yrityslaki

Yrityslaki is the branch of law that governs corporations and other business entities. It covers the legal framework for their creation, organization, operation, and dissolution, and sets out the rights and duties of owners, directors, managers, employees, creditors, customers, and other stakeholders. The field intersects with contract, securities, tax, labor, and competition law, and it operates within the broader context of national legislation and international guidelines.

Key areas include: formation and capital structure (how a company is established, minimum capital requirements in some jurisdictions); governance structures (board of directors, management, fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest); ownership and shareholder rights (voting, dividends, information rights, minority protections); financial reporting, auditing, and disclosure; financing and capital markets; corporate reorganizations (mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs); insolvency, liquidation, and rescue mechanisms; liability of controlling persons and corporate veil issues; cross-border operations and corporate groups; enforcement and remedies by courts and regulators.

In Finland, the term is commonly associated with the Osakeyhtiölaki (Companies Act) and related statutes; in other countries equivalent regimes are named differently (for example aktiebolagslagen in Sweden). The EU also shapes corporate law through directives and regulations influencing cross-border mergers, corporate governance standards, and market disclosure requirements.

Why it matters: it provides a predictable framework for business activity, supports investor protection and accountability, and contributes to economic stability. Practitioners include corporate lawyers, compliance officers, auditors, and in-house counsel.