Prof Sarah Paterson

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. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

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 1 October 2026

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

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.

This course is concerned with the principles and policies underlying the realisation and distribution of a company’s assets in an insolvency. The impact of these principles on third parties such as other members of a corporate group, secured and unsecured creditors, directors, and employees, is also considered. Topics include: corporate governance in distress; corporate insolvency law theory; the distributional order of priority in insolvency; distribution and corporate groups; protecting unsecured creditors; setting aside transactions; and European and international recognition of insolvency proceedings.

20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

This course will have 20 hours of teaching in the Autumn Term and two hours in the Spring Term. There will be a Reading Week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

One 1,500 word essay.

A full Reading List will be distributed during the course. For introductory purposes students are directed to V. Finch and D. Milman, Corporate Insolvency Law: Perspectives and Principles (Cambridge University Press, 2017) (3rd edition).

Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period.