Analiza historyczno-prawna rozwoju instytucji spółki z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością w Europie Zachodniej i Polsce

The subject of this article is to assess evolution of the institution of a limited li-ability company as an intermediate form of conducting business between a partnership and a joint stock company, which is a pure company. The article depicts the process of development of a limited liability company from the Roman law to 19th century, when the German legislator, as the first one in Europe, regulated a limited liability company. In the next part of this article the thorough examination of subsequent regulations of a limited liability company, which are in force since 20th century in Poland and in other European countries, was presented. Furthermore, special attention was made to the legislative process of the Polish limited liability company, which is regulated in the Code of Commercial Companies of 2001.