“Boyle & Birds’ Company Law” (Sixth edition)

Citation

Taylor, C. (2009), "“Boyle & Birds’ Company Law” (Sixth edition)", International Journal of Law and Management, Vol. 51 No. 2, pp. 123-124. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542430910947130

There is currently no shortage of texts on company law, either for undergraduate studies or as sources of reference for those involved in the practical management of companies. The perennial difficulty is identifying a text which is both sufficiently detailed but which presents this, frequently complex, subject in a manner which is both informative and readily accessible. Here, Boyle & Birds’ Company Law has a well deserved reputation for clarity and depth which is once again evident in this new 6th edition. Based on the renowned Gore‐Browne on Companies and incorporating some of the best features of that title (but at a fraction of the cost) this is an invaluable resource which, although aimed at students on undergraduate and professional courses, would also be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of many a director and manager.

In terms of content, the text addresses all of the key areas which will be familiar to lecturers and students alike, but there is also an obvious acknowledgement of the needs of professionals who require a speedy and clear answer to the everyday issues which arise in the management of companies and the result is an undergraduate text which has some of the businesslike feel of a loose‐leaf practitioner title. Fully revised to incorporate extensive coverage of the Companies Act 2006, this text provides coverage of all of the key areas addressed on both undergraduate and postgraduate courses and has the benefit of a clearly written table of contents which lists the various topics in much more detail than the average undergraduate text. As a consequence, locating the precise provisions is that much easier, which is always to be welcomed.

The chapters themselves are characteristically concise and informative, with the additional benefit of extensive referencing to relevant caselaw. In addition, the chapters on takeovers and mergers and the law of meetings provide a level of detail which is frequently absent from standard undergraduate texts which often neglect these important topics. Particular credit is due to the excellent sections on the impact of EU law on the domestic regulation of companies, a subject which is often poorly explained and also the chapter on corporate reconstruction and insolvency, which addresses the various procedures with commendable clarity.

Perhaps the only real criticism of this text is that some of its clarity and crispness is achieved at the expense of some of the deeper conceptual analysis which is so attractive to lecturers but which often confuses students struggling to extract the basic principles. The same may well be said of managers who will be more than prepared to sacrifice a little theoretical background in exchange for the clear and logical explanation of the key provisions which this text provides. On balance, however, this seems a not unreasonable compromise when set against the obvious benefits to professionals and those undertaking professional courses, for whom locating the correct information will always be more important than academic discourse.

In summary, this is a highly useful overview of company law and a valuable resource for managers and directors at this time of fundamental reorganisation of the regulatory framework. It should also be fixture on the reading lists of undergraduate and professional courses, where such a clear and authoritative treatment of the subject is always appreciated.