Explain the basic nature of the legal system.
Assignment - Running a business with related legal concepts
Learning Outcome 1: Explain the basic nature of the legal system
Learning Outcome 2: Illustrate the potential impact of the law on a business
Learning Outcome 3: Examine the formation of different types of business organizations
Learning Outcome 4: Recommend appropriate legal solutions to resolve areas of dispute
Scenario:
You are a solicitor and working in a famous legal professional consultancy firm as a legal consultant. One day, your potential client, Marvin Lee, who is planning to open a caf chain store in Hong Kong and asking for your legal advice for related issues. Meanwhile, he is seeking an appropriate place for his caf restaurant and preparing to employ working labour and office staff for his business running. But he does not know whether there are certain ordinances for monitoring the recruitment, health and safety for working environment. He has lots of inquiries about the problems in opening his business. Therefore, you are hired and are preparing to answer his following questions. A formal and detail business report with related legal concepts are required to submit to him according to his request:
Guidance:
1) He requests a clear and detail of legal environment / system of Hong Kong and the differences between civil and criminal law. How does the role of Hong Kong government in law-making together with the justice system and the organization of the judiciary. Therefore, a precise structures of HK jurisdictions and the structures of the court together with a series of legal knowledge, such as statutory law, common law and equity and the principles of company law and contract are required to introduce to Mr. Lee. (LO 1)
2) When Mr. Lee starts his caf business, fundamental negligence in tort issues and consumer protection ordinances are required to recognize in order to avoid certain unnecessary liabilities being arisen in future. At the meantime, competition ordinances in Hong Kong are also required to introduce to him in ensuring a fairness competition during the business operation. Also health and safety issues for his employees/labours are required to set up in order to ensure all employees inside his organization are under protection and without against the related regulation of Hong Kong government. (LO2)
3) As Mr. Lee`s business will be running with the aid of computing literacy, therefore, a set of software security and data protection issues must be under consideration for his guidance.
4) Since Mr. Lee will recruit a team of employees, including restaurant attendances and office administrative staff (e.g. for accounting, marketing, management and human resources departments), a detail and precisely contract law concept (e.g. employment contract, dismissal, redundancy and discrimination ordinances etc.) must be catered to him. (LO2)
5) As Mr. Lee is still considering whether he should set up the firm in form of sole proprietorship or in partnership/limited companies, you are required to distinguish the differences (advantages & disadvantages) of these three types of companies. A detail set up procedures in forming a company including registration, raising capital and liquidating process are required to illustrate for Mr. Lee`s consideration. (LO 3)
6) As recently there have been lots of negative news about the failure of faithfulness among some companies` directors, you are required to write for the role of the shareholders, a usual practice in appointing directors, company secretary/auditor and their responsibilities. (LO3)
7) Highlight the general legal solutions for different types of dispute, such as:
- Area of employment (e.g. health & safety and equality of pay claims, compromise and severance agreements, wrongful or unfair dismissal claims); (LO4)
- Corporate and commercial disputes, e.g. breach of contract, contesting a damages claim and dispute between directors; (LO4)
- Commercial property problems, e.g. commercial lease transactions, real estate and investment properties. (LO4)