LL4CQ Half Unit
Legal Aspects of Private Equity and Venture Capital
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Simon Witney
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 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
Students should note that private equity is a specialist asset class, and the basics of debt and equity are not covered in LL4CQ. The course is, therefore, recommended for students who are taking other, relevant corporate law and financial law courses, or who have relevant knowledge or experience.
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 will equip students with a detailed understanding of the legal structures and issues arising in international private equity and venture capital. It is founded on academic analysis of pertinent theoretical and legal issues complemented by insights from relevant practitioners.
The course will cover: private equity and venture capital fund structures and terms; regulation of fund managers in Europe; venture capital and buyout structures and terms; corporate governance in private equity-backed companies; and LBO financing terms.
The course has a UK focus but will include relevant aspects of European Union law with comparative global perspectives.
Teaching
10 hours of seminars and 20 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
Formative assessment
A choice of formative essays will be set and detailed feedback will be provided shortly after submission. The essay will have a word limit of 1,500 and will provide invaluable preparation for the summative assessment.
Indicative reading
A full Reading List will be distributed during the course. For introductory purposes, students are referred to:
Gilligan, J. and Wright, M., Private equity demystified: An explanatory guide (2020, 4th edition, Oxford University Press),
Gullifer, L. and Payne J., Corporate Finance Law: Principles and Policy (2020, 3rd edition, Hart Publishing), Chapter 16 (Private Equity),
Hale, C. (ed), Private Equity: A Transactional Analysis (2024, 5th edition, Globe Law and Business),
Witney, S., Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment in Private Equity (2020, Cambridge University Press)
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 60
Average class size 2024/25: 15
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse 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:
LL4CQ Legal Aspects of Private Equity and Venture Capital https://youtu.be/T1-j5U1Tw5o
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills