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LAW-30164 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

LAW-30164 - Corporate Law
Coordinator: Sotirios Santatzoglou Tel: +44 1782 7 34216
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

LAW-10051 Legal Essentials

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27


Aims
To introduce students to the basics of UK company law with emphasis on the meaning limited liability and separate personality.
To locate company law within the premises of corporate theory.
To extend students' theoretical, and conceptual understanding of corporate law.
To provide a practical understanding of how best to advise commercial clients on business operations including start-up, governance, finance, liability and closure.

Intended Learning Outcomes

access, review and critically appraise basic concepts in corporate law through the use of cases, statutes and theoretical sources.
: 1
critically evaluate corporate theory issues by appropriate use of relevant legal and theoretical sources,: 1
explain to a hypothetical client the "lifecycle" of a business including start-up, management, finance, liability and closure.:

Study hours

Lectures - 31 hours: 20 hours sem 1 and 11 hours sem 2
Tutorials - 6 hours: 6 x 1 in semester 1
Workshops - 18 hours: 9 x 2 hours
Preparation for lectures, tutorials and workshops - 120 hours
Further reading and assessment preparation - 125 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 50%
Problem question
This assessment will be a complex problem question involving several legal and theoretical issues drawn from the content of the module. 3,000 word-limit.

2: Report weighted 50%
Writing a report
The report will provide advise to a hypothetical client of the advantages and disadvantages of operating as a sole trader, unlimited partnership, LLP or company (including commercial and legal requirements and documentation). and explain the "lifecycle" of a business including start-up, management, finance, liability and closure. 3,000 word-limit. Provide commercially sound advice in connection with the following matters: the importance of a partnership agreement and recommended provisions; the significance of a shareholders' agreement and recommended provisions; astute corporate governance including discussion of constitutional documentation and directors' duties; and company asset/share sales including process and documentation.:

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026