International Commercial Law

Introduction

The course provides students with an overview of the legal framework applicable to international commercial transactions. The students will learn about legal methodology, legal sources governing transnational contracting practices, and the impact of national law on international commercial agreements. Further to this, students will get an overview of the central rules and frameworks governing corporate social responsibility.

The course introduces students to general contract law and what makes a contracting binding - and to which extent it is binding. They will learn to interpret and understand the legal challenges for contract negotiations and the conclusion and execution of contracts.

Multiple sources of transnational law will be introduced in the course, giving students an understanding of how, among other things, established business practice can rise to the level of a binding legal rule.

Standard contracts used for international sales will be explored in depth, focusing in particular on the United Nations Convention for International Sale of Goods. Further to this, alternative methods for dispute resolution, in particular arbitration, will be discussed in the course as an important venue for resolving international commercial disputes.

Given that the EU law requires nearly all listed companies to disclose information on their risks and opportunities arising from social and environmental issues, and on the impacts of their activities on people and the environment, students will be introduced to the legal regime governing corporate social responsibility, and will be given further opportunity to international aspects of the CSR obligations.

Course content

• Legal sources and methodology
• Negotiating and drafting international commercial contracts, with a particular focus on standardised contractual terms
• Impact of governing law on international commercial transactions, and the effects of the differences in national laws
• Sale of goods under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
• Responsible business conduct under the EU law and international frameworks
• Integrating social, environmental, ethical, consumer, and human rights concerns into their business strategy and operations