Justice Kirby Masterclass

A masterclass given to class of Law students at Victoria University School of Law and Justice, Queen Street, Melbourne

The masterclass was on Company Law, now called Corporations Law. It concerned the original invention of the corporation in 17th-century England and France, specifically in the development of the East India Company in England.

It described the separation of the corporation from they legal personality of the shareholders who invest money in the company and whose liability to creditors is limited to the investment signalled by their shares.

The lecture described the importance of upholding requirements that corporations conform to basic principles of business efficacy and corporate morality. At the same time, they have to continue the limited liability of directors, managers and shareholders so as to preserve the brilliant idea of the legal corporation.