Directors' duties: general duties under the Companies Act 2006
A practice note outlining the general duties of directors set out in the Companies Act 2006, including the core fiduciary duty to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole. The note also addresses the common law "creditor duty" under which directors of a financially distressed company must also consider, and sometimes act in, the interests of its creditors. The note also explores the potential consequences of a breach, the available remedies, and the possibility of obtaining relief from liability, such as through ratification or court order.
Already a Practical Law customer? Sign in
Get access to this document with Practical Law
Why Practical Law?
Gain a built-in attorney network
Practical Law’s resources are written and maintained by over 650 dedicated, full-time attorney-editors globally. They’re highly qualified, having practiced at the world’s leading law firms, corporate law departments, and government agencies, so they understand the challenges you face. They dedicate themselves to creating resources to help you navigate the new legal realities, legislative changes, and practice areas impacting your clients or organisation.
See how to leverage the expertise of Practical Law’s attorney-editors to help you practice more efficiently.
Learn more about Practical Law
Expert guidance
650+ full-time, experienced attorney-editors keep you up to date globally
Total resources
118,000+ total resources across 17 practice areas ensure comprehensive coverage
Timely updates
150,000+ hours spent in 2025 maintaining and updating resources