Contractual freedom in articles of association and its limits in joint stock company law

This doctoral thesis analyzes contractual freedom in articles of association and its limits in joint stock companies from various aspects. The thesis consists of three parts. While the first part aims to set the theoretical framework of the problem, the second and third parts intend to find solutions vis-à-vis existing problems in terms of positive law. Within this scope conceptual, theoretical, constitutional, economic and ethical aspects of contractual freedom in private law and corporate law are primarily examined. The second part deals with contractual freedom in corporate law and examines articles of association from various perspectives as it is the most important legal act that brings contractual freedom into being. The last part analyzes the limits of contractual freedom in articles of association pursuant to general provisions of civil law and joint stock company law. In this regard, the principle of mandatory norms stipulated in Turkish Commercial Code numbered 6102 Article 340 is attached a particular importance. Theories of the corporation and economic analysis of law are applied in accordance with the interdisciplinary methodological view adopted in this study. Contribution of the mentioned methods are set forth in terms of both positive law and legal policy. Moreover, comparative legal analysis and historical analysis are used extensively.