This is a full set of the revision notes I made when I was preparing for the first sitting of SQE1 in November 2021. I passed both FLK1 and FLK2 with a score of 81 and 84 respectively. The notes covers all the topics tested in SQE1, i.e.:
Business Law and Practice
Dispute Resolution
Contract...
Table of Contents
Business Law and Practice.......................................................................................................2
Dispute Resolution................................................................................................................12
Contract Law.........................................................................................................................14
Tort Law................................................................................................................................21
The Legal System...................................................................................................................28
Human Rights........................................................................................................................31
Solicitors Accounts.................................................................................................................33
Land Law...............................................................................................................................34
Property Practice...................................................................................................................41
Wills / Administration of Estates...........................................................................................48
Criminal Law and Practice.....................................................................................................52
1
This is a full set of the revision notes I made when I was preparing for the first sitting of SQE1 in November 2021.
The notes were originally made just for my own reference. While I passed the SQE in quintile 1, there is no
guarantee that every detail of this set of notes is accurate. You should read these notes as a guidance for your
revision. Always refer back to your textbooks for the most accurate and up-to-date position of the law. As I am
working a full-time job, I spent little time polishing the notes before putting them on eBay, so please forgive any
typos.
D: Director
WR: written resolution
GM: general meeting
OR: ordinary resolution
SR: special resolution
Co: Company
Bus: business
General
PLC: Public limited company
Company Secretary - Ltd may have. PLC must have.
⁃ Have ostensible authority
Statutory derivative action
⁃ 1. Prima facie case (only on applicant’s evidence)
⁃ 2. Person with duty to promote success of company - would he seek to continue?
Unfair prejudice petition / Just and equitable winding up (JEWU)
Principle of reflective loss
⁃ Shareholder cannot sue a wrongdoer to recover losses reflecting loss sustained
by company
AGM
⁃ Private Co: no longer needed, but removal of Ds/ auditors before end of term
—> need resolution at meeting
⁃ Need 28 days’ notice of motion before meeting
⁃ Cannot be done by written resolutions (WR)
⁃ D has right to be heard
⁃ 5% members can requisition a GM
⁃ Must call GM in 21 days; hold within 28 days of notice convening meeting
14 clear days’ notice for GM
21 clear days’ for AGM
⁃ Can shorten notice with 90% members for LTD / 95% for PLC
⁃ For AGM of PLC —> need 100% to abridge notice period
Exemption of D liability / indemnity (unless insurance) - void in articles
Appointment of D
⁃ PLC - appointment of 2 or + persons as Ds by single resolution at GM is void,
unless unanimous agreement
Company Loan to D
⁃ Need OR
⁃ If loan to D of HoldCo - need ORs from both parent and sub
⁃ Exceptions:
⁃ Less than 50k,
⁃ Loan for duties related to company
—
D duty to promote success includes:
⁃ Employees
⁃ Community and environment
⁃ Quality
⁃ Relationship with suppliers
Declaration of interest
⁃ General - if D is member of another company (transaction with company A)
⁃ Specific and each time - if D is also D of another co
—> if conflict - need approval of rest of board, not just sit out
Ds forbidden to receive benefits, unless so minor not to sway
Substantial NON-CASH ASSET transaction —> need OR
⁃ If more than 100k
⁃ Or more than 10% NAV if asset is over 5k
⁃ If Co contracts with D of parent co - need OR
⁃ Also applies to family / trust / Ps
Loan transactions:
⁃ Not required OR if:
⁃ Emet expenditure of business / perform duties - if Not exceed 50k
⁃ Small loans. / credit not exceeding 10k
⁃ Proceedings re work
Ds service contract
⁃ Co needs to keep copy for 1 year after expiration
⁃ Members can inspect and get copy
⁃ No duty to inspect AOA when transacting with co - no constructive notice
⁃ Not apply if counter party is a D of the company, or a company 20% controlled by
a D.
—> irregular contract
—> D is personally liable to account for gain & indemnify co of loss
Wrongful trading
⁃ No reasonable prospects of avoiding insolvency
⁃ Every step to minimise loss to creditors
D’s WR has to be unanimous; SH’s doesn’t have to be
⁃ Partners (Ps) – each agent of firm and agent of co-partners, can bind if “act for
usual way of business of the kind carried by the firm”
Not bind if not “usual” business – or (i) no actual authority and (ii) if CP knows no
authority / does not believe he is a P
A partner pledging Credit of firm (not relevant to business - not bind firm unless
specifically authorised; personally liable
⁃ Apparent authority:
1. Need to be connected with bus
2. Outsider knows / believe dealing with a P
NOT apply when: deed / guarantee / accepting debt at discount / land / arbitrate
⁃ Partnership at will – terminates on death
⁃ Fiduciary duties to each other – utmost good faith and disclosure
S. 29 – profit from transactions re P = account
Applies upon death until affairs wound up
⁃ Assignee of share of Pship
Only right to share provide, not management. Must accept account
⁃ Not to compete
If not in same business and not restricted under agreement – no need to account profits
from side hustle
⁃ Implied financial terms
Share equal profits; if unequal contribution to capital withdraw unequally
No interest on capital ; only 5% on loans ; no remuneration
Every P can take part in management but can be varied
All must consent to intro of new P
Ordinary matters – majority vote regardless of capital contribution; following consultation
+ good faith
Fundamental change – unanimity
Power to inspect books at place of business
⁃ Each partner jointly liable for all
If insufficient partnership property – can go after each, after personal debt paid in full
⁃ Tort – binds partnership if in scope of usual activities
⁃ Variation of P terms – consent of all, implied or express
⁃ Incoming P – not liable for earlier liabilities
⁃ Retiring partner
Give notice in Gazette
Liable for post-retirement if hold out as P or didn’t give proper notice – so usually sign
deed of retirement – indemnify post-R liabilities
⁃ Expulsion – majority cannot expel unless express
⁃ Dissolution
Any P can dissolve by notice; unless retrained under express terms
Auto dissolve on death / bankruptcy of ONE P – usually partnership agreement (PA)
says share will go to remainder upon payment
By Court
Another P conducts – prejudicial to bus (not moral conduct unless affect bus)
Persistent breach of P agreement
Delay termination will increase loss
Just and equitable – deadlock,
After dissolution, Ps still have continuing authority to bind Ps for winding up
should give notice at London Gazette
LLPs
⁃ Not a taxable person
⁃ Minority protection in CA2006 applies
⁃ LLP itself liable for debts in running of business – but personal liability if negligent
(together with LLP)
⁃ Not for charity
⁃ If LLP reduce to 1 person, and continues to trade, after 6 months – that person
becomes personally liable if he knew just he is left
⁃ LLPs must respond to request for LLP particulars in 5 working days
⁃ Accounting records – keep 3 years at reg office / fitting place – open to
inspection by LLP members
⁃ Insolvency – court can order repayment of withdrawals 2 years before winding
up, if the withdrawal increased risk of insolvency
⁃ Designated members – need at least 2; if no / less than 2 – all become DMs –
stat responsibilities – can case to be with other members consent
⁃ Members are agent of LLP, not to co-members
⁃ Cessation – member gives notice to other members + notice filed with Registrar
⁃ Salaried member rules apply if
Fixed salary / variable but not ref to P&L
No significant control
Contribution to LLP less than 25% disguised salary in the tax year
⁃ Fiduciary duty by members to LLP (when and insofar as acting as agent); not
between members
If corporate member – FD to LLP overrides FD to appointor (eg company asked Rep A
to vote against; Rep A thinks best interest is to vote for. Need to vote for LLP)
CVA - (i) simple majority of SH; and (ii) 75% in value of unsecured creds or more
Scheme - (i) a majority in number, (ii) representing 75% value or more
Restructuring plan - just by value 75%
1. Dissenting class would not be any worse off than in relevant alternative (RA)
2. 75% of creds / members with genuine economic interest in RA, still voted in
favour
Compulsory liquidation
⁃ Sb with locus - a creditor petition to court / company itself by SR (rare)
⁃ Petitioner needs to Gazette for 14 days
⁃ Hearing in 14 days
⁃ —> OR until creditors appoint a private liquidator
⁃ Power of Ds cease; employees dismissed
MVL
⁃ SR of members + solvency declaration - sent to CH 15 days
⁃ Gazette within 14 days
CVL
⁃ Unable to pay debts
⁃ + SR of members - within 14 days Creditors meeting; 7 days notice; one D to
chair
⁃ Gazette + 2 newspapers 14 days
⁃ 15 days CH
Wrongful trading
⁃ If D knew / ought to have known no reasonable prospects
⁃ “Every step” Defence: knew no reas prospect; but took every step to minimise
loss for creditors
Transaction at Undervalue
⁃ 2 years
Preference
Can set aside a preference (putting a cred in better position than if he’ll be in if in
insolvent liquidation) if
⁃ 6 months
⁃ If connected - 2 years
Petition
⁃ On petition – debtor cannot dispose of assets otherwise void
OR takes over on bankruptcy order
⁃ Can request statement of affairs within 21 days
Family home
⁃ Trustee in bankruptcy can use it or lose it – 3 years
Transaction at undervalue (gift)
⁃ 5 years if at that time already insolvent / because of that insolvent
⁃ 2 year – regardless of solvency
Preference – need to show intention to prefer
⁃ 6 months if unconnected
⁃ 2 years if connected
Defraud creditors
⁃ Apply limitation act
⁃ 6 years if money
⁃ 12 years if other assets
Discharge
⁃ On 1st anniversary of commencement of bankruptcy unless court suspends
⁃ Asset realisation and distribution doesn’t cease
⁃ Bankruptcy restrictions order – from 2 – 15 years – if behavious is reckless
Debt Relief Order
⁃ Debts of 20k
⁃ Assets of 1k
⁃ Disposable income of 50£
Accounts
⁃ Annual accounts and reports
⁃ Approved by board, signed on BS
⁃ Send copies to SH no later than filing at CH; 8 months from end of accounting
period
10
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller TomAlistair. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $130.86. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.