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2010/2011  BA-HAJ_3ICL  International Commecial Law

English Title
International Commecial Law

Course Information

Language English
Point 7,5 ECTS (225 SAT)
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course Period Autumn
Pending schedule: Mon.:13.30-16.05, week:36-46
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study Board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Commercial Law
Course Coordinator
  • Peter Arnt Nielsen - Law Department
Main Category of the Course
  • Business Law

Taught under Open University-Taught under open university.
Last updated on 29 maj 2012
Learning Objectives
Obtain profound knowledge of international commercial arbitration and international sales of goods. Ability to negotiate international contracts and participate in arbitration proceedings.
Objectives:
The student must be able to in English to:
1. Explain International commercial legislation and case law;
2. Explain businesses’ legal position under international commercial law;
3. Identify relevant international commercial problems and legal arguments on basis of complex materials;
4. demonstrate ability to deal with cases and demonstrate overview, insight and understanding;
5. Analyse problems in international commercial law and provide solutions on the basis of legal arguments and a critical evaluation;
6. Ability to combine various professional attitudes in connection with the analysis and make choices for the various, possible solutions; and
7. Present solutions and arguments in a systematic and coherent manner demonstrating overview, insight and understanding for the problems facing international businesses and the law regulating the sector.
Prerequisite
Knowledge of commercial law an advantage, but not a pre-requisite.
Examination
International Commercial Law
Exam Period December/January
Examination
Written exam, 4 hours, all aids allowed (open book). Students may bring their own computers and printers. Ordinary assessment.
Prerequisites for Attending the Exam
Course Content

Content and structure: International Commercial Law is taught in English, and the literature used is in English as this is the language the commercial lawyer or manager uses during international contract negotiations and international commercial arbitration. However, fluency in English is not required.

Due to globalisation, it is essential for commercial lawyers and managers to acquire a thorough knowledge of international contract law and international commercial arbitration. Furthermore, with this knowledge businesses will be able to put themselves into the best possible strategic position when negotiating, drafting and performing international contracts and when settling disputes arising out of such contracts.

The course objective is to provide students with a detailed knowledge of International Contract Law and International Commercial Arbitration in order to enable students to negotiate and draft international contracts on outsourcing and sale of goods and provision of services and to enable students to solve by means of arbitration disputes arising out of such international commercial contracts.

In the part dealing with international contracts, focus is on the negotiation process, the drafting of contracts, the performance of the contract, remedies for breach of contracts and dispute-settlement clauses such as choice-of-law clauses, jurisdiction agreements and arbitration agreements. The legislative basis is the United Nations Convention for the International Sales of Goods (CISG) and the lex mercatoria as expressed through principles of international contract law such as the Unidroit Principles for International Commercial Contracts (Unidroit Principles) and the Principles of European Contract Law (PECL).

In the second part dealing with international commercial arbitration, emphasis is on different forms of arbitration (ad hoc and institutional arbitration), the drafting of arbitration agreements, the conduct of arbitration proceedings, choice of law, invalidity of arbitral awards and recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. The legislative basis is UNCITRAL’s Model Law for International Commercial Arbitration, UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards and the rules of procedure of the most well-known international arbitration institutions.

Teaching: Lectures, seminars, exercises and cases. During lectures, an overview of the general rules and principles will be given. The purpose of seminars, exercises and cases is to discuss and apply the general rules and principles to real situations. Students are expected to be well-prepared and participate actively in class.

Literature

Recommended literature:

  1. Joseph Lookofsky, Understanding the CISG in Scandinavia, paperback, 3rd edition 2008.
  2. Alan Redfern and Martin Hunter, Law and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration, paperback, 5th edition 2009.
  3. Materials on Sitescape.

The required readings are approximately 500 pages.