Endorse

Transcript:

Hello!

Endorse can be a tricky word in English with diverse meanings in the legal and commercial realm. Let’s look at some of these.

In negotiable instruments[1], to endorse[2] a bill of exchange[3] or a cheque[4] means to sign it — usually on the back — with the intention of transferring rights. Example: “She endorsed the cheque to her landlord[5] as payment of the monthly rent”.

In company law endorse takes on a more administrative flavour. Share certificates may be endorsed[6] to record a transfer, or directors may be required to endorse a particular document as evidence[7] of approval.

Example: “The secretary endorsed the share certificate with the date of registration of the transfer”.

In contract law or commercial negotiations, to endorse[8] often means simply “to approve” or “to support.” A party may endorse a proposal, or an association may endorse a code of conduct.

Example: “The trade union[9] endorsed the new collective agreement[10] after lengthy negotiations”.

Endorsement[11] can also appear in criminal or administrative law: a driving licence may be endorsed with penalty points after an offence.

Example: “His licence was endorsed with three points for speeding.”

Finally, endorse[12] is used in the advertising world to mean promotional activity. A celebrity or public figure who endorses a brand is lending their credibility to its products or services, often for a fee.

Example: “The tennis star endorsed a telecommunications company by appearing in their national advertising campaign”.

Thank you very much and see you next time for more Peter’s Pills to improve your Legal English!

---

Note

[1] negotiable instruments – strumenti finanziari

[2] endorse – girare

[3] bill of exchange – cambiale

[4] cheque – assegno

[5] landlord – proprietario di casa

[6] endorse – annotare/sottoscrivere

[7] evidence – prova

[8] endorse – approvare/sostenere

[9] trade union – sindacato

[10] collective agreement – contratto collettivo

[11] Endorsement – annotazione

[12] Endorse – fare da testimonial

---

See more on negotiable instruments, including how to endorse them, here: “Negotiable Instruments” (.PDF).