FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW

Course Outline

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In today's global village, business decisions are no longer local. Even the smallest company
may engage in transactions that have international legal implications. As the world gets smaller the
ability to access foreign markets grows ever wider. Companies may seek new sources of supply
overseas, sales may cross national borders to customers located abroad, joint ventures and other
forms of direct investment in a foreign country abound. Resolving disputes arising from such
operations may lead to multistate litigation and/or to arbitration. Many legal systems may become
relevant in arbitration including transnational principles (such as the Unidroit Principles) or the Lex
mercatoria, expressions of the on-going process of formation of a global law for international
commercial contracts.
This course is designed to introduce students to the problems affecting cross-border
transactions from a legal standpoint. International Private and Public Law aspects of business
transactions will be examined. Special attention will be given to international law, including
transnational law. We will examine the legal framework of international commerce pointing out the
potential constraints posed by multiple sources of law, cultures, ideologies, currencies, and
government policies to effective international business negotiations.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Attendance is required. Daily Preparation is also required. I expect students to be prepared to

discuss the assigned materials in class, any time, any day. The assignments are set out in the
attached course syllabus.

 Exam

The exam is a multiple choice test.

 Required Texts

 ICC Guide to Export/Import. Global Standards for International Trade, 4th ed.,
by G. Jimenez, Paris, 2012

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* For useful websites please consult http://www.eisil.org/.

1
 SYLLABUS

Week one - The sources and actors of international business law

Monday - September 23 - First day of classes; student groups are created & assigned a topic to be
presented in front of the class on Monday and Tuesday 1-2 October 2013
Readings : Chapter 1. An introduction to import/export. Actors and sources of International
Business Law
Chapter 4. Comparative Law.

Tuesday - September 24 -
Readings : Chapter 2. Overview of an export/import transaction. Actors and sources of International
Business Law (cont.)

Wednesday - September 25 -
Readings : Chapter 3-4. Focus on Incoterms and sales.

Thursday - September 26 -
Readings : Chapter 5. Focus on International Sales.

Friday - September 27 -
Readings : Chapter 6-7. International Dispute Resolution.

Week two : International Contracting

Monday - September 30 – Student presentations

Readings : Chapter 8: Introduction to international payments
Ref website: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/contract-templates/
Tuesday – October 1 – Student presentations
Readings : Chapter 9: Documentary Credits and the UCP
Ref website: http://www.intracen.org/exporters/contract-templates/

Wednesday – October 2 -
Readings : Chapter 13: International Transport.

END