Admission requirements
Background in law
Sufficient command of English
Description
The course initiates students into the differences between corporate law in continental Europe and corporate law in the Anglo-American world. Students gain an understanding of the different policy challenges legislators are facing in continental Europe and the Anglo-American world, stemming mainly from the size of the firms, their ownership structure and the position of labor within business organizations. The effects of regulatory competition in the field of corporate law inside the EU and inside the US are also analyzed enabling students to understand the extent to which legal convergence has been spurred by such competition.
Students will deepen their knowledge in the areas of corporate law that are chosen for the comparative analysis, while students with no prior background in corporate law will get through the chosen areas an exposure to the fundamental regulatory issues in corporate law, since the areas of comparison are the pillars of corporate law and governance discussion in general. These areas are: duties and liabilities of management, the powers of the general meeting vis-à-vis the powers of the management bodies (incl. principles of decision-making), minority shareholders’ protection, creditor protection (with emphasis on the concept of piercing the corporate veil), and labor rights.
Course objectives
This course seeks to equip students with knowledge and understanding of the differences and similarities of selected issues of corporate law in Europe and Anglo-American countries. Within this context, the course seeks to provide the students an understanding of the sources, nature and application of corporate law and the influence of regulatory competition thereon.
Achievement levels
A critical understanding of how corporate law regulates the conflicts between management and shareholders, between dominant shareholders and minority shareholders and between shareholdership and labor.
A sound understanding of the creditor protection mechanisms employed by corporate law and the ability to conceptualize the corporate law peculiarity of limited liability.
A consciousness of the special status of labor and labor protection within corporate law and an understanding of the differences thereon across jurisdictions.
An understanding of the differences between the regulatory philosophy and core principles of corporate law in continental Europe and the Anglo-American world.
A sound knowledge of the sources and results of convergence and divergence between the various models of corporate law.
Timetable
The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.
Mode of instruction
Seminars
Lecturer: Prof. dr I.S. Wuisman
Number: 10 two-hour seminars
The course will take place over five weeks with two classes per week. Each lecture lasts two hours and they are interactive. The lecturer will discuss with students the assigned reading materials. Students should read carefully all assigned reading materials and cases. They should actively participate in discussion.
Required preparation by students: Preparation of prescribed reading materials
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
- Written exam (70% final grade) plus one written assignment per student during the course (30% final grade).
If only a few students fail the written exam at the first attempt, the resit of the written exam may be an oral exam. In that case, students will be informed by the coordinator at least 10 days ahead of the scheduled resit date.
The course has to be completed within the academic year. Any partial grades for exam or written assignment will be no longer valid after the end of this academic year.
Submission procedures
To be announced in the course information guide and/or on Blackboard.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The course information guide consists of the required reading (literature) for the course and the subjects taught in the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.
Blackboard
More information on this course is offered on Blackboard.
Reading list
Obligatory course materials
Literature:
- The literature list will be included in the course information guide and published on Blackboard.
Course information guide:
- The course information guide will be published on Blackboard.
Reader:
The reader, if any, will be published on Blackboard.
Recommended course materials will be published on Blackboard.
Registration
Through uSis
Contact information
Co-ordinator: Prof. dr I.S. Wuisman
Work address: Company law
Contact information: see below
Telephone number: 071 527 8871
Institution/division
Institute: Private Law
Department: Company Law
Room number secretary: C202
Opening hours: 9.00 – 13.30
Telephone number secretary: 071 527 7235
Contractonderwijs
Belangstellenden die deze cursus in het kader van contractonderwijs willen volgen (met tentamen), kunnen meer informatie vinden over kosten, inschrijving, voorwaarden, etc. op de website van Juridisch PAO