commercial law

Australia's #1 for Law
Join 150,000 Australians every month. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today!
FREE - Join Now
Commercial law, also known as mercantile law or trade law, is the body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and businesses engaged in commerce, merchandising, trade, and sales. It is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals with issues of both private law and public law.
Commercial law includes within its compass such titles as principal and agent; carriage by land and sea; merchant shipping; guarantee; marine, fire, life, and accident insurance; bills of exchange, negotiable instruments, contracts and partnership. Many of these categories fall within Financial law, an aspect of Commercial law pertaining specifically to financing and the financial markets. It can also be understood to regulate corporate contracts, hiring practices, and the manufacture and sales of consumer goods. Many countries have adopted civil codes that contain comprehensive statements of their commercial law.
In the United States, commercial law is the province of both the United States Congress, under its power to regulate interstate commerce, and the states, under their police power. Efforts have been made to create a unified body of commercial law in the United States; the most successful of these attempts has resulted in the general adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code, which has been adopted in all 50 states (with some modification by state legislatures), the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.
Various regulatory schemes control how commerce is conducted, particularly vis-a-vis employees and customers. Privacy laws, safety laws (e.g., the Occupational Safety and Health Act in the United States), and food and drug laws are some examples.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. D

    VIC Food Delivery Service as a Sole Trader - Commercial Law Regulations?

    Hi everyone. I am planning to start an online food delivery service (like UberEats) as a sole trader to deliver homemade food (sourcing from independent home-based kitchens - not us) to customers. Basically a website where: Customers: Select their food from the menu, order it to get it...
  2. A

    NSW Commercial Law - Difference Between Home Business and Small Business?

    Hey guys, I currently run a business and I am being forced out of my current home on the basis that I do not classify as a home business due to the size of my operation. Previously I ran my tutoring business from home and only had a few customers so it was not a problem but now that I have...
  3. M

    VIC Commercial Law - Claim Lost Income Due to Taxi Commission Errors?

    I want to know my legal recourse for the following situation: I am in the process of registering as a commercial driver in Victoria to drive for Uber. 25/09/2018 - Paid fee to process driver accreditation. Still needed to provided certified ID and Medical check. 04/10/2018 - Submitted...
  4. S

    QLD Building Company Closed Before Paying What is Owed?

    A building company refused to pay me $30000.00 for kitchens supplied. I took them to court and was awarded 100% adjudication in my favour plus adjudication fees. It now totalled $37000.00 owed. They have closed the business. In the 8 weeks between me giving them the invoice and them closing...
  5. D

    VIC Commercial Law - Taking Business Partner to Court?

    Fall out with business partner. We both have shares in the company. How long would this matter take to get to court and what is the process to get it to court? My business partner has lied and done certain inappropriate things such as mismanaging money and other unthinkable things. How long...
  6. P

    SA Commercial Law - Creating an Entity to Hold IP?

    Hi, Looking for the best way to set up an entity to hold some IP for use by international NFPs and trade associations. Sounds big, but it's not. There is a loose affiliation of voluntary organisations, member associations and trade bodies across the world that hold a conference and expo every...
  7. C

    Need help identifying the relevant issue (Bailment?SOG)?

    Hi guys/girls, I need help on identifying the relevant issues of law. Here is the scenario: X gives Y (owner of museum) a piece of painting to display at a museum, and gives authority to sell the painting it if there the price is right. Y sells the painting to Z, and Z allows Y to keep it at...
  8. P

    VIC Case study of a breach of a contract

    Hey guys, I've got a few questions to ask related to a breach of a contract. I'm doing an internship one of the company in VIC and they ask us to build a case study based on a breah of contract. So I would like to know if you guys are able to solve my case study easily or not? Peter is an...
  9. B

    NSW Stock at Value Paid - Claim Money Back Under Commercial Law?

    Hi there, I have bought a business (due for settlement soon), however, I have already paid the vendor for SAV. Once paid, I discovered a cockroach infestation and have had to throw out most of the stock we paid for. Since it is not good or saleable stock (as specified in the contract), can we...
  10. Buddy80

    QLD Transferring Money from Business Bank Account?

    What happens to the money in a business bank account? My business partner transferred all the money from business account into her personal account. There is only the two of us in the business. I left because of personal reasons. We don't have a contract drawn up on what happens if one...