Course Details

1. Acquire knowledge of the foundations of business law and how these operate within context of business.
2. Define and analyze of contractual liability of parties, factors/clauses that affect the validity of contract (rules in relation to exclusion clauses) and advise in terms of damages (remoteness of damage, measure of damages, equitable remedies).
3. Analyze the main elements of negligence, notions such as duty of care, breach and damage and advise in terms of defences to an action of negligence.
4. Identify the distinctive features of commercial agency (concepts such as ratification, agency by holding out/estoppel). Understand the structure and differences between various entities (companies and partnerships) and compare in terms of liability, management and formation.
5. Assess business issues that may arise such as ultra vires transactions and pre-incorporation contracts and advise whether they invalidate business transactions. Analyse the role of directors and their duties towards the company. Distinguish the types of company meetings and resolutions.
6. Analyze the legal liability of parties in business transactions and to demonstrate the capacity for legal analysis, research and problem solving skills within the context of Business Law.
7. Develop a critical understanding of the law so as to be able to apply the legal principles (and case law) to various practical situations and to produce written advice.

The Law of Contracts: Review of the elements that are required for a legally binding contract. Meaning and effect of breach of contract (measure of damages, remoteness of damage & equitable remedies). Effect and application of exclusion clauses. Analysis of Sale of Goods Act.

The Law of Negligence: Analysis of the notion of duty of care and breach of that duty, as well as remoteness of damage caused due to negligence. Defenses to an action of Negligence.

The Law of Agency: Distinctive features of commercial agency (actual and apparent authority), creation of agency relationship (express, implication, ratification, estoppel etc). Agent’s duties and Liability.

Company law and Partnership Law: Structure, formation and management. Incorporation of a company, analysis of the constitutional documents of a company (Memorandum and Articles of Association). Analysis of issues such as Ultra Vires and pre-incorporation contracts. Directors’ role and duties (namely fiduciary duties). Meetings and resolutions of the company. Different types of partners and partnerships.

• Keenan, D. & Richs,S. (2005). Business law, 7th ed. Harlow England: Pearson.

• Poole, J. (2010). Textbook on Contract Law, 10th ed. Oxford
• Sealy, L. & Worthington, S. (2010). Cases and Materials in Company Law,