Company Law

Module Identifier: LC37220
Module Title: Company Law
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Semester 1
Co-ordinator: Dr Angharad James
Reading List: View on Aspire
Pre-Requisite: CT10120 or CT10420 or CT20120 or LC10120 or LC10420 or LC20120
Exclusive (Any Acad Year): LC27220
Other Staff

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Essay: 2000 Words	50%
Semester Exam	Exam: 2 Hours	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay: 2000 Words	50%
Supplementary Exam	Exam: 2 Hours	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate a good understanding of key concepts such as separate legal personality and limited liability, and their significance in company law.
Identify and evaluate the role and functions of directors and the board, including the impact of board diversity on governance.
Demonstrate critically the requirements for company formation and incorporation.
Evaluate critically the duties of company directors as codified under Companies Act 2006.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role and responsibilities of auditors in promoting transparency and accountability within companies.
Critically evaluate the extension of the crime of manslaughter to companies and why integrating the legal concept of corporate criminality within company law has proved problematic.

Brief description

Can a company commit a crime? Can it even kill? This module explores difficult issues concerning corporate power and responsibility. The module will start by introducing the fundamental concepts of company law—how companies are created, why separate personality and limited liability matter, and what happens when courts pierce the corporate veil.

The module will then explore matters involving corporate transparency and accountability within the boardroom. We’ll examine directors’ roles, duties, and the growing demand for board diversity, alongside the critical oversight of auditors and the importance of financial transparency and accuracy. We will also highlight the different types of insolvency procedures.

By examining concepts such as corporate criminality and corporate manslaughter, the module touches upon recent and growing pressures on regulators to acknowledge the drastic impact companies have on all spheres of our lives.

Content

1. The company, separate personality and limited liability
2. Formation of a company (incorporation)
3. Legal personality and veil piercing
4. Directors and the function of the board
5. Board Diversity
6. Directors' duties
7. Auditors' role and function within the company.
8. Corporate criminality - examining how companies can commit crimes through their operations and decisions.
9. Insolvency, administration and liquidation
10. Corporate manslaughter

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Communication	Seminar discussions/activities develop individual and group presentation and oral argument + assessments.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Seminar participation and exam preparation develop different aspects of academic research, from understanding and referencing sources through the dissemination of ideas to others orally, and developing written communication skills.
Information Technology	Library and research skills are fundamental to preparation for seminars and assessed work.
Personal Development and Career planning	Generic and transferrable skills including, research, analysis and communication
Problem solving	Seminar discussion/preparation and debate
Research skills	Research and preparation for seminars and assessments
Subject Specific Skills	Reading and understanding legal materials particular to Company Law.
Team work	Group activities and discussion.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6