The Proper Purpose Rule as a Constraint on Directors’ Autonomy – Eclairs Group Limited v JKX Oil & Gas Plc

Modern Law Review, Vol. 80, No. 1, pp. 110-120, 2017

12 Pages Posted: 5 Jul 2017

See all articles by Rosemary Teele Langford

Rosemary Teele Langford

University of Melbourne - Law School

Ian Ramsay

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne

Date Written: January 1, 2017

Abstract

The recent decision of the United Kingdom Supreme Court in Eclairs Group Limited v JKX Oil & Gas plc highlights the pressures faced by company directors in change of control situations, in which they may be tempted to take action to prevent or discourage such change. The Supreme Court decision provides important clarity on the scope of the proper purpose rule in these (and other) situations. The authors explore the implications for the autonomy of directors in their decision making of different judicial interpretations of the proper purpose rule. They do this by focusing on the scope of the proper purpose rule, whether a subjective or objective test is employed in the application of the rule and the test for causation where a director is motivated by mixed purposes.

Suggested Citation

Langford, Rosemary Teele and Ramsay, Ian, The Proper Purpose Rule as a Constraint on Directors’ Autonomy – Eclairs Group Limited v JKX Oil & Gas Plc (January 1, 2017). Modern Law Review, Vol. 80, No. 1, pp. 110-120, 2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2996077

Rosemary Teele Langford

University of Melbourne - Law School ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia

Ian Ramsay (Contact Author)

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 5332 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/staff/ian-ramsay

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