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A merger occurs when two companies, which are often about the same size, agree to join together to form a new entity. Mergers are friendly, whereas acquisitions tend to be more hostile and occur when a target company realizes that they have no option but to ensure their survival by being bought by the other company.

All company directors have one overarching duty which is to promote the success of their business. This duty on one hand seems a simple notion but, as Mark Glenister a specialist in Commercial Law at JPP Law explains, differences of opinion about how success will be achieved can lead to boardroom disputes and have a detrimental effect on the company's success.

The opportunity to purchase a competing or complimentary business provides an important route to expansion, but it is important to be clear about what exactly you are acquiring in a business - whether this is via shares or assets.

If your business is involved in a dispute and it is proving impossible to reach an agreement, then it may be time to seek professional advice from a third party. Rather than heading straight to court, an alternative approach is to attempt to seek a resolution via mediation.

All businesses have times during which receipts of income slow down, suppliers do not deliver, and customers close or go to a competitor. While it is a necessary business skill to be able to take the rough with the smooth and concentrate on how to counteract unforeseen events, would you be able to spot the signs that your business is in financial trouble?

If you are the director of a private limited company in England or Wales you can take comfort from the fact that you will not generally be personally liable for any debts the company incurs while you are in post. However, there are exceptions and when they arise you need to seek prompt legal advice to contain the damage.

When most people think of starting a social enterprise they focus on the community benefit and often assume that it will need to be established as a charity. While charities are a sound corporate vehicle for these activities, the rigours of the Charity Commission and charity law can be quite restrictive in nature.

Online fraud is now the most prevalent crime in England and Wales, affecting both individuals and businesses of all sizes to the tune of around £10 billion a year. The complexity with which cyber fraud can be carried out and the increasingly clever ways that criminals conceal themselves make the threat very difficult to manage.

Creativity, innovation and continuous improvement are buzzwords in almost every organisation, as businesses seek to identify something that will give them a competitive edge and ultimately improve their profitability.

If your business is expanding, then you may find yourself contemplating building an extension or even new premises. Whatever the scale of the project, any construction work will be a major distraction from your usual business activities and you will not want further disruption from a potential dispute with your contractor.