The Business Law Study Brief is intended as a quick reference guide to key points of law, legal concepts and terms that business professionals, including employees, managers and students need to know. This overview touches upon many areas of public and private law, including aspects of criminal law, civil law, statutory law, common law, intellectual property law, consumer protection law, real estate law, tax law and property law. This Study Brief pprovides a condensed yet thorough introduction, including a short history, classification of laws, philosophy of law and important definitions, such as, court orders, statutes, and regulatory powers. Easy-to-understand sections on government structures and regulations, crimes, torts, contracts, secured transactions, negotiable instruments, and third parties are included as well as details on the universal commercial code (UCC), agency, assignment, and securities regulation. Additional topics covered in this Study Brief are: jurisprudence, liability, negligence, white collar crime, intentional torts, property rights, trademarks, copyrights, injury and damages. Formation of contracts and the elements of a contract, as well as the formation of agency relationships and the duties of principals and agents are fully explained, along with the different types of business organizations and corporate finance structures.