Due to the increased interest in corporate law and the corporate governance system, both the legislator and business entities have a question about a more detailed study of corporate regulatory norms. The emerging trend calls for the analysis of the institute of corporate law and its legal structures. The historical context of studying such a young branch allows us to reveal in more detail the path of development of collective entrepreneurial activity in Russia, its characteristic elements and features. The article examines the historical features of interaction and interpenetration of corporate law and the Russian economy. The analysis of normative acts is given. The authors examine some aspects regarding the definition of the types of organizational and legal forms of legal entities that existed in different historical periods, as well as their classification as of the present moment. The authors raise questions about the relevance of various forms of corporate associations, including those that have outlived their usefulness due to the current unpopularity. The paper analyzes the current state of the corporate legal institute of Russia and the prospects for its development based on the special path of its formation. The authors made conclusions with regard to various norms and constructions contained in corporate law. Many of the changes have been made that produce the reception of foreign law are also worth of criticism, and this does not always correlate with the already established practice of market relations in Russia. Attention is focused on the fact that historical experience shows that it is taking into account the established corporate tradition that will allow us to develop new trends in improving corporate legislation and the practice of its application, and an analytical assessment of the planned prospects will help avoid possible mistakes.