering the social factors which continue to inform this area
of law – and the political nature of the law itself. Dr Talbot maintains that
modern company law is shaped by three main factors – economics, ideology
and existing law. The state of the law at any one time is determined by the
constantly shifting relationship between these factors.
Dr Talbot lectures in company law and comparative company law at London
Metropolitan University. Her research interests are in American and English
corporate law, business associations and corporate governance from a critical
and contextual perspective. She has delivered a number of papers on these
areas and has published in the Company Lawyer, Law and Critique and the
Cambridge Journal of Financial Crime.
,
, Critical Company Law
LE Talbot