"I have treated within the purview of commercial law all those legal principles, from whatever branch of law they are drawn, which regularly surface in commercial disputes. It has long seemed to me that there is an unfortunate gulf between the commercial lawyer and the property and equity lawyer. Contract, sale of goods and negotiable instruments are accepted as falling within the domain of the former, equitable interests and conflicting real rights within the latter's field of expertise. But in the world of business, problems do not divide themselves into neat packages. ... The practitioner has to be familiar with the principles of each of these fields of law in order to be able to give sound advice to his client." -- Professor Sir Roy Goode, QC The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to commercial law:
Commercial law – body of law that governs business and commercial transactions. It is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals with issues of both private law and public law. It is also called business law.
What type of thing is commercial law?
Commercial law can be described as all of the following:
Branch of law – law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible.Robertson, Crimes against humanity, 90; see "analytical jurisprudence" for extensive debate on what law is; in The Concept of Law Hart argued law is a "system of rules" (Campbell, The Contribution of Legal Studies, 184); Austin said law was "the command of a sovereign, backed by the threat of a sanction" (Bix, John Austin); Dworkin describes law as an "interpretive concept" to achieve justice (Dworkin, Law's Empire, 410); and Raz argues law is an "authority" to mediate people's interests (Raz, The Authority of Law, 3–36).
Branches of commercial law Companies law Corporate law Corporate governance Competition law (antitrust) Consumer protection Contract law Environmental law Intellectual property law Copyright law Patent law Trademark law International trade law Labour law Insurance law
By region
European company law French company law German company law United Kingdom company law Unfair prejudice in United Kingdom company law Corporate law in Vietnam United States corporate law
Closely related areas of law Legal aspects of computing Ecommerce Law Privacy law Property law Tax law
Commercial law occupations Corporate lawyer
History of commercial law
History of companies History of company law in the United Kingdom Lex mercatoria
Business entities
Types of business entity Juristic person Company (law) Corporate law Corporation Incorporation (business) Delaware corporation (U.S.) Limited liability company Fiduciary Partnership Agency Escrow Trustee of a trust or executor of an estate; see also trusts and estates Charitable trust Foundation Association Cooperative
Contracts Contract Consideration Duress Warranty Breach of contract Remedy Lien Types of contracts Adhesion contract
Intellectual property Intellectual property Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Public domain Trade secret Patent Trademark Genericized trademark People's Republic of China's trademark law Copyright Fair dealing Copyright infringement of software List of copyright case law Industrial design rights
Dispute resolution Dispute resolution Alternative dispute resolution Mediation Conciliation Negotiation Arbitration Binding arbitration
General commercial law concepts
Employment Sexual harassment Non-disclosure agreement Bankruptcy Blue law Civil law notary Class action Cyber law Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act estoppel Financial regulation Fraud deterrence International trade law Law and economics Land use Letter of credit Malpractice Notary public Negotiable instruments Property law Real property Security interest Mechanics lien Product liability Negligence Proximate cause Mandatory labelling Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act Release Torts Uniform Commercial Code Lex mercatoria
Commercial law organizations International Technology Law Association Student Intellectual Property Law Association American Law and Economics Association
Commercial law publications
Columbia Business Law Review Currents European Business Law Review Florida State University Business Review Law and Business Review of the Americas
See also
Outline of law Outline of business management Outline of marketing Outline of economics Outline of management Principles of International Commercial Contracts Outline of production List of international trade topics List of accounting topics List of business theorists List of economists Sales tax Legal lexicography Law dictionary
References
External links