Project status: Pre-consultation
The Law Commission has been asked by HM Treasury to review the legal framework governing friendly societies. About friendly societies A friendly society is an organisation which provides insurance or other benefits to its members, funded by its members. In providing schemes of mutual support, friendly societies can serve an important commercial purpose, especially in … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
The Law Commission has been asked by HM Treasury to review the legal framework governing co-operatives and community benefit societies. About co-operatives and community benefit societies Co-operatives and community benefit societies are business associations. They are alternatives, for example, to companies and partnerships. In rough terms, co-operatives do not prioritise making profits to reward investors. … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the final report here. Download a summary of the final report here. About arbitration Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution. If two or more parties have a dispute which they cannot resolve themselves, instead of going to court, they might appoint a third person as an arbitrator to resolve the dispute for … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
The Government asked the Law Commission to produce a scoping paper which examines the description and legal status of DAOs – a new type of collective organisational structure that often uses blockchain, smart contracts or similar technology. > Read our call for evidence paper here. > Respond to our call for evidence paper here. What … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
Download the call for evidence (February 2024) Download a summary of the call for evidence (February 2024) Respond to the call for evidence on the consultation website The problem When parties to a private law dispute are based in different countries, or the facts and issues giving rise to the dispute cross national borders, … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report and draft legislation here. Download the summary of the report here. Download the Welsh summary of the report here. The problem International trade is worth around £1.266 trillion to the UK. The process of moving goods across borders involves a range of actors including transportation, insurance, finance and logistics service providers. We … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the consultation paper on the draft legislation (February 2024) Download the report (June 2023) Download a summary of the report (June 2023) The problem Digital assets are increasingly important in modern society. They are used for an expanding variety of purposes — including as valuable things in themselves, as a means of payment, … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the report and draft legislation here Download the summary of the report here Download a Welsh summary of the report here The problem Consumers often pay for goods in advance of receiving them. This happens whenever consumers buy goods online. It can also happen when consumers pay for goods in a physical store, but … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the scoping paper on intermediated securities here Download the summary of the scoping paper on intermediated securities here The problem In the modern era, when you decide to invest in shares or bonds, you are unlikely to receive a paper certificate. Instead, most investors “own” securities through computerised credit entries in a register called … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the Electronic Execution of Documents report. Download the summary paper. Download the Welsh summary of the paper. The problem The law relating to signatures and other formal documentary requirements has a history spanning centuries. In today’s world, individuals, consumers and businesses demand modern, convenient methods for entering into binding transactions. Technological developments have changed … Read more >