2025/26 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2040 Company Law

20 Credits Class Size: 496

Module manager: Mr Leopoldo Parada
Email: L.Parada@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

Pre-requisite qualifications

LAW1030 Contract LAW1200 Foundations of Law

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to understand and discuss the main features of the company law of the United Kingdom.

Students should be able to understand the ways in which company law balances the interests of the different groups represented within the company and be aware of debates about the suitability of different methods used.

The focus is therefore on the legal nature of the company as a business organisation, the law relating to corporate finance, the relations between the company and third parties, the distribution of power within a company, the duties of directors and other managers and the associated enforcement mechanisms, and the key principles of corporate insolvency law.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to:
- identify and discuss the main features of the company law of the United Kingdom;
- students should be able to explain the ways in which company law balances the interests of the different groups represented within the company and demonstrate awareness of debates about the suitability of different methods used;
- students should be able to evaluate and critically discuss the effectiveness of company law mechanisms, such as parent company liability, the enforcement of the company's constitution, directors' duties, and shareholder remedies, to solve corporate conflicts;
- students should be able to apply these mechanisms to discuss solutions for real-life or hypothetical cases;
- students should also be able to explain the role of corporate governance and discuss recent developments in this field.

Syllabus

The legal nature of companies in the law of the United Kingdom; limited liability and separate personality
The process of incorporation
The corporate constitution
Relations with outsiders
Corporate finance
Corporate governance; the general meeting, appointment, disqualification and duties of directors
Duties of Directors
Shareholder Rights and Remedies
Insolvency

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
On-line Learning 5 1 5
Lecture 11 1 11
Seminar 5 1.5 7.5
Private study hours 176.5
Total Contact hours 23.5
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Private study

The online learning element is broken down into 15 minute tasks, there will be 20 x 15 minute tasks overall.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A formative assessment opportunity will be provided.

Exams
Exam type Exam duration % of formal assessment
Open Book exam 48.0 Hrs 0 Mins 100
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2025

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team