Commercial law, also known as business law, mercantile law or trade law depending on jurisdiction, is the body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and organizations engaged in commercial and business activities. It is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals with issues of both private law and public law.
Commercial activities involve profit-driven exchanges of products, services, and other valuable assets, conducted between buyers and sellers. These activities and the commercial entities—those whose primary engagement involves profit-driven transactions—are subject to commercial law, which provides the legal framework for their formation, operation, and oversight. By establishing rules for transactions and governing business enterprises, it ensures that exchanges are orderly, enforceable, and predictable; promotes fair and efficient competition; protects intellectual property and innovative investments; safeguards consumer rights and public trust; and upholds ethical standards in business conduct.
