The book "Joint Ventures" by Ian Hewitt is a comprehensive legal guide that focuses on the practical and legal aspects of joint ventures. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Planning and Formation:

   • The book covers the initial stages of planning a joint venture, including why to enter into a joint venture, choosing the legal form, and drafting contractual alliances.

2. Specific Issues Affecting Joint Ventures:

   • It delves into specific issues such as capital and funding, governance and management, minority investment and protection, deadlock and breakdown, duties between joint venture parties, transfers of shares, exit, termination, and change, and disputes resolution through mediation, litigation, and arbitration.

3. Specialist Issues:

   • The book also examines specialist areas like tax planning, competition and regulatory controls, intellectual property and technology, employment, and accounting.

4. Practical Guidance:

   • It provides detailed commercial guidance alongside a comprehensive review of relevant specialist areas of law. The book includes useful checklists and precedents to aid practitioners and in-house counsel.

Plot Summary

The book is structured into three main parts:

1. Part A: Planning a Joint Venture:

   • This section covers the foundational aspects of planning a joint venture, including the rationale for entering into such an arrangement and the legal forms available.

2. Part B: Specific Issues Affecting the Joint Venture Relationship:

   • This part focuses on the practical and legal issues that arise during the operation of a joint venture, including capital and funding, governance, minority protection, deadlock resolution, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

3. Part C: Specialist Issues Affecting Joint Ventures:

   • This section addresses specialized topics such as tax planning, regulatory compliance, intellectual property management, employment law, and accounting practices.

Critical Reception

While specific reviews are not provided in the sources, the book is described as a valuable resource for practitioners and in-house counsel due to its practical approach and comprehensive coverage of joint venture law. It is noted that the book is edited by practitioners with extensive experience in this area of commercial activity, making it a trusted guide for navigating the complexities of joint ventures.

Editions

The book has been published in several editions, including the 7th, 5th, and 8th editions. Each edition updates the content to reflect changes in legal principles and practices, ensuring that the information remains relevant and current.

In summary, "Joint Ventures" by Ian Hewitt is a definitive guide for understanding and navigating the legal and practical aspects of joint ventures. It provides detailed guidance on planning, formation, and operation, as well as specialized areas of law, making it an essential resource for legal professionals and business entities involved in collaborative ventures.