Advanced Research for LLM Students

15 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1

This is an intensive module taught in the first and second terms in blocks of two weeks and three weeks respectively, introducing you to the essential research, bibliographic, on-line and writing techniques which are required for study at this level and for the production of term papers, dissertations and other assessments.

Aspects of Intellectual Property Law

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

You will focus on aspects of the law of copyright, trademarks and patents. You will be introduced to intellectual property law and its philosophical and economic justifications, but you will also engage in in-depth analysis of particular issues in the law and policy of intellectual property. You will consider aspects of the international framework which governs intellectual property, such as the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 1994 (TRIPSs). However, emphasis will be placed on EC and UK law in order to provide a basis for substantive discussion of the issues.

Carriage of Goods by Sea

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

You will examine the law and practice of the international carriage of goods by sea including contracts of affreightment, bills of lading, charter parties and other chartering documents (sometimes referred to collectively as 'dry shipping'). Seminar topics include implied obligations in the contract of affreightment; voyage charterparties; time charterparties; bills of lading and their functions; The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992; The Hague-Visby and Hamburg Rules; and dispute settlement.

Citizenship in the European Union

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Citizenship is a contested concept. The post-Lisbon EU Treaty has recognised a legal notion of citizenship of the EU based upon nationality of a Member State. Some of its contents are spelled out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) as well as in secondary legislation. Initially EU citizenship appeared to be weak and embryonic, but has evolved considerably in particular through its interpretation by the Court of Justice. This module relates to the evolving rights and duties of EU citizenship and to the wider literature on citizenship and to questions of identity and fundamental rights. Citizenship is also discussed as an indicator of social and political integration and for its potential relevance in addressing the Union's so-called democratic deficit.

Dissertation (International Trade Law)

45 credits
Autumn & spring teaching, year 1

You design and carry out a project of research under individual supervision. You are encouraged to apply the theoretical and practical principles of research methodology which were addressed by the module "Advanced Research for LLM Students" in the production of your 15,000 word dissertation

EU Competition Law

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module covers the concepts and rules of EU competition law contained in the EU Treaties, case law and decisional practice of the European Commission. Substantive topics include cartels, abuse of dominance, mergers, enforcement and state intervention, especially state aid and public services regulation. The relationship between EU competition law and other systems of competition law is also considered.

EU Single Market Law

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The 'single' or 'internal' market lies at the very heart of the European community, defined by reference to the 'four freedoms' - policies on the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital destined to ensure an ever closer economic, monetary and political union.

You will examine the legal foundations of the single market tracing the deployment of both 'negative' and 'positive' integration mechanisms together with the use of various legal and judicial techniques destined to achieve completion of the internal market. While concentrating particularly on the free movement regimes applicable to goods, establishment and services, the module will investigate the interaction of these key policy areas with other issues such as social welfare provision, the rights and duties of private parties and the protection of fundamental rights.

International and Comparative Company Law

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Topics covered include:

• Introduction and theory: the company as an instrument of entrepreneurship, domestic and foreign models of corporate entities, business as a social and economic tool, the market and profit incentive, regulation and laws as an economic function and the conflict of legal and economic rules.
• Company law concepts: the concept of the corporate contract, legal personality, the corporate veil, judicial avoidance of the doctrine, forms of business organisation, company as entity, group enterprise, distinction between corporate forms, the legislative framework, birth, life and death of the company.
• Corporate liability: general liability in tort and contract and trust relationships, general regulatory approach, the arguments for self-regulation and interventionism, the influence of criminal and civil liability concepts, ultra vires and agency doctrines, individual and corporate capacity, corporate crime.
• Corporate responsibility and governance: companies as democracies, representation and power, the exercise of control, the management of conflict, internal and external control, stakeholder theory, directors duties and liabilities, administration and supervision, employee consultation and participation, dispute resolution, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy.
• European and international company law: the EU framework for co-operation in corporate affairs, fundamental freedoms for companies, harmonisation of European law, jurisdictional issues and approaches in the common law and civil law systems, competition among jurisdictions and the Delaware effect, international co-operation issues, multinationals.

International and Comparative Corporate Insolvency Law

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Topics covered include:

• Introduction and principles
• Relationship between property, credit and insolvency
• The powers of bankruptcy office-holders to recover property belonging to and to gather information about the debtor. Insolvency and pre-insolvency measures
• The concept and nature of business rescue in different jurisdictions; a comparison of principles governing how the protection of the business rescue regime is achieved 
• The hierarchy of creditors and the principle of equal treatment 
• The management of debtors in business rescue; rescue and liquidation proceedings; the role of the insolvency office-holder/practitioner
• International and regional treaties and conventions concerned with cross border bankruptcies (especially the European Insolvency Regulation and UNCITRAL Model Law).

International Trade: Issues and Challenges

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This course provides you with a thorough grounding in the key intellectual and practical skills and theoretical framework necessary for the study of European and International Trade Law at Masters level. The course is divided into three, closely related parts. You will consolidate, develop and employ your practical skills required for independent research and writing at Masters level. You will learn how to formulate a research question, design a research strategy and undertake a literature search. You will examine a range of methods for research in law, including comparative, socio-legal, empirical, critical and doctrinal research methods. You will have the opportunity to consolidate and develop your skills by undertaking seminars specifically devoted to research and theoretical exercises in areas within International, European and Comparative Law relevant to economic, financial and commercial Law.

International Commercial Arbitration

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Law of International Business Transactions

30 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module considers the body of rules governing commercial relationships of a private law nature involving different countries. You focus on the legal rules governing the sale and supply of goods by a merchant in one country to a merchant in another country.

The Legal Regulation of International Trade

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

The central aim of this module is to provide you with a knowledge and understanding of the world trading system, in particular the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and an awareness of the different levels of government (and governance) at play in the regulation of international trade. To this end it explores: the background to, institutional structure, and fundamental principles of, the World Trade Organisation (WTO); certain of the substantive rules of the WTO, the context in which it operates, and the other actors operating in this field (regulation of international trade); the relationship between international trade rules and other branches of international law, and in particular the challenges facing the WTO in adjusting to the developing priorities of the global community.