An Introduction to the Law on Financial Investment: Second Edition

Since 2005, when the first edition of this textbook was published, the world of financial investment has experienced an unprecedented boom followed by a spectacular bust. Significant changes have been proposed and, in some cases, implemented in areas such as the structure of regulation, the organization of markets, supervision of market participants, and the protection of consumers. This second edition takes account of these developments, integrating them into an analytical framework that enables the reader to develop a critical overview of the role of general legal rules and specialized systems of regulation in financial investment. The framework focuses on the role of contract, trusts, and regulation as the primary legal influences for financial investment. The first part of the book explores the relationship between investment, law, and regulation. The second part examines the nature of investments and investors, both professional and private, while the third part discusses the central role of corporate finance and corporate governance in linking investors with enterprises that require external capital. The fourth part examines the nature, operation, and regulation of markets and the participants that support the functioning of the market. The objective remains to provide a broadly-based and critical account of the role of law in financial investment. This will be a useful resource for both law students and practitioners looking for an up-to-date overview of financial investment law.