Protecting Directors

It can often appear that the main emphasis of recent changes to UK company law has been to increase the burden on directors. One change, relating to the personal information available on the public record about directors, is designed to have the contrary effect.

Currently, UK company law provides for the filing of the usual residential address of all directors with the Registrar of Companies which is publicly available. Those directors at risk of violence and intimidation may apply for a confidentiality order which allows them to keep their residential address confidential and to file a service address for the public record.

The Companies Act 2006 ("the 2006 Act") extends this protection to all directors. As of 1 October 2009, directors will have to give Companies House their residential address (which will be kept on a separate, secure register) and a service address. A director will be able to give the company's registered office as his service address.