Constitution meaning

Procedure for amending the articles of association Matters to review or actions to undertake Refer to the pertinent section of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) and/or relevant Lexis+® UK material Tick box once step is complete or issue considered Getting ready to revise the articles and initial checks Will the proposed change oblige shareholders to take up additional shares, or increase a member’s liability? If so, shareholders’ approval will be necessary for the proposed alteration...

STOP PRESS: The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) obtained Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. Part 1 of ECCTA 2023 introduces a substantial suite of measures that strengthen the role of Companies House and promote greater transparency across UK corporate entities. The Act will be brought into effect in phases over an extended timeframe. Numerous provisions will depend on detailed secondary legislation and accompanying guidance, alongside the development and rollout of new technical systems, processes and tools to implement the reforms. For further information, see Practice Notes: The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023—what Banking & Finance lawyers need to know, The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023—tracker, and Corporate transparency reform—changes to company registers. What are a company's constitutional documents?...

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) If you are setting up a charity, one current option is the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). To prevent delays in assessing your application, the Charity Commission advises adopting its model constitution. Nevertheless, there are various alternative approaches to completing the document, and these should be weighed carefully before proceeding in line with current guidance and requirements...

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See Q&A: Where the constitution of a charity says ‘trustees can be reappointed but will not normally serve for more than three consecutive terms of office’. What does ‘normally’ mean in this context? The term ‘normally’ signals latitude or judgement, rather than a fixed rule...

In this issue: Brexit headlines Constitutional and administrative law Equality and human rights Judicial review Public procurement Subsidy control and State aid Information law Other Public Law news Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Brexit headlines Court of Appeal restricts education-based residence right under UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement—R (Ayoola) v Home Secretary In R (Ayoola) v SSHD [2025] EWCA Civ 1519, the Court of Appeal held that Articles 24(2) and 25(2) of the Withdrawal Agreement do not confer fresh residence entitlements; they merely safeguard education‑linked derivative residence rights that existed before withdrawal from the EU. Specifically, children of EU nationals had residence rights under Article 12 of Regulation 1612/68 (later Article 10 of Regulation 492/2011). Their third‑country national parents held residence rights only where their presence was required for the child. CJEU case law acknowledged and reinforced those derivative entitlements. Nonetheless,...

In this issue: Brexit highlights Post-Brexit transition guidelines Brexit SIs Constitutional and administrative law Subsidy control and State Aid Judicial review Equality and human rights Other Public law news Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers New and updated content Useful information Brexit highlights EAC sets out recommendations on future of UK-EU data adequacy The House of Lords European Affairs Committee (EAC) has issued a letter to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, summarising the principal conclusions and recommendations from its inquiry into UK‑EU data adequacy. It found that the loss of EU data adequacy in June 2025 would bring substantial costs and added administrative burdens for businesses and organisations, create obstacles to international trade and economic co‑operation, and detrimentally affect Northern Ireland under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework Agreement. The EAC therefore advises that the government engage with...

Allocation of jurisdiction within the UK under the CJJA 1982 This Practice Note explores how jurisdiction is apportioned across the UK under the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (CJJA 1982). It examines the scope of that regime and the conditions that must be satisfied for it to apply, and considers its interaction with Regulation 1215/2012, Brussels I (recast) (the Regulation). It sets out the primary rule together with the departures from it, and, lastly, addresses forum non conveniens in this setting. The CJJA’s intra-UK jurisdiction framework is designed to furnish rules allocating jurisdiction inside the UK itself. Distinct rules and factors arise when assessing whether UK courts possess jurisdiction over a claim that contains an international dimension. The UK comprises four countries, yet there are only three legal jurisdictions, and CJJA 1982, s 50, describes each as ‘parts of the UK’. England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Practitioners in England engaged in cross-border disputes must be cognisant of a range...

The Swiss Rules of International Arbitration, updated on 1 June 2021 (the Swiss Rules), apply—unless the parties agree otherwise—to any arbitration begun on or after 1 June 2021 under an arbitration agreement referring either to the Swiss Rules or to the prior rules of chambers or organisations that joined the Swiss Rules or brought their proceedings within them. This Practice Note examines the appointment of the arbitral tribunal under the Swiss Rules. The provisions regulating constitution of the tribunal are, for the most part, consistent with those in most other widely used arbitration rules, though there are a handful of particularities. For guidance on the 2012 Swiss Rules, see: Swiss Rules arbitration—overview. This note highlights similarities and specific features when constituting tribunals, within the context of these Swiss Rules and notes areas of difference. Number of arbitrators Under the Swiss Rules, the parties may decide the size of the arbitral tribunal, either within their arbitration clause or subsequently. While that choice rests with the parties, the Arbitration Court...

This Practice Note looks at the principal considerations and steps when establishing a company limited by shares or by guarantee. What is a company? A company is a business vehicle that exists as a separate legal entity, distinct from its members. It is owned by its members and run by its directors. It is governed by the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Companies are widely used; more than 5 million are on the UK public register maintained by Companies House. Under the CA 2006, the following company types are available: Public or private companies limited by shares — see Practice Notes: Private companies limited by shares and Public companies limited by shares Private companies limited by guarantee (primarily used by charities and other not-for-profit organisations — see Practice Note: Companies limited by guarantee) Unlimited companies (comparatively uncommon — see Practice Note: Unlimited companies) For details on other business vehicles, see Practice Note: Forms of business vehicle — fundamentals....

Special resolution That the Company’s articles of association be revised accordingly by [ outline the method by which the articles of association are to be revised ]...

Company registration number: [ insert company number ] [ Insert company name ] [ Limited OR LTD OR PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY OR PLC ] Record of a meeting of the board of directors (the Meeting) for [ insert company name ] [ Limited OR LTD OR PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY OR PLC ] (the Company) Convened at [ insert place of meeting ] Convened on [ insert day, month and year of meeting ] at [ insert time of meeting ] [ am OR pm ] Attending: [ Insert names of any directors present, whether in person or by any remote means (unless such means are expressly excluded by the Company’s articles of association) ] [ via [ insert means of attendance for each director participating remotely ] ] [ Also in attendance: ] [ [ Insert name of anyone present, whether physically or through any remote means, who does not count towards the quorum for the meeting (eg the company secretary, any legal advisers) ] ] [ Apologies: ] [...

Private Company Limited by Shares Articles of Association for [ insert name of company ] Limited (a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered no. [ insert number ]) (adopted by Special Resolution dated [ insert date ] 20[ insert year ]) 1. Model Articles 1.1 The Model Articles apply to the Company save to the extent that these Articles amend, disapply or conflict with them. Subject to any such alterations, exclusions or inconsistencies, the Model Articles together with these Articles comprise the Company’s articles of association, to the exclusion of any alternative articles or regulations contained in legislation, any statutory instrument or other subordinate legislation. 1.2 The following provisions of the Model Articles shall not apply to the Company: 6(2); 7; 8; 11(2); 11(3); 13; 14(1)–14(5) 16; 17; 22; 26(5) 39; 44(2); 50; 51; 52; 53 1.3 In these Articles, any mention of the term ‘chairman’ within the Model Articles shall be interpreted as a reference...

A charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) refers to a type of legal body accessible exclusively to charities. A CIO is regarded as created only after registration has been completed with the Charity Commission...

Proportional representation of political groups Authorities and committees must apportion seats to mirror the proportional make-up of political groups. The issue is whether an independent member, meaning one not belonging to any party group, can be placed on the planning committee. The position depends in part on the facts and the authority’s constitution, but where the authority is organised into political groups and no statutory exceptions apply, an independent would need to form a group with at least one other member to gain representation and thus a seat on the planning committee. In some authorities, several independents join to create an independent group, sometimes called ‘the independents’, and are therefore entitled to representation on the planning committee. This rule does not extend to area committees, and authorities may disapply it if unanimously approved alternative arrangements are adopted. This all proceeds on the basis that the authority is a ‘relevant authority’ as defined in section 21 and Schedule 1 to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (LGHA 1989)...

The matter may not be as simple as obtaining some external quotes. Your starting point ought to be the charity’s constitution; check it first. If that document prohibits paying charity trustees under its terms, remunerating a trustee to undertake the restoration work may not be permitted at all...