Equity - the body of law developed in the English Court of Chancery - has a long and distinguished history. In the 21st century, it continues to be an important regulator of both commercial and personal dealings, as well as informing statutory regulation. Although much equitable doctrine is settled, there remain some intractable problems that bedevil lawyers across jurisdictions. The essays in this collection employ new historical, comparative, and theoretical perspectives to cast light on these fault lines in equitable doctrine and methodology. Leading scholars and practitioners from England, Australia, and New Zealand examine such contentious topics as: personal and proprietary liability for breaches of equitable duties (including fiduciary duties) * the creation of non-express trusts * equitable rights in insolvency * the fiduciary 'self dealing' rule * clogs on the equity of redemption * the distribution of assets on family breakdown * the suitability of unjust enrichment analysis. The book addresses specific doctrinal questions, as well as the 'meta' issues of organization and methodology, and the findings will be of value to academics and practitioners alike. (Series: Hart Studies in Private Law - Vol. 1)

Theft, deception, bribery, rogue trading and money laundering present massive and apparently insuperable problems for governments worldwide. On a national and international scale, these types of activities may have social, economic and political repercussions. This new book is primarily concerned with the impact of these activities upon private individuals. The text analyses the position of the victim, the fraudster, recipients of property and accessories. The focus is upon the civil law aspects of fraud and the increasing significance of money laundering legislation and the law of human rights. The main theme of this book is an examination of the extent to which fraudulent activity triggers special rules which are exceptions to the general principles of civil law. There is the further question of the extent to which theft and fraud affect transactions which are interlinked. Policy issues are weighed in the balance, such as the protection of property rights against the need to ensure the free circulation of goods and the security of good faith purchase, and the demand for certainty in the law against the need to deter fraud.