Legal Definitions - conductor

In ancient Roman law, the term conductor referred to an individual involved in a contractual agreement, encompassing two distinct roles:

• The Hirer or Lessee: This was the person who engaged or leased the services of another, or who leased property. In modern terms, this would be the party *doing* the hiring or leasing.
• The Hired Person or Contractor: This was the individual who was hired to perform a specific task or complete a particular work. In modern terms, this would be the party *being hired* to provide a service or complete a project.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of conductor in Roman law:

• Imagine a Roman citizen, Marcus, who needed a new roof for his villa. Marcus entered into an agreement with a skilled builder, Lucius, to perform the work. In this scenario, Lucius, the builder, would be considered the conductor because he was the party *hired* to complete the specific task of roofing the villa.

• Consider a situation where a wealthy Roman, Julia, owned a large estate but preferred not to manage its agricultural operations herself. She leased a portion of her land to a farmer, Gaius, for a season in exchange for a share of the crops. In this context, Gaius, the farmer, would be the conductor because he was the party *leasing* the land from Julia.

• During the construction of a new public aqueduct, the Roman Senate contracted with a specialized engineering firm to oversee and execute the project. The engineering firm, responsible for carrying out the specific work of building the aqueduct, would have been referred to as the conductor in this public works agreement.