International Business Law

COURSE OBJECTIVE
BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE KNOWLEDGE: Demonstrates theoretical and empirical knowledge concerning the relevant areas in international business administration
After successfully completing this course, the student can explain:
• the main legal concepts and functions of law in the three major legal traditions.
• the characteristics and roles of internal and external legal services providers in the three major legal traditions.
• the complexities and potential approaches in managing internal and external legal services providers in multinational companies’ (MNCs) organisational structures.

APPLICATION: Can propose a solution to an international real-life business problem by applying relevant theories and methodologies.
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• can identify the potential functions of the regulatory environment and regulatory services (providers) for business by having concepts examined from legal and business perspectives.
• explain how law and lawyers can support business planning and operations.
• can identify the links between regulatory environments and companies and industries.

BROADENING YOUR HORIZON - STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO REFLECT ON THE ETHICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• is able to explain how management (boards) and staff in MNCs face different and conflicting realities of strategic and operational planning as a result of the multitude of countries, and thus regulatory environments, in which they operate.
• to able manage potential legal ethnocentrism by unleashing his/her awareness and understanding of businesses’ ’‘legal pluralism’ realities.

COURSE CONTENT
The module offers students the opportunity to acquire the knowledge about, and skills to integrate, the opportunities and treats of regulatory internal and external environments into the strategic and operational corporate and functional planning of internationally operating companies.

The module is characterised by a functional approach of regulatory environments by identifying the following five potential functions of regulation for businesses:

• strategic input;
• evaluating strategic options (create and protect value);
• contributing to strategies;
• risk management;
• reputation management.

IBA’s international focus is reflected in the choice to link regulatory environments to the strategic and operational corporate and functional planning of MNCs, and the presentation of legal concepts from the perspective of the three globally main legal traditions: civil law, common law, and Islamic law.

Specifically, the knowledge and skills in this course concentrate on:

• Analyzing a regulatory environment;
• The major legal traditions in the world;
• The functions of regulation for international business;
• The relevance for business of the European Union;
• Managing international sales and services contracts;
• Regulation of the marketing function;
• Managing the legal function in an international company.

TEACHING METHODS
Lectures
Tutorials
Guest Lectures

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Written exam (Open Questions) – Individual assessment
Course work assignments
Mandatory attendance tutorials

RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Fundamental knowledge of the main business concepts such as strategic planning, and business functions such as accounting, finance, and marketing.