Seminar on “Corporate Governance: Legal and Theoretical Perspectives”

On 28 August, the EW Barker Centre for Law & Business at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, hosted a seminar on “Corporate Governance: Legal and Theoretical Perspectives.” The keynote speaker, Dr Peter Underwood from the University of Auckland, delivered a stimulating lecture examining corporate governance through both legal and theoretical lenses.

Dr Underwood organised his talk around six themes. He began with the foundational pillars of corporate law, outlining key characteristics such as legal personality and limited liability. From there, he explored different legal approaches to governance, comparing how New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Singapore structure their corporate systems.

The discussion then turned to the normative question — why governance matters and what broader social purposes it serves. This naturally led to a consideration of corporate power, both internal and external, and the accountability challenges that come with it. He went on to examine competing theories of corporate law, from contractarianism to concession and entity theories, showing how each frames the role of the corporation in society.

Finally, Dr Underwood looked ahead to the corporate law of the future. Here he highlighted emerging issues such as the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in the boardroom, raising timely questions about how technology might change decision-making and responsibility at the highest levels of business.

The seminar was moderated by Visiting Professor Martin Petrin and concluded with a lively question-and-answer session. Participants explored topics ranging from directors’ duties to the legitimacy of corporate power and the risks and opportunities of AI in governance.

The event left attendees with a comprehensive view of the challenges and possibilities that define corporate governance today.