LL4G8      Half Unit
Law of Corporate Finance

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Eva Micheler (NAB 5.14) and Mr Edmund-Philipp Schuster (NAB 6.30)

Availability

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time) and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course is capped at 90 students.

Course content

The course examines the private law rules governing how companies raise finance. The issues covered include e.g. capital structures, an introduction to basic finance concepts relevant to understanding the legal rules covered, the rules on raising equity capital, initial legal capital and alternatives, dividends, reduction of capital and share buy-backs, disclosure obligations for listed companies, property rights in shares, the settlement and holding of securities including through distributed ledger (blockchain) technology and insider dealing and market manipulation.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours in Michaelmas Term. Students will usually have two additional hours in the Summer Term. This year teaching will be delivered through recorded online lectures and a mix of both in-person and online classes to accommodate students who are unable to physically be on campus. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term.

Formative coursework

Students will have the opportunity to write a formative essay for each of the seminars. All students are strongly encouraged to write at least one essay.

Indicative reading

Gower and Davies, Principles of Modern Company Law, 10th edn, 2016; Eilis Ferran and Look Chan Ho, Principles of Corporate Finance Law, 2014, Eva Micheler, Interests in Securities, 2007.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Law

Total students 2019/20: 69

Average class size 2019/20: 11

Controlled access 2019/20: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills