LL4AL Half Unit
International Business Transactions: Commercial Litigation
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Jacco Bomhoff
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law and Finance 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 uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.
Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025
By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
Deadline for application: Not applicable
For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk
Knowledge of conflict of laws (private international law) would be useful but is not essential. A general understanding of contract, tort, and commercial law is essential.
This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.
Course content
This course deals with jurisdictional problems arising in litigation resulting from international business transactions. We consider relevant rules in English law and European Union law, and take a comparative look at developments in the United States. The following issues are included in the syllabus: (a) General jurisdiction over companies and individuals; (b) Specific jurisdiction in relation to contract and tort claims; (c) Jurisdiction over branches and agents; (d) Choice-of-court clauses; (e) Parallel litigation and tactics (‘lis pendens’, ‘forum non conveniens’, anti-suit injunctions, etc.); and (f) Constitutional limitations on jurisdiction in the United States.
Teaching
2 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
All students are expected to produce one 1,500 word formative essay during the course.
Indicative reading
Core textbook: Trevor C Hartley, International Commercial Litigation (Cambridge University Press, 3rd edn, 2020, (selected chapters). Further reading: Born (Gary B) and Rutledge (Peter B), International Civil Litigation in United States Courts: Commentary and Materials (Wolters Kluwer, Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, the Netherlands, 6th edn, 2018); Fentiman (Richard), International Commercial Litigation (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2nd edn, 2015).
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Autumn and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 54
Average class size 2024/25: 27
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
LL4AL International Business Transactions: Commercial Litigation Course Guide Video https://youtu.be/cbGm78J2RfM