The major feature of this edition has been the continued exploration and analysis of the
impact of the Companies Act 2006. The introduction of the 2006 Act has, quite literally, represented
a ‘wholesale rethink’ of modern company law and, as such, had a significant impact
on every aspect of the subject area. While this represents an exciting and challenging period
for practitioners, academics and students alike, it has nonetheless meant that our considerable
reworking of the fourteenth edition has been continued in order to keep pace with the
changes brought about by the new Act.
By now the majority of readers will be sufficiently familiar with the new section numbering
of the 2006 Act or, as in the case of the majority of students, will be approaching this area
for the first time since continued references to the 1985 Act have become redundant.
Consequently, details of the Companies Act 1985 have either been removed entirely or, in
specific chapters, been retained only where a comparison with the previous wording is absolutely
necessary.