Book review: PERSPECTIVES ON THE LAW OF PARTNERSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA

PERSPECTIVES ON THE LAW OF PARTNERSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA by J J Henning (335 pages)

Juta & Co Ltd

www.jutalaw.co.za

“Men are made for society and mutual fellowship.” – Edmund Calamy (1671 – 1732)

Partnerships are one of the oldest concepts of our law but remain very much a part of modern commercial law, as well as in other areas such as family law.

This welcome work provides an in depth examination of the various principles, doctrines and characteristics of partnerships and deals in detail with complex areas of partnership law. The legal status of partnerships, limited partnerships, universal and general partnerships and anonymous or silent partnerships are all discussed from a comparative perspective.

The distinguished author Professor J J Henning, B Iur, LLB, LLD, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Free State, is the unrivalled specialist expert in South Africa on this branch of the law. He writes:
“The partnership concept is one of great antiquity. Some of its oldest forms have their origins in ancient family arrangements. As a profit-seeking and profit-sharing device it is as old as joint economic endeavour for mutual benefit.”

Rich in cited authorities, with a comprehensive bibliography, schedules of relevant case law and South African and foreign legislation, well-indexed and organised, this authoritative resource will be welcomed by legal practitioners, judicial officers, and commercial and corporate law specialists. It will undoubtedly invigorate interest and stimulate a new awareness of partnership in all its manifestations. Congratulations are due to publishers Juta and the learned author for this meritorious and meticulously researched publication.

“Having regard to Prof Henning’s general status as an academic researcher and his stature as the undisputed leader in the particular field of partnership, the present publication is to be acclaimed with enthuasiasm.” – Appeal Court Judge Fritz Brand.

Review by Louis Rood BA, LLB (UCT) of Fairbridges Wertheim Becker.