Alternative business structure meaning

In this issue: Brexit highlights Brexit SIs Post-Brexit transition guidance Constitutional and administrative law Equality and human rights Judicial review Information law Public procurement Subsidy control and State aid Other Public Law news Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Brexit highlights Cabinet Office publishes evaluation of Common Frameworks The Cabinet Office has released a review of the Common Frameworks, assessing how the UK Government and the devolved administrations collaborate after Brexit. Drawing on proforma data across 28 frameworks and six case studies, the review concluded that, although the frameworks support effective intergovernmental collaboration, there is scope to enhance cross-framework alignment, stakeholder participation and central guidance. It also observed that many processes within the frameworks remain untried, with limited examples of formal dispute resolution or managing divergence, and recommends continued evaluation as the frameworks mature. See: LNB News 18/07/2025...

On 25 June 2025, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) confirmed the UK’s intention to enter the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) as part of its wider trade agenda. By acceding, Britain stands with 56 other WTO participants, including the EU, Japan and Canada, who aim to preserve essential dispute settlement functions while the WTO Appellate Body is not operating. This step follows the recent entries by both Paraguay and Malaysia, taking MPIA coverage to almost 58% of global trade. In its statement, the DBT said that ‘joining the MPIA sends a clear signal that the UK is committed to the principles of free and fair trade’, whilst acknowledging that the WTO’s permanent appellate mechanism remains inoperative at present...

For an at‑a‑glance, high‑level outline of the civil court structure and hierarchy in England and Wales, see: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary—Structure of Courts and Tribunals System. Several civil courts issue a court guide explaining how business in that court should be managed, which operates alongside, and in addition to, further guidance given in the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). For further details, see Practice Note: Court guides and other guidance. For information on: claims that must be brought and issued in the County Court, see Practice Note: Starting civil claims in the County Court commencing a claim under CPR 8 (alternative procedure for claims where there is no substantial dispute of fact), see Practice Note: CPR Part 8 claims (alternative procedure for claims) High Court or the County Court? Whether proceedings ought to be issued in the High Court or the County Court is, in the main, determined by the claim’s value. This Practice Note addresses starting a claim under CPR 7. The...

Class actions—USA—Q&A guide This Practice Note presents a jurisdiction-specific Q&A on class actions in the USA, featured in the Lexology Getting the Deal Through series by Law Business Research (law stated at: 9 October 2022). Authors: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP— Roger A Cooper; Lina Bensman; Allison Kim. 1. Outline the organisation of your court system as it relates to collective or representative actions (class actions). In which courts may class actions be brought? The American court structure comprises two parallel systems: the federal courts and the state court systems. The federal judiciary operates on three tiers: Trial courts, termed the ‘US District Courts’, located nationwide; Thirteen intermediate appellate courts, the ‘US Courts of Appeals’; The highest court, the ‘US Supreme Court’. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over all matters brought in federal courts, and over cases from state courts that involve federal law. Broadly, state court systems reflect the same three-tiered model, although terminology can vary and,...

Choosing the joint venture vehicle A joint venture is not recognised in English law as a separate legal form. Rather, it is a commercial arrangement in which two or more parties agree to combine resources to deliver a defined project or other business activity. The term spans a wide range of scenarios, from structural solutions that establish or shift economic control of a legal entity—such as joint venture companies or partnerships—to non‑structural approaches, including contractual joint projects and informal, undocumented collaborations. A joint venture may be set up for a single initiative, a set timeframe, or as an ongoing business relationship. Parties considering a joint venture have several structural routes open to them, and the most suitable model will turn on their particular circumstances. Commonly used structures include: Corporate joint venture—creating a separate limited company in which each party holds shares Joint venture partnership—forming a new partnership vehicle Contractual or commercial joint venture—defining all aspects of the joint venture relationship within a contract ...

Drafting notes These model execution provisions are intended for a limited partnership entering into a simple contract, rather than a deed. Two alternative forms are provided for a contract executed: by an individual general partner, and on behalf of a corporate general partner Limited partnership The Limited Partnership Act 1907 (Ireland) (LPA 1907 (IRL)) creates a partnership structure in which certain partners have limited liability for the firm’s debts, restricted to the amount of their contribution. The General Scheme of the Registration of Limited Partnerships and Business Names Bill 2024 (Limited Partnerships Bill 2024), issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 2024, would, if enacted, repeal and replace the LPA 1907 (IRL). Limited partnerships registered under the LPA 1907 (IRL) will be obliged to satisfy the new registration requirements within twelve months of receiving notice from the Registrar, to be given within thirty months of the new Act’s commencement. Under LPA 1907 (IRL), s 4, a limited partnership...

Governance arrangements This document sets out our governance arrangements, ie the framework by which the firm is guided and supervised. The firm operates as [ insert structure eg a sole practitioner, a partnership, a limited liability partnership, a limited company, an alternative business structure ]. A list of the [ insert eg partners, members, directors ] can be found at [ insert location ]. The day-to-day running of the firm is handled by [ insert details, eg the executive management team ]. The [ insert, eg executive management team ] reports into, and is overseen by, [ insert, eg the Board ], which carries overall responsibility for the firm’s strategy and direction. The organisation chart in the Appendix sets out the members of the [ insert, eg executive management team and the Board ]...