This book contains a series of studies of the regulation under English law of the range of business organisational structures available to entrepreneurs. It analyses the commonest of these structures, including limited companies (public and private), groups of companies, privatised enterprises, and partnerships, as well as the more specialised forms such as industrial and provident societies, banks, building societies, insurance companies, joint ventures, franchise agreements, limited partnerships and overseas companies.

Set within the context of a period of considerable actual and proposed legal change, the contributions (from recognised authorities in their respective fields) analyse the broad regulatory structure adopted for each of the above business forms, outline the changing patterns of regulation and consider likely future developments.

Several broad themes run through the work, including the relationship between the economic desirability of facilitating enterprise and the need to regulate against possible abuse; stakeholder protection; pursuit of risk management strategies and the implications of European harmonisation in the business sector.