Branch

A “branch” is a presence of a legal entity in a jurisdiction other than one in which it is incorporated. For example:

• “Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch” is a physical manifestation of the German Aktiengesellschaft, albeit located in London, with no other standing under English law and is a “branch”.
• “Goldman Sachs International”, on the other hand, is an unlimited liability company incorporated in England and Wales which is legally distinct from The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and would not count as a “branch”.

Details fans will immediately note that, from the point of view of legal and corporate philosophy - surely a subject dear to every attorney’s heart - the differing branches of a legal entity have no distinct legal personality any more than does a person’s arm or leg have different personality from her head.

See also

• multibranch parties
• legal personality
• legal entity