LW663-_-__ : Contemporary Issues in Commercial and Business Law

This module aims to apply the comparative and case study methodologies to examine the national and global legal, philosophical, historical and socio-political contexts of business law and commercial relationships and transactions. The comparative methodology enables students to investigate, identify and analyse issues across different jurisdictions and other differentiating factors. The case study method enables the investigation of contemporary events and provide multiple evidence for resolution of issues. It facilitates learning by using real examples to highlight the potential and actual effectiveness and limitations of commercial and business law principles and models. Case study exercises will be derived from recent legislation, case law and factual or hypothetical incidents. The module identifies and evaluates contemporary, technological, emergent and historical issues and the legal and other forces driving, shaping and challenging business law and the interaction of these forces and their relative effectiveness in national and transnational contexts. The module draws upon, where relevant, materials from UK and other jurisdictions and materials prepared by international institutions and non-governmental organisations. The explore broad questions such as: What are the public and private law sources of commercial and business law? What are the institutional, contextual, emergent and other challenges to commercial and business law in national and transnational contexts? What ideologies and philosophies influence business regulation? What are the legal principles for governing key business relationships? The module will combine elements of taught instruction and group discussion in weekly lectures and interactive seminars requiring students’ active participation in the whole group under guidance of the tutor. As part of a formative assessment process, students will be asked to make presentations in seminars and to undertake independent research. In addition, students will work independently on the summative assessment exercise. No pre-requisites or co-requisites are required.