Latin for “beyond legitimate powers.” It refers to an act or conduct (e.g., a transaction) by a corporation or its managers that exceeds the powers granted by la corporate charter or by law. In other words, it means “in excess of the authority conferred by law”, and hence, the respective acts or conduct will be invalid and lacking legal effect.

For a relevant authority, ultra vires implies all acts that are illegal on the basis of being malum prohibitum (Latin for a conduct constituting an unlawful act only by virtue of statute) and malum per se (implying a conduct that is evil in and of itself).