International Trade and Commercial Law - LLM

You will study six taught modules followed by a dissertation.

Examine the key business models available to small and medium sized businesses in the UK. Compare their various legal features, and explore the legal expertise required for setting up, running and closure of a business.

Develop a critical insight into the structure and objectives of corporate insolvency law in England and Wales. You’ll gain an evaluative appreciation of the regulation of insolvent companies, and a high-level understanding of the role of traditional liquidation against the modern preference for corporate rescue

Acquire a critical understanding of the role, significance and basic structure of competition law in the context of increasing global trade and international economic integration. Competition law, (also called Antitrust Law), exists at national and regional levels and you will focus on the two leading competition law jurisdictions in the world, the United States of America (federal) and the European Union.

Understand the core common law principles, and the main international customs and conventions, applicable to contracts for the international carriage of goods by land sea and air.

Study the essential functional elements of any business to business contractual relationship concluded across international borders in the so called global village.

Examine the formal and informal methods by which creditors are able to use property law to secure repayment of debts and acquire priority in insolvency. You will also be introduced to common law concepts of property law, and the process of legal development through case law.

This module is orientated around a UK public company with a premium listing and trading its securities on the London Stock Exchange. The first part of the module examines the core company law and securities law and regulation underpinning such a company (including the detailed rules in the FCA handbook), centring on its initial public offering of securities and subsequent continuing obligations as a listed company and including the UK regulation on market abuse. The final part of the module is concerned with the corporate governance framework pertaining to such a company with a particular emphasis on the core directors’ duty, 172 Companies Act 2006, and the UK Corporate Governance Code and UK Stewardship Code. The module seeks to develop an ability to apply and analyse the complex technical provisions as well as to place them within the context of a broader critical theoretical framework.

Critically evaluate the law relating to contracts for the sale of goods across international borders from the contrasting standpoints of buyer and seller and focus on the core legal components of international sale agreements under three distinct legal codes.

An introduction to International Economic Law through an examination of the institutions and substantive law of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Dispute Settlement System is central to the WTO and this module examines selected Covered Agreements through textual analysis and dispute reports.

• You can select up to two modules from another subject area,

You will start your dissertation after completing these modules.

The dissertation is an extended piece of academic work, independently researched and written. You will be supported in your work by one-to-one supervision from a tutor expert in the chosen field. Subject to academic suitability and the availability of an appropriately expert tutor, you may select your own area of study for the dissertation phase of the course.