Syllabus

Title
2266 International and Comparative Commercial Law
Instructors
ao.Univ.Prof. Mag.Dr Thomas Bachner, LL.M. Ph.D. (Cambridge)
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/25/19 to 09/30/19
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Wednesday 10/16/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D3.0.218
Saturday 10/19/19 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.222
Saturday 10/19/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D3.0.218
Wednesday 10/23/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D3.0.218
Wednesday 10/30/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D3.0.218
Wednesday 11/06/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D3.0.218
Saturday 11/09/19 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM D3.0.222
Saturday 11/16/19 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM D3.0.218
Saturday 01/11/20 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM D3.1.274
Contents

The course offers an English-language introduction to commercial law, including contracts, relevant aspects of non-contractual obligations and property. It blends together the conflict of laws (private international law), comparative law and legal unification. The course thereby raises students’ awareness for the complexity of the international legal environment and the diversity of legal solutions adopted in different jurisdictions.

Learning outcomes

Students are able to

  • identify various types of commercial transactions together with the relevant interests of the parties in them, the functional stages of a commercial transaction from the start of negotiations through to performance and the consequences of failed performance, and the respective challenges for drafting contracts;
  • compare and contrast the different operating principles of private international law, comparative law and uniform law, as well as their practical interaction;
  • apply rules of private international law and of the UN Sales Convention to solve practical cases;
  • analyse and edit contract clauses so as to ensure the precise use of English legal terminology.

Students apply English legal terminology expediently and are more confident to use English as a means of professional written and spoken communication.

Attendance requirements

The type of this course is ‘prüfungsimmanent’ (PI). Accordingly attendance is compulsory!

Absence for up to two hours (in total) will be tolerated without the need to offer a justification.
Any further absence will only be tolerated if the student can provide a reasonable justification supported by written evidence (e.g. medical attestation).

Students with timetabling problems should contact me by e-mail at their earliest convenience.

Teaching/learning method(s)

The course combines elements of a lecture with active participation from the students.

Students are encouraged to participate in a lively debate in class!

Assessment

Assessment (all students)

During the common part of the course students can achieve a maximum of 40 points, of which
– 10 for active participation in class discussions,
– 10 for the submission of written homework,
– 15 for the written final exam (on 9 November),
– 5 for presenting a case study (on 16 November).

Assessment (extra tasks for exchange students)

Exchange students will receive 6 ECTS for this course (WU students receive only 4 ECTS).
Therefore, exchange students will be required
(i) to submit extra homework, and
(ii) to give an extra presentation on a topic to be agreed with the lecturer during the first week of the course, preferably linked to a current EU issue or to the law of their respective home jurisdiction; the presentation should be timed to last approximately 20 minutes.
Their grading scale will be adjusted accordingly.

 

Last edited: 2019-06-13



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