The purpose of this course is to introduce students early on to those key aspects of the legal Framework that will be most relevant for their studies in business and economics.
This will include how to organize the legal structure of a business (e.g. choice of legal form) and its governance system (e.g. legal decision making power, legal responsibiolities). Additionally, the legal context of financing a business will be explained (debt vs equity financing, capital markets).
Further, students will be made familiar with the legal framework of international business activities, e.g. how to gain access to foreign markets through economic freedom (as established by the European Union and international agreements) or how to obtain legal protection against violations of economic fundamental rights.      
All contents will be primarily based on relevant European and international legal standards and concepts of, where useful, on a comparison of national legal systems. 

Topics covered:

• Company Law - Basic Concepts
• Limited Liability and Creditors
• Management of Companies
• Membership in Companies
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Constitutional Law and Business Law
• Developments, Legal Foundations and Dynamics of European Integration
• The EU Internal Market
• Fundamental Rights - General Issues
• Selected Fundamental Rights
• Globalization and International Law

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• understand basic company law issues concerning the treatment of creditors, managing the business and membership in the company.
• understand the different methods of financing a business and legal instruments by which to achieve external growth.
• understand the process of European integration and to autonomously assess current and future developments.
• understand current and future developments in globalization.

While students may miss up to six entire classes, successful passing of the course is not possible in case of absence going beyond that. Students who miss the first class without prior notification to the course convenors will be deregistered from the course without further ado.

This course combines the approach of a traditional lecture with interactive elements such as case studies, aiming at a thorough comprehension of the topics of the course relevant for the exams and practice.

Assessment is based on two exams: an intermediate exam (8 January 2020) covering the contents of the first half of the course (50 %) and a final exam (30 January 2020) covering the contents of the second half of the course (50 %). The exams may consist of multiple-choice as well as open questions.

To pass the course successfully you need to obtain 50 % in total.

Grading Scheme:       

• Very Good: ≥ 87,50%
• Good: ≥ 75%
• Satisfactory: ≥ 62,50%
• Adequate: ≥ 50%
• Unsatisfactory: < 50%

Students who have questions should personally address the convenors of the course at the end of the respective unit, if possible (as regards other queries, on the first part (class 1-6 and intermediate exam): iplaw@wu.ac.at; on the second part (class 7-12 and final exam): sophie.bohnert@wu.ac.at)