Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- About the author -- Preface -- Note on the second edition -- Part I General -- 1 The law's approach -- Law is about relationships -- Some points to bear in mind -- Legal systems -- Law and companies -- 2 The contract -- The real world -- The basic principles -- A practical approach -- Part II The origins of law -- 3 Law in the UK -- A summary -- Law made by legislation -- What legislation means -- Law made by judges -- Keeping up to date -- 4 European Union law -- An introduction to the European Union -- The organisation -- How the European Union makes law -- Part III Contract law -- 5 How contracts are made -- Introduction -- The requirements for a contract -- Offer and acceptance -- Putting it in writing -- Agency and the commercial organisation -- 6 The letter of intent -- What is a letter of intent? -- The preliminary contract -- The authorisation to start work -- A cautionary tale -- 7 The meanings behind the words -- The problem of words -- The role of terms -- Civil law -- Interpretation -- The principles in practice -- 8 Lateness, specifications and defects -- Liability for lateness -- The specification -- Liability for defective work and equipment -- Excluding and limiting liability -- 9 The law of breach -- Contract termination -- Remedies for breach -- Civil law -- Part IV Involving the experts -- 10 Using the professionals -- The rules -- Finding advice -- Preparing for dispute -- 11 Disputes -- Fairness in law -- Methods of resolving disputes -- Other countries -- Part V Liability law -- 12 Negligence -- The law of tort -- The principles of liability for negligence -- Civil law -- 13 Liability for escapes -- Corporate and personal liability -- Strict liability for creating a hazard -- Nuisance liability -- Part VI Other topics -- 14 Intellectual property -- Introduction