1、Chapter11. 民法(civil law)和刑法(criminal law)的划分Civil law: an form of private law, used by individuals to assert rights against other individualsCriminal law: an aspect of public law to regulate crimes and to punish offendersIssue Civil CriminalWho brings the actionClaimant/plaintiff原告Prosecutor/cps/sta
2、teBurden of proofClaimant/plaintiff原告Prosecutor/cps/stateStandard of proofBalance of probabilitiesBeyond reasonable doubtDecisions Liable/not (judge) Guilty or notAims Compensatory Punitive/to punishRemedies 纠正damages Imprisonment/fines1. Case law: made by judge/ statute law 成文法: primary legislation
3、(made by the Parliament)/secondary legislation( in exercise of law-making powers delegated by Parliament). 注:Necessity for delegated legislation/secondary legislation :more convenient ;can hand over the task of specifying the law in detail to experts2. 在 case law 中 :common law 普通法created by judges t
4、hrough the application of the principle of judicial precedent. common law drew on customs/equity law 衡平法:to resolve disputes where damages are not a suitable remedy and to introduce fairness into the legal system. 2. 不同法院管辖事件的类型只受理民事案件 County court只受理刑事案件 Crown court民刑通吃 Magistrates court , high cou
5、rt, court of appeal, supreme court只受理一审 County court, magistrates court 只受理上诉 Court of appeal , supreme court一审上诉通吃 High court , crown courtChapter2Chapter21. Doctrine of Precedence(遵循先例制度的一般规则): some decisions made by a court are binding and similar subsequent legal cases should be decided on the b
6、asis of the law established in earlier cases.2. 可以创立判例法规则: Supreme Court/Court of Appeal/High Court;不可以创立:Crown, Magistrates, County Courts cannot create precedent.3. Elements of judicial decision(影响法庭判决的因素):ration decidendi 判决理由the reason for the decision/Obiter dicta附带说明statement made by the way,
7、not binding, but merely of persuasive authority 4. 法官又可以因为那些理由拒绝先例(disregarding judicial precedent): Overrule 取代the procedure whereby a court higher in the legal hierarchy sets aside a legal ruling established in a previous case/Reverse 推翻a procedure whereby a court higher in the hierarchy reverses
8、the decision of a lower court in the same case/Distinguishing 法官的自由裁决a precedent is avoided by a judge demonstrating that the material facts of two cases are not the same5. Rules of Statutory Interpretation(法的解释):the literal approach :the literal rulemeans that words in the Act should be given their
9、 literal and grammatical meaning rather than what the judge thinks they mean./the golden rule :this rule is applied in circumstances where the application of the literal rule is likely to result in an obviously absurd result. the purposive approach :the judge should ,where necessary ,look beyond the
10、 words of statute to find out the reason/purpose for its enactment, and that meaning should be interpreted in the light of the purposeMischief rule :purposive approach 的具体表现形式/where a statute is designed to remedy a weakness in the law, the correct interpretation is the one which achieves it.6. 语言处理
11、规则(法律没有追溯力 a statute does not have retrospective effect)Chapter3 合同法(IMP)1. 合同的概念 a legally binding agreement enforceable in law2. 从要约到承诺是否达成 agreement invitations to treat 要约邀请-offer 要约-acceptance 承诺-agreement3. Termination of an offer:express rejection/counter off 反要约/lapse of time/revocation of a
12、n off/death/if the off is suject to a condition,it will lapse on failure of that condition4. Privity of Contract 合同相对性原则: the common law doctrine that only those are party to the contract-have rights or liabilities under the contract/ have the right to enforce the contract,contracts cannot give righ
13、ts or obligations to othersChapter4 1. 分类标准Express and lmplied terms:某个条款是否经过双方当事人协商同意(agreed by the parties)Condition,warranties and innominate terms 核心,从属和无名条款 :根据条款重要性2. 免责条款 (三观 概念)Any clause that attempts to exempt , or limit, the liability of one party for breach of contract or negligence3 tes
14、t: correctly incorporated into the contract 形式正确/worded clearly to exclude the breach 措辞清晰/reasonable per statute 内容合理Chapter51. type of breach Repudiatory breach 根本性违约:refusal to perform 拒绝履行/failure to perform an entire obligation 不履行某项/incapacitation 无力履行/breach of condition 违反核心条款/breach of an i
15、nnominate term 违反无名条款 Anticipatory breach 预期违约:未到合同履行时间,当事人提前说明无法履行;收到预期违约通知可立即追究违约责任,也可等到履行合同时间 追究责任Lawful excuses for non-performance 开脱责任:performance is impossible 因不可预见的事情发生不可履行/尝试履行被拒绝/ the other party make it impossible for him to performance/contract is discharged through frustration 情势变更/the
16、 party have been agreement permitted non-performance2. Remedies : when a breach occurs, the court has to decide what the appropriate remedy should be.Common law Damage 赔偿金, action for the price, quantum meruitEquitable law 衡平法 Specific performance 实际履行,injunction 禁令,rescission of the contract 撤销合同3.
17、 Liquidated damage 违约金: a genuine pre-estimate of the loss 在订 立合同前已 经商定了,有利于解纠纷,如果违约金过高(远大于 loss)判为惩罚性,则不可执行4. specific performance :the court directs a party to complete their contractual obligations以下几种情况法官不会让合同继续履行:courts cannot supervise 法官无力监督履行/personal service/minors involvedChapter6 Tort 侵 权
18、法 A wrongful act against an individual which gives rise to a civil claim.1. 过失侵权的 4 个证明环节(概念 标准 内容)Negligence:It arises when one person suffers damage or injury though the negligent act(or omission to act)of another person.Duty of care 注意义务(三步走原 则)1.Reasonable foreseeability 合理 预见原则2.Proximity 关联性原则
19、3.Justness and fairness of imposing a duty of care 公平合理地强加注意义务A breach of that duty 违反注意义务1.general rule:The test for establishing breach of duty is an objective one:a breach of duty occurs if the defendant:”.fails to do something which a reasonable man.would do.”2.Special factors to considera.The p
20、robability of injuryb.The seriousness of the risk 造成 伤害的严重性c.Cost and practicability 成本可行性d.Common practice 证明是行业误差范围内e.Skilled persons/professionalsf.Social benefitThe breach of duty caused harm to the claimant 违反义务是导致损失的原因1.The but for test2.No break in the chain of causation 切断因果关系链的要素a.A natural
21、 eventb.Act of a third party 原侵权人不承担责任c.Act of the claimantThe loss ware not too remote 主张的赔偿合理Reasonable foresight 只赔偿违法者可以合理预见的部分2. 抗辩事由Contributory negligence 共同过失(一般只是减少赔偿额,个别情况全部免除)Volenti non fit injuria 同意不生违法(彻底免除)Chapter7 劳动法1. 身份判别Control test :The amount of control that one person had ove
22、r the otherIntegration test 不会外包给他人的,不可或缺的Multiple test/Economic reality testa. The regularity and method of payment 报酬支付频率,支付方式b. The ownership of tools and equipment 是否提供工具c. The regularity of hours of work 工作时间d. The ability to delegate all the work/to provide substitute 是否代理2. 义务Common Law Dutie
23、s-Employers common law duties1)Duty of mutual trust and confidence2)To provide work for workers3)To pay wages/remuneration4)To indemnify employee against expenses and losses5)To provide for the care and safety of the employee6)No duty to provide reference when employees leave-Employees common law du
24、ties1) To obey reasonable and lawful orders2) To act faithfully/duty of faithful service/duty to account for all money and property3) To exercise reasonable skill and care in any activity in their role as an employee/reasonable competence to do his job4) Personal service 亲自完成交付的 责任Statutory Duties1)
25、Pay and equality 不能低于国家平均2) Time off work3)Trade union officials 工会组织罢工可以参加, 还要给工资4) Every woman has a right to maternity leave and some are entitled to maternity pay5) Health and safety6)Working time:17week,not exceed 48 hours for each 7 days除非员工书面同意多工作7) Flexible workingChapter81. 解雇通知时间的计算1m-2Y:
26、not less than 1 week2y-12y:1 week for each year12y: not less than 12 week劳动者离职要提前一周通知,合同期 满不续则每工作一年折合一个月工资2. 自动正当参加非法集合罢工 unofficial industrial action/对国家安全有威胁自动不正当怀孕 pregnancy/员工参加工会活动/收购并购时的解雇 dismissal on transfer of an undertaking/工作存在安全问题/最低工作标准/作息时间/员工在周天拒绝工作3. 用人单位解雇不当Chapter9 代理法1. 代理关系建立方式E
27、xpress agreement between the agent and principal 达成委托代理协议合同,口 头书面皆可Implied agreement 默认 没有代理 协议但默认存在关系Ratification 追任 代理人先履行合同,事后委托人建立合同关系Without consent of principal 没有征得委托人同意就建立关系 necessity/Estoppel2. 代理权限(3)Express authority 明示代理权限Implied authority 默认代理权限Apparent/ostensible authority 看起来有代理权限, 实际
28、上并没有Chapter10 合伙企业法1. 合伙企业(概念):the relationships that subsists between persons carrying on a business in common with a view to profit. standard partnership is not s separate legal entity and its partners have full personal liability for the debts of partnership. 2. Termination/dissolution 合伙企业解散的债务处
29、理:paying off external debts/repaying to the partners any loans or advances/repaying the partners capital contribution/anything left over is then repaid to the partners in the profit sharing ratio .3. Termination/dissolution 合伙企业解散的条件:expiry of a fixed period stipulated in the partnership agreement/c
30、ompletion of the express purpose for which the partnership was formed/partner gives notice to leave/a new partner is admitted into the partnership/death or bankruptcy of partner/happening of any event which makes company cant carry on/on application by a partner the Court may decree a dissolution of
31、 the partnership4. Sole trade 宏 观特征:is not a separate legal entity, the person and business are viewed as the same legal entity 5. Authority 合伙人的代理权限:express authority 明示代理权限from partnership agreement/implied authority 默示代理权限/apparent authority 表面代理权限已经退伙但其他人不知道6. A partners liability usually extend
32、s to the period for which were actually a partner of a firm. 合伙人只对担任合伙人期间合伙企业产生的债务有清偿责任7. Limited Partnership(LP)特征:the partnership must be register with the Company Registry/one or more of the partners must bear full,unlimited liability/partners with limited liability may not take part in managemen
33、t and cannot usually bind the business in contract/limited partner cannot withdraw their capital 8. Limited Liability Partnership(LLP)特征:must be registered with the the Registrar of Companies, with formation documents signed by at least two members/has a legal personality separate/ the name of partn
34、ership must end with LLP/partners are known as members, of which there must be at least two/LLPs must file annual returns and accounts/all members are agents of LLP/all members liability is limited/a designated member is responsible for administration and filing/LLP is not subject to corporation tax
35、 Chapter121. 设立 pre-incorporation contacts 谁来履行?Promoters 发起人2. 交什么文件Memorandum of association 公司章程(89 年)Application for registration 注册申请书A statement of capital and initial shareholdings 关于公司资本坏人原始持有股份的状况说明Statement of compliance 遵从声明A statement of companys proposed officers 拟任命谁为公司管理人员A copy of an
36、y proposed articles of association 自拟公司章程(06 年)不是必须提交,没交使用默 认模版3. 2 个证书的功能Certificate of incorporation 注册许可证Private company 只需要注册许可证,是形式审查Trading certificate 营业许可证Public company 需要两个证,申领到注册许可证后一年内要申领到营业许可证,否则强制清算,是实质审查a.Allotted share capital is at least 50,000(允许股东分批缴纳)b.At least one quarter of the
37、 nominal value of the allotted share capital has been paid up(minimum 12,500)首次不低于票面的 1/4,为确保一开始不会有 资金困 难c.Details of promoters expenses 设立费用具体怎么产生d.A statement of compliance in respect of payment of nominal values and share premium4. 章程修改的程序和内容-Contentsa. Directors powers and responsibilityb. Decis
38、ions making by directorsc. Appointment of directorsd. Organization and conduct of general meetingse. Issue and transference of sharesf. Payment of dividendsg. Exercise of members rights-Alteringa. Passing a special resolution 通过股东会的特别决定, 3/4 以上同意批准b. Providing the alteration has been made “bona fide
39、 in the interest of the company as a whole”内容符合全体股东的意愿5.各个公司名称缩写代表含义-Ltd:Limited-plc:public limited companyChapter13 1. capital 的分类Issued 已发行股本Shares already issued, including share taken on formation by subscribers to the memorandumCalled up 已催缴股本Amount which the company has required shareholders t
40、o payPaid up 以催付股本Amount which shareholders have actually paidEquity share Equity share capital is a companys issued share capital less capital which carries preferential rights. It normally comprises ordinary shares.2. 普通股优先股的概念和差异feature ordinary Preferencedividends variable Fixed, usually, cumula
41、tiveVoting rights Yes restrictedGeneral meetingsMay attend and voteRestrictedliquidation Rank last /entitled to repayment of capital and share of surplusRank above ordinary share /entitled to repayment of capital only3. Bonus issue 红利股发行The capitalization of the reserves if a company by the issue if
42、 additional shares to existing shareholders, in proportion to their holdings. Such shares are normally fully paid-up with no cash called for from the shareholders4. Share premium概念 shares may be issued at a price above their nominal value, the difference between the issue price and the nominal value
43、 is a share premium用途 the issue of fully paid bonus share/writing off the preliminary expenses of company formation/writing off the discount on the issue of debentures/repurchase of debentures at a premiumChapter11 公司法The consequences of separate legal personality for the company are as follows:(189
44、7 年案例引出的规则)1: members liability is limited.2: perpetual succession become possible as the company will need to be formally wounded-up.3: the company itself can own property.4 :the company can use, and be sued in its own name.Types of company (公司的分类)Features Ltd PlcMinimum number of directors 1 2Minimum number of members 1 1Minimum share capital One share 500000Advertise share/debentures to public No Yes Time to hold accounting records 3 years 6 years Annual general meeting Optional Compulsory Company secretary Optional Compulsory File accounts after year-end 9 months 6 months