What Is a Company?

Abstract

This chapter serves as an introduction to company structure and company law. The different legal forms of companies are examined together with the different classes and types of shares that can be offered or sold to raise finance. We introduce the topic of shareholder rights and voting powers before taking a detailed look at the roles, duties and responsibilities that you take on as a director of a limited company. Some of these responsibilities are to your shareholders, while others are legal responsibilities with potential criminal action if you get it wrong. With this in mind, we close the chapter with a quick look at insolvency law.