INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW

The course centers on International Business Law. It aims at a comprehensive coverage of the legal, cultural and ethical issues global business managers face. Focusing on the trade, licensing and investment life-cycle that many domestic (new-to-international) and multinational organizations experience, students will be faced with legal issues concerning market-entry strategies, increasing levels of penetration into foreign markets, and set of risks that firms encounter during each life-cycle phase. From protecting and licensing intellectual property to learning the special challenges of doing business in developing countries and non-market-economies, the course helps students understand the most important and emerging issues in global business law through cutting-edge questions and explanations.

1: Learn to critically analyze the risk and opportunities presented for businesses that operate in the global arena and develop strategic proposals to communicate this information for decision-making.
2: Develop interpersonal communication skills underlying international business that includes sensitivity to foreign cultures.
3: Gain an appreciation of the legal diversity in organizations across values and cultures and learn how to effectively operate within an international business context.
4: Focus on how to manage cultural interdependence, with a consideration of writing an effective international contract and be ready to handle international business disputes.

Some basic knowledge either of Private Law or Public Law is recommended but not compulsory to take this course. Some knowledge of Commercial Law and International Law is also helpful.

Students will study the following topics:
1) actors and sources of International Business Law
2) negotiating and drafting international business transactions;
3) the law governing international contracts;
4) Jurisdiction v. Arbitration
5) International Sale of Good Contracts
6) Distribution Contracts; Agency and Franchising
7) technology transfers and Joint Ventures.

1) R. Cavalieri, V. Salvatore, An introduction to International Contract Law, Giappichelli, Torino, 2019.
2) R. H. Folsom, M. P. Van Alstine, and M.D. Ramsey, International Business Transactions in a Nutshell, West Academic, St. Paul, 11th ed. 2020.

(Please get both books BEFORE the start of lectures or by the first day of lectures)

Two essay questions drawn from the course programme content and a practical case. Those students who have passed the written test may ask to sit for an oral exam (on all subjects of the textbooks and whose result shall be averaged with your grade already obtained in the written exam).
Students may consult, during the exam, the text of the 1980 UN Convention on the International Sale of Goods only in paper/print out format and only if such a text is free of comments or notes.

Lectures and discussion of book chapters and cases. Some videos may be used to enhance understanding and raise discussions.

English

Students can contact the teacher via e-mail (patricio.barbirotto@unive.it). Office hours will be held on Zoom, every Monday 14:00 to 15:00, and students shall make an appointment via e-mail. E-mail shall be written in a formal style, shall be very clear and shall not concern questions whose answers are easily found on the university websites and that therefore do not deserve any reply.
Students with disabilities may contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices (disabilita@unive.it) to benefit from specific services (i.e., alternate testing, readers, etc).

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development