Chartered Companies Act, 1837

The letters patent so granted may provide that suits shall be carried on in the name of one of the officers of any company appointed for that purpose.

Proviso as to joining members of company as defendants in equity.

3. In any such letters patent so to be granted as aforesaid by her Majesty to any such company or body of persons so associated together as aforesaid, but not incorporated, it shall and may be lawful, in and by such letters patent, either expressly or by a general or special reference to this Act, to provide and declare that all suits and proceedings, whether at law, in equity, or in bankruptcy or sequestration, or otherwise howsoever, as well in Great Britain and Ireland as in the colonies and dependencies thereof, by or on behalf of such company or body, or any person or persons as trustee or trustees for such company or body, against any person or persons, whether bodies politic or others, and whether members or not of such company or body, shall be commenced and prosecuted in the name of one of the two officers for the time being to be appointed to sue and be sued on behalf of such company or body, and registered in pursuance of the directions of such appointment and registration respectively hereinafter contained; and all suits and proceedings, whether at law or in equity, by or on behalf of any person or persons, whether bodies politic or others, and whether or not members of such company or body, against such company or body, shall be commenced and prosecuted against one of such officers, or if there shall be no such officer for the time being, then against any member of such company or body: Provided nevertheless, that nothing in this Act or in such letters patent contained or to be contained shall prevent the plaintiff from joining any member of such company or body with such officer as a defendant in equity, for the purpose of discovery, or in case of fraud.