LLM Global Commercial Law

Course structure

Full-time – one year
Part-time – two years
Distance learning – by module, typically two or three years

Starts September

Typical modules may include

Modules

Fall

International Trade Law

This module considers, beyond the classical sale of goods, modern aspects of international trade, especially trade in services and trade in knowledge (through Ecommerce, transfer of technology, etc). Particular attention will be devoted to infrastructural sectors of the world economy (transport, energy).

In-depth analysis of several business contracts (carriage of goods, patent licensing) will be proposed, the role played by international institutions (WTO, OECD) in the development of global trade disciplines will be studied, and the corrosive effects of free trade on public interest and human rights will be addressed.

Trade Dispute Resolution

This module examines the significance of dispute resolution in a commercial and global context. You conduct an in-depth study of the procedural and substantive subjects within dispute resolution relating to domestic and international commercial law.

Disputes Settlement Mechanisms of World Trade Organisation will be studied. Case Law involving environmental issues will be analysed. Several aspects of international sports arbitration – a growing and increasingly important area of law – will be considered.

Spring

Global corporate governance

Corporate scandals and the global banking crisis have led to a wide debate on topics including • business ethics • corporate social responsibility • the rights of shareholders and directors’ responsibilities to them • directors’ duties • the relationship between corporations and human rights laws • the effects of membership of international trading blocks.This module assesses the effectiveness of the regulatory and enforcement mechanisms applicable to corporations across the United Kingdom, the European Union and with reference to the United States and South East Asia. You will evaluate and apply legal rules in practical and contextual situations, developing your understanding of corporate governance.

Global corporate re-structuring

This module considers the global perspective of corporate restructuring, including changes to the legal, technical and operational structures of corporations during the restructuring process. It utilises a comparative approach to restructuring issues in the major markets of the world.

Topics include • the maintenance and enhancement of capital • insolvency and the potential liabilities of directors and shareholders • alternatives to liquidation – administration and receivership • assessment of the benefits and pitfalls of mergers and acquisitions.

Summer

Master Degree Project

You will complete a business consultancy project or a dissertation under academic supervision to complete your masters. You will develop the skills to identify systematic strategies for researching relevant materials and for successful management and completion of research tasks. A key feature of the module is the development of your ability to reflect on problems in business and develop methods to solve these.