This volume focuses upon the processes by which new business organization forms have developed in the US, UK, and continental Europe. Part I addresses the theoretical developments in partnership and close corporation law. In Part II, the contributors offer insights into the forces shaping the evolution of partnership-type business forms in the US, UK, and several European jurisdictions, and Part III provides detailed analyses of the Limited Liability Company (LLC), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), the European Private Company, and the Dutch partnership form. The debate on the design of business organization forms adapted to meet the current needs of a range of closely held firms has gained momentum amid the continuing pressures to supply the most competitive business form for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Which economic and political forces are responsible for the emergence of new limited liability forms for SMEs? Over the last decade this question has often been addressed, as corporate law scholars, practitioners, and policymakers have increasingly directed their attention towards introducing partnership-type business forms. In the US, states have incentives to ta