LA9FN-20 Foundations of International Commercial Law

Academic year
23/24
Department
School of Law
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Christian Twigg-Flesner
Credit value
20
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

This module is the core module for the LLM in International Commercial Law and examines the nature of ICL, the way ICL is created, and covers selected areas of ICL.

Module web page

Module aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to fundamental legal issues affecting international commercial transactions. There will be 3 broad strands to this:

(i) the specific issues associated with international commercial contracts;

(ii) the different instruments and institutions, the process of harmonisation, and the lex mercatoria;

(iii) specific areas such as agency, security interest in mobile equipment

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

What is International Commercial Law?
Practical Challenges of International Commerce
Theories of International Commercial Law
Commercial Dispute Resolution: PIL and Arbitration
Making international commercial law: instruments and institutions
The challenge of interpreting international conventions
Harmonisation of International Commercial Law
Using Contracts in International Commercial Law
Standard Trade Terms (e.g., INCOTERMS)
Lex Mercatoria - myth or useful concept?
Security Interests in Mobile Equipment: Cape Town Convention
UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts
Receivables financing
The Agency Convention
Leasing
Challenges for International Commercial Law: Digitalisation, Sustainability, global value chains and ethics

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

Indicative reading list

To follow

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Gaining an understanding of key elements of International Commercial Law and an appreciation of how law can be utilised to address specific obstacles to international commercial activity

Transferable skills

Evaluation of source materials

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 18 sessions of 1 hour (9%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (5%)
Private study 170 hours (86%)
Total 197 hours

Private study description

Guided reading after lectures and in preparation for seminars
Preparation for seminars
Formative coursework
Revision for final exam

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group B2
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Take-home examination 100% 3 hours No

An open book exam to be completed within the specified period.

Feedback on assessment

Generic feedback will be provided via Moodle, with individual feedback via Tabula.

Past exam papers for LA9FN

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of TLAA-M223 Postgraduate Taught International Commercial Law

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 1 of TLAA-M223 Postgraduate Taught International Commercial Law

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TIMA-L981 Postgraduate Social Science Research
  • Year 1 of TLAA-M3PJ Postgraduate Taught Advanced Legal Studies
  • Year 1 of TLAS-M3P7 Postgraduate Taught International Economic Law
  • Year 1 of TLAS-M221 Postgraduate Taught LLM in International Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation

This module is Core option list A for:

  • Year 1 of TLAA-M3PJ Postgraduate Taught Advanced Legal Studies
  • Year 1 of TLAS-M3P7 Postgraduate Taught International Economic Law
  • Year 1 of TLAS-M221 Postgraduate Taught LLM in International Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation