Powered by Lexis+®
CASE STUDY

“It's hard to quantify, right now. But at a guess, I'd say it's probably more than 50% faster, at times. It's literally that quick. We've found to be an essential practical tool. We're very satisfied.”

Walsall Council

Access all documents on Officer of a company

Officer of a company meaning

What does Officer of a company mean?
In practice, the individuals who hold formal management or governance roles in a company and act on its behalf. In UK company law, “officer” is a statutory expression used across multiple Acts, with the operative definition varying by context; it commonly includes a director and the company secretary, and often a manager or a person purporting to act in such a role. The term is used to allocate duties, regulatory obligations and personal liability (for example, where a corporate offence is committed with an officer’s consent or connivance), to permit service of documents, and to identify who may sign or authorise Companies House or CRO filings and other corporate acts. Across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, usage is broadly consistent under the Companies Act 2006 and related legislation. In Ireland, the Companies Act 2014 provides that an officer includes a director and the company secretary; for enforcement, “officer in default” may extend to de facto or shadow directors and others who authorise or permit breaches. A member (shareholder) is not, without more, an officer. Always check the governing statute or contract.
Speed up all aspects of your legal work with tools that help you to work faster and smarter. Win cases, close deals and grow your business–all whilst saving time and reducing risk.

View the related Checklists about Officer of a company

CHECKLISTS
Corporate anti-bribery compliance checklist for overseas partners and third-party intermediaries: board governance, risk-based due diligence, gifts and hospitality, facilitation payments, whistleblowing, investigations, monitoring and review

Checklist for overseas partners on preventing bribery Policies and procedures Does the company have a clear, robust and practical code of ethics that expressly states zero tolerance for bribery and corruption? Is that code backed by proportionate policies? Is there visible top-level commitment from the Board, and does a suitably experienced senior officer oversee the anti-bribery framework? Are anti-bribery policies and procedures a standing agenda item at Board meetings? Are the Board’s discussions on these policies and procedures comprehensively recorded in the minutes? Is there a Board sub-committee charged with updating and enforcing the anti-bribery policies and procedures? Do the company’s General Counsel and, where applicable, the legal/compliance team have specific expertise in anti-bribery legislation and practice? If not, (a) are external lawyers with the requisite knowledge retained; and (b) is an appropriate internal training programme considered? Do Board members receive the same anti-bribery training as other staff? ...

Read More Right Arrow
CHECKLISTS
Applying for a company validation order: practitioner checklist for post-petition dispositions (England and Wales)

Obtain necessary information to draft statement in support of application for validation order: a search of the company’s records a duplicate of the winding-up petition particulars of the debt and, if contested, particulars of the dispute current accounts and forecasts, with bank account statements information on the intended dispositions (including continuing trading where relevant) and/or transfers, together with supporting documentation if the asset is a property, identification of the property, including title numbers valuation evidence where any asset is to be disposed of See Practice Note: Validation orders—dispositions of property after commencement of winding up. Draft: a supporting witness statement from a director or officer of the company who is closely acquainted with the company’s affairs and financial position. Where appropriate, corroborating evidence from the company’s accountant should also be provided...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Flowcharts about Officer of a company

FLOWCHARTS
Section 8 HA 1988 possession (England and Wales): flowchart for terminating assured and assured shorthold tenancies—grounds, notice, proceedings, orders, enforcement, and Renters’ Rights Act 2025 changes

Is the risk assessment overseen at the highest level in the company? To demonstrate commitment from the top to anti-bribery controls, a company officer or a member of the Board should be designated to supervise the anti-bribery and risk assessment process. See Practice Note: Anti-bribery and corruption policy. Consider: Do senior management or the Board hold ultimate responsibility for the risk assessment process? Have duties for anti-bribery and corruption been delegated; if so, to whom and on what basis? How is this recorded? Has the company allocated bribery risk assessment to employees (for example, a compliance officer) who report directly to the Board? How has the company ensured the risk assessment is fit for purpose and able to withstand scrutiny?...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related News about Officer of a company

NEWS
High Court (England and Wales): SPA warranty notices valid without naming seller-awareness individuals or detailing material adverse impact (TP ICAP v NEX)

TP ICAP Ltd v NEX Group Ltd [2022] EWHC 2700 (Comm) The claims for breach of warranty stemmed from two probes: one by the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission concerning swaps trading linked to bond issuances and another by a Frankfurt public prosecutor targeting a named director of a group entity in relation to cum-ex trading during the relevant period. In essence, the alleged breaches concerned warranties addressing the following: that no group company, officer, or employee had been the subject of any non-routine investigation of any kind by a ‘Governmental Authority’ within the prior 18 months; and that no circumstances existed which could reasonably be expected to result in litigation against a group company where the amount in dispute exceeds £500,000. Those warranties were, in places, qualified by a seller-awareness threshold (here defined as the actual knowledge, after reasonable enquiries, of eight specified individuals) and were restated at completion of the SPA. The first of those warranties was repeated on completion...

Read More Right Arrow
NEWS
UK gender pension gap widens as men contribute 44% more; ONS reveals stark savings divide; Parliament launches inquiry

PensionBee press release, 14 April 2025 In a release issued by PensionBee on 14 April 2025, the company reported that the total average pension contribution from its male customers climbed by £316 in 2024, compared with a £174 uplift in the average female contribution. Men’s average annual payments into retirement savings reached £1,662, which is 44% higher than the female average of £1,155. PensionBee said these figures represent a 'notable increase' on the 37% difference between male and female annual contributions recorded in 2023. Lisa Picardo, chief business officer at PensionBee, said the expanding gap between men’s and women’s retirement contributions is 'a serious concern'...

Read More Right Arrow
NEWS
Employment Appeal Tribunal upholds refusal to strike out: arguable UK jurisdiction over Abbott and US-based individuals in TwistDX founders’ whistleblowing claims

TwistDX Ltd and Others v Armes and Others [2024] EAT 45 The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that Niall Armes, TwistDX Ltd's founder, and his wife, Helen Kent-Armes, the company's chief operating officer, may proceed to present their case that Abbott Laboratories, a US-based maker of medical devices, ought to face proceedings in Britain. Judge James Tayler held that the decision of the Employment Tribunal, presided over by Judge Martin Kurrein, contained no error of law when it dismissed an earlier bid by Abbott Laboratories and three US-based individuals to strike out the claims for lack of jurisdiction. In short, the tribunal was right not to strike out the claims against the US company and the US-based individuals...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Practice Notes about Officer of a company

PRACTICE NOTES
UK Bribery Act 2010: offences, corporate and senior officer liability, failure to prevent, extraterritorial reach, facilitation payments, penalties and the adequate procedures defence - practical guide for lawyers

The Bribery Act 2010 (BA 2010) Enacted to secure the UK’s adherence to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the Bribery Act 2010 (BA 2010) delivers an effective framework to address corruption across public and private spheres, updating the UK’s anti-corruption regime and supplanting Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1916. BA 2010 carries significant consequences for any company incorporated in, or trading from, the UK. Its global reach covers bribery undertaken by a business, or by third parties acting for it, regardless of where in the world the conduct occurs...

Read More Right Arrow
PRACTICE NOTES
European Commission Competition Investigations under Articles 101/102 TFEU: Stages, Dawn Raids, Information Requests, Rights of Defence, Leniency, Settlements, Commitments, Interim Measures, Fines, Remedies, Limitation Periods and Appeals

European Commission investigations The European Commission (Commission) examines indications or allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by companies that affect more than one EU Member State—for instance, international price-fixing cartels and other collusive practices prohibited by Article 101(1) TFEU, or situations where a company seems to misuse a dominant position contrary to Article 102 TFEU. Note—criminal action against individuals can be pursued in some Member States, but not by the Commission... Investigations may begin in one of four ways: an implicated party coming forward as a whistleblower, a complaint submitted by a third party, the Commission obtaining market intelligence suggesting a breach of competition law—for example, press reports or informal customer complaints, or the Commission identifying suspected infringements during a sector inquiry (see EU Sector inquiries). Frequently, a company only becomes aware that it is under investigation after the Commission has conducted an unannounced inspection (a ‘dawn raid’) or has sent information requests... Once opened, an investigation follows an established...

Read More Right Arrow
PRACTICE NOTES
UK CSOP share valuations: HMRC requirements on exercise price, £60,000 individual limit, pre-grant pricing, flotations, adjustments, rollovers and valuation methods (listed, unquoted, AIM, PISCES)

Why do you need to obtain a CSOP valuation? When granting a company share option plan (CSOP) option, you must determine the market value of the underlying shares to ensure that: the exercise price complies with CSOP statutory rules, meaning it is not manifestly below their market value (disregarding any restrictions) at the grant date, or at an earlier point agreed with an HMRC officer—for more detail, see The CSOP exercise price below the CSOP maximum individual limit is not breached, which restricts any person to holding no more than £60,000 of unexercised qualifying CSOP options—for how this is worked out, see The CSOP individual limit below In addition, once a CSOP option has been granted, the shares’ market value may still be relevant where: the exercise price fails to satisfy the above requirements (which may give rise to tax—see Practice Note: CSOP—income tax and NICs treatment of options—Income tax and NICs on the grant of CSOP options) ...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Precedents about Officer of a company

PRECEDENTS
Company Gifts and Hospitality (Anti-Bribery) Policy: UK Thresholds, Approval, Register, Compliance and Whistleblowing

1 Introduction 1.1 The Company conducts its affairs [ es ] with honesty. We must all act together to keep it free from bribery and corruption. This policy is central to that aim, and it binds us all: the board and every employee of the Company, for everyone at all times. 1.2 It addresses the giving or acceptance of gifts and hospitality, ensuring that any legitimate spending is properly recorded and does not unduly influence the final result of procurement, applications, or any other business dealings. 2 Offer and receipt of gifts and hospitality 2.1 The Company prohibits any officer or employee of the Company from requesting any gift or hospitality in the course of their employment, whether for themselves, for a third party, or on anyone’s behalf...

Read More Right Arrow
PRECEDENTS
Restructuring Support (Lock-Up and Standstill) Agreement with Interim Finance, Chief Restructuring Officer Appointment and Creditor/Director Releases

This Agreement is dated [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties The Consenting Lenders (as set out in Schedule 1); [ The Consenting Bondholders (as set out in Schedule 2); ] [ insert name of debtor company ], a company registered in [ insert country eg England and Wales ] with company number [ insert registered number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ]; [ The Material Companies (as set out in Schedule 3); ] Recitals On [ insert date ], the directors of the Company announced a proposal to restructure the claims of certain creditors of the [ Company OR Group ] following a period of financial distress. On [ insert date ], the Company and certain creditors entered into a Standstill Agreement in connection with the proposed restructuring. [ On [ insert date ], the Company and certain creditors agreed non-binding heads of terms for the...

Read More Right Arrow
PRECEDENTS
Records Retention Schedule: Legal Time Limits for Company, Employment, Health and Safety, Security, Customer, Marketing, Data Protection, Law Firm and AML Records

1 Introduction 1.1 This document sits alongside, and forms part of, [ insert organisation’s name ]’s Records management policy. It specifies and outlines the periods for which various categories of business records (as defined within the Records management policy) should be kept to meet operational and legal needs and obligations. [ You need not read the full retention schedule; instead, concentrate on the record categories relevant to your duties. ] 1.2 The schedule’s retention periods reflect operational needs and legal obligations, including our duty under data protection law not to retain personal data for longer than is necessary. When a retention period comes to an end, the data or record should be reviewed and, if no longer required, destroyed. 1.3 If you hold any records not described in this schedule, and it is not apparent from the existing categories what retention period should apply in your case, please contact [ insert who, eg the Data Protection Officer ] for guidance and clarification. 1.4 Any...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related UK Parliament Acts about Officer of a company

UK PARLIAMENT ACTS
1173 Minor definitions: general

(1)     In the Companies Acts—[“the Audit Regulation” means Regulation 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific requirements regarding statutory audit of public interest entities;]“body corporate” and “corporation” include a body incorporated outside the United Kingdom, but do not include—(a)     a corporation sole, or(b)     a partnership that, whether or not a legal person, is not regarded as a body corporate under the law by which it is governed;[“the competent authority” means the Financial Reporting Council Limited;][“credit institution” means a credit institution as defined in Article 4(1)(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013