Common law library

It covers the position of principal and agent in contract, tort, and considers many aspects of equity, company and property law. Through a combination of articles, commentary and illustrations it will help you develop a better understanding of the law.

The 19th edition incorporates all recent common law and statutory developments, including those relating to the EU Commercial Agents' Directive and Regulations.

What's more with its clear and concise interpretation and explanation, it delivers the highest level of practical insight and advice directly to you.

Professor Peter G Watts is a Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is the author of many articles on the law of agency, and has been a regular contributor to the Law Quarterly Review for 20 years, principally commenting on English commercial decisions.

Professor F M B Reynolds QC has authored all six editions since 1968. He taught at the University of Oxford for more than 40 years and has been a visiting Professor at various universities across the Commonwealth.

• Updated material on dual agency and the effect of illegality on agency
• Revised chapter on the equitable duties of agents to their principals
• Expanded and updated chapter on the conflict of laws
• Extended treatment of the application of agency principles to companies
• Revision of sections on the assertion of an agent’s knowledge and breach of warranty of authority
• Comprehensive incorporation of case law developments in England and Wales, supplemented by reference to important new cases from elsewhere in the Commonwealth
• Sets out and analyses case law and legislation, including the EU Commercial Agents’ Directive
• Examines the updated concept of authority – express, implied and apparent
• Examines in detail the relationships between principals and third parties, agents and third parties, and agent and principal

• Nature of the subject
• Creation of agency
• Authority of agents
• Agency of necessity
• Sub-agency
• Duties of agents towards their principals
• Rights of agents against their principals
• Relations between principals and third parties
• Relations between agents and third parties
• Termination of authority
• Commercial agents
• Conflict of laws