Prospectus

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International Commercial Law

Course
2013-2014

Admission requirements

None

Description

The purpose of International Commercial Law is to provide an insight into how an undertaking does business in an international context. Attention is devoted to regulations on international contracting and financing of transactions, from sales to agencies and from bank guarantee to retention of title. The subject of international contract and financing law is made up of a number of various components such as: a) private international law relating to international contracts, with separate attention to sales (including the Vienna Sales Convention), agency, franchise and distribution (the content of the agreement is also discussed on the grounds of customary international standard contracts); b) how to structure payments and financing of transactions, from bank guarantees and documentary credit to loans.

Course objectives

Objectives of the course
The principal objectives of this course are:

  • to have a feel for the problems faced by undertakings which operate internationally from the perspective of opportunities and risks in the international arena;

  • to have brief knowledge of existing rules on applicable law and to be on the alert to the pitfalls of international contracting;

  • to early recognise the international dimension and prepare for participation in cross-border transactions, ensuring at least some familiarity with the concepts of foreign legal systems.

Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
By the end of the course the student should:

  • have insight into the system of legislation and regulations which are relevant when an undertaking enters into an international transaction and relevant to its financing;

  • be able to give an opinion on a case study, in particular to aspects of applicable law, common types of contract and awareness of differences of foreign law contracts and Dutch law contracts when those are in the English language; and

  • be able to draft a simple sales, agency, distribution or services contract in an international setting.

Timetable

The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

  • Number of (4 hour) lectures: 5 four-hour interactive lectures with a mix of theory and case discussion.

  • Names of lecturers:

  • Required preparation by students: preparation of prescribed reading materials, case studies and any other assignments.

Assessment method

Examination form(s)

  • written exam (80%)

  • a written assignment (10%)(students have to make 4 out of 5 assignments and one of those (for everyone the same or the next when that one has not been submitted) will be graded: fail, pass, good

  • contract negotiations in class and short written explanation in teams of 3 people (10%)

If a student has not passed the course by the end of the academic year, any partial grades for written exam, assignment and contract negotiations are no longer valid.

Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.

Blackboard

More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.

Reading list

Obligatory course materials

Literature:

  • to be announced on blackboard

Course information guide:
to be announced on blackboard

Reader:
to be announced on blackboard

Recommended course materials
to be announced on blackbaord

Registration

Students have to register for courses and exams through uSis.

Contact information

  • Co-ordinator: prof. dr. M.E. Koppenol-Laforce

  • Work address:

  • Contact information:

  • Telephone number:

  • Email:

Institution/division

  • Institute: Privaatrecht

  • Department: Ondernemingsrecht

  • Room number secretary: C 2.02

  • Opening hours: 0.900-14.00

  • Telephone number secretary: +31 (0) 71 – 527 7235

  • Email: ondernemingsrecht@law.leidenuniv.nl

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.