The course is designed to explore the implications of corporate law and governance at the EU level. The European Union is an unprecedented attempt to harmonise law across various Member States, and provides ample opportunities for business organisation. For instance, EU rules facilitate cross-border restructurings such as mergers and takeovers, but also attempt to create a level playing field for companies and shareholders alike.
Building on a comparative and functional perspective on corporate law, we will analyse the role of the European Union as a regulator in this field and the case for EU regulatory intervention. This includes the EU harmonisation programme in company law, the benefits to be derived from a system of regulatory competition, but also new ways in which genuine European corporate vehicles can be developed to meet particular policy objectives.