What do you call business law?
Mia Phillips
Updated on March 30, 2026
Business law, also called commercial law or mercantile law, the body of rules, whether by convention, agreement, or national or international legislation, governing the dealings between persons in commercial matters.
What are the different types of business law?
Here are some of the most common types of business law:
- Employment Law.
- Immigration Law.
- Consumer Goods Sales.
- Contract Drafting/Negotiations/Litigation.
- Antitrust.
- Intellectual Property.
- Taxes.
- Bankruptcy.
What is the difference between law and business law?
While corporate law focuses on legal aspects governing sale and distribution of goods, business law covers legal aspects used in acquisitions, mergers, formation of companies and rights of shareholders. Companies need people who have in-depth knowledge of both laws.
Who is the father of business law?
For this reason, Stracca is often considered the father of the commercial law and author of the first Italian treaty about the insurance contract, beyond about the commerce.
What does company law mean for a business?
Company law also means that if a director has failed in their goal of providing proper leadership, and has instead steered the business into a noticeable loss, you will find that the actual company can personally hold the director accountable.
How does company law work in the UK?
When you’re a company which has all of these rights and regulations, company law also plays a big part in the director’s duties. Under UK law, you’re required to do certain things for the good of the company. In the past, directors generally were the face of the company and left a lot of the internal affairs to their staff.
What do you need to know about business laws?
As you know, there’s a lot of preparation that goes into launching a business. Creating a business plan and securing funding are common items on the startup to-do list. One thing you should add to that list is time to review common business laws that could affect your business.