Campaign groups and shareholder activists could be among the first to use “derivative actions”, a new legal tool that comes into force on Monday as part of the 2006 Companies Act and offers expanded scope for holding company directors to account.

The Corporate Responsibility Coalition (Core) – which is backed by the likes of Amnesty, Friends of the Earth and Action Aid – is planning on Monday to circulate members with a guide to the act, which includes practical advice on how best to make use of it.