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01 August 2025 / Piers Larbey , Izabella Brooks
Issue: 8127 / Categories: Features , Company , Technology , Artificial intelligence , Governance
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Business in the digital age

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How is tech changing the way companies do business, & how can the law keep pace? By Piers Larbey & Izabella Brooks
  • From virtual AGMs and e-signatures to AI-assisted governance, technology is redefining how companies operate and comply with legal frameworks.
  • While legislation supports digital practices, gaps remain, especially around AI use, virtual meeting validity, and directors’ duties to exercise independent judgment.

Since 2016, when Jimmy Choo held the first virtual annual general meeting (AGM) of a UK-listed company, a flood of public limited companies has followed suit, including AstraZeneca, Marks & Spencer, Nationwide Building Society, BAE Systems and Aston Martin Lagonda. Virtual AGMs have proved to be contentious and controversial. Whether they constitute a valid shareholder meeting under the UK’s current legal framework remains a matter of debate.

The provisions governing shareholder meetings are contained in the relevant sections of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Section 311(1) of CA 2006 requires notice of a meeting to state the time, date and place of

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