December 2013 – The Student Law Journal

**Gower & Davies: Principles of Modern Company Law** *by Paul L Davies & Sarah Worthington*
**Publisher:** Sweet & Maxwell
**Edition:** *9th Edition (July 2012)*
**ISBN:** *978-0-414-02272-0*
**Price:** *£35.00*

For many students, company law is a topic which can be problematic to understand. It is a complex web of case-law and statutory provisions (and the recent Companies Act 2006 spans more than 1,000 sections). It is, however, an extremely important topic for any commercial practitioner, particularly corporate lawyers. To help understand and master the law comes this ninth edition of Gower & Davies: Principles of Modern Company Law by Paul L. Davies who is joined by, for the first time, Sarah Worthington. It aims to be the leading text on company law by providing clarity while covering all key areas on a day-to-day basis by way of a detailed, in-depth analysis. It easily achieves this aim.

Gower & Davies: Principles of Modern Company Law is split into seven parts: introductory; separate legal personality and limited liability; corporate governance: the board and shareholders; corporate governance: majority and minority shareholders; account and audit; equity finance; and debt finance. Each part then includes a number of chapters. The text includes chapters on: personal liability for abuses of limited liability; disqualification of directors; dividends and distributions; directors’ duties; the derivative claim and personal actions against directors; unfair prejudice; share issues; transfers of shares; insider dealing and market manipulation; debentures; and winding-up, dissolution and restoration.

I first started to use Gower & Davies: Principles of Modern Company Law in the late 1990s when it was, I think, in its sixth edition. I was impressed with it then and continued to be impressed with it now. Since the last 1990s, this text has almost doubled in size but the principles of earlier editions remain: to provide a text which explains the material in a clear, but detailed (and in-depth), analysis. Because it achieves this aim easily, It continues to be a highly respected and academically stimulating text. It is also (unlike many similar texts) both well-written and accessible allowing even the most reluctant reader to quickly understand the important principles of company law.

This new edition of Gower & Davies: Principles of Modern Company Law builds on the excellent reputation of the previous editions. It is very readable and easy to get into. The wonderfully detailed footnotes are a treasure trove for further reading and research; ideal for any essays or dissertations. The revisions since the last edition have not effected the superb balance of earlier editions: this is an impressive achievement on its own. It is, quite simply, a must purchase for anyone interested in, studying or practising company law! If you cannot find the answer within the covers, there probably is not one.

Reviewed on 30 December 2013

**Sports Law** by Mark James
**Publisher:** Palgrave
**Edition:** 2nd Edition (June 2013)
**ISBN:** 978-1-137-02644-6
**Price:** *£24.99*

There are more universities offering sports law as a separate module than they did ten or twenty years ago. This is, perhaps, recognition that sports law has gained its own place as an area of law on its own like tort, contract or crime. It is, however, commonly accepted that there is no specific definition of sports law (as James readily accepts) but, like the proverbial bus, everyone knows sports law when they see it. To try and lead the reader through the laws affecting sporting activities, which can be of general and specific application, comes this second edition of Sports Law by Mark James. Its aim (which it easily achieves) is to provide a comprehensive overview of the ways in which the law has impacted on how sport is played, administered and consumed.

Sports Law is split into four parts: origins and sources of sports law; sports participation and the law; stadiums, spectators and the law; and the commercialisation of sport. Each part includes a number of chapters. Part 2 includes chapters on: liability for injuries causes by other participants; liability for injuries caused by non-participants; and the legality of fighting sports. Part 3 includes chapters on: liability for dangerous premises and dangerous events; and stadium disasters and spectator safety. Part 4 includes chapters on: regulating sporting relationships in English law; the fan as consumer and the commercial exploitation of sport; and Olympic law and sporting mega-events.

Written in a practical and engaging way, Sports Law provides an excellent overview of the various principles of law which apply to sports. Each chapter adopts a familiar style: a chapter summary (which is an excellent road map to the chapter), then an explanation of key terms, then the body of the text, then ‘hot topics’ and then (finally) suggested further reading. This is a superb approach and really helps with the reader’s understanding. Sports Law also comes with a companion website (available from: http://www.palgrave.com/law/james2e/) which, even though the text was only published in June 2013, includes a number of updates (which were posted in July 2013). It is hoped that the companion website continues to be updated so that the reader can ensure he or she is fully up to date.

If you are interested in sports law, or the legal issues which apply to sport, you should not be without a copy of Mark James’ Sports Law. It is clearly and succinctly written and explains the principles in a thought-provoking way. I have always been a fan of Palgrave’s Law Masters series and this text follows in the great tradition of others. Its companion website is also impressive; already including an update so soon after the text’s publication. I have no doubt that Sports Law will continue to receive excellent reviews from students and practitioners alike; all of them will appreciate the layout and the clarity of the written style and the more experienced ones will enjoy the debates around the latest hot topics.

Reviewed on 27 December 2013