printer friendly pageLAW 1030: Partnership Tax
(Formerly
Law 377) This course will cover the basic rules that govern the tax treatment of partnerships and partners, with a focus on agreements and issues that are relevant to venture capital and private equity investment partnerships. The course will be primarily problem-set based. Prerequisites: Taxation I required; Corporate Income Taxation suggested but not required. Elements used in grading:, Final Exam, Class Participation.
Last offered: Winter 2017
LAW 1031: Current Issues in Business Law
This course will focus on issues in law and business that are both important to practitioners and the subject of academic or policy debates. We will cover a range of legal and economic issues, including the following topics: nonbank lending, gatekeeper liability, capital repatriation and tax policy, corporate restructuring, blockchain and smart contracts, and cyber risk management. Each of these issues will be introduced by readings and presentations, but the classes will rely on student discussion and critical evaluation of the papers and positions we examine. Students will have the opportunity to write reaction papers that critically analyze the required readings and to learn and analyze other business law issues of their choice by working in groups. Elements used in grading: Reaction papers, class participation, and performance in the group project and presentation.
Last offered: Spring 2018
LAW 1032: Banking Law
(Formerly 378) This course will examine the legal and regulatory system governing financial institutions, with an emphasis on banks. It will do so by exploring the underlying economics of banking, and the ongoing effort to reform financial regulation. Questions addressed will include: Why do we regulate financial institutions? What dangers do we want to avoid? How well does the current regulatory system achieve what we want to achieve? What alternative approaches can be taken? What are the costs and benefits of the current system, and those of the alternatives? Elements used in grading: Class participation, attendance, final exam.
Last offered: Autumn 2017
LAW 1033: Trusts and Estates
This course will examine aspects of the law of donative transfers in the areas of wills, trusts and agents. The course will cover the following topics: intestacy; will execution and revocation; will provisions and interpretations; restrictions on the right to devise; probate; creation, amendment and termination of trusts; revocable and irrevocable trusts; trust provisions; charitable trusts; trust administration; and durable powers of attorneys, advanced health care directives, and conservatorships. Elements used in grading: Final exam (open book, essay).
Terms: Aut
| Units: 2
Instructors:
Nason, C. (PI)
;
Pearson, B. (PI)
LAW 1034: Real Estate Transactions
Real Estate Transactions and Commercial Development examines the structuring, negotiation and documentation of commercial real estate transactions. Working both individually and in groups, students will learn the requisite skills for drafting and negotiating leases, letters of intent, sale contracts and related financing documents. As time permits, development-related matters will be explored, including the legal aspects of site acquisition, design and construction. Since it is especially relevant now, coverage of restrictive land use controls will be covered, as well as a discussion of some approaches to increasing access to property ownership among lower income groups. Classes will be a mixture of lectures, interactive discussions, and several mock negotiations. Elements used in grading: Class attendance, individual and group project participation, quizzes and written assignments. No final exam.
Last offered: Autumn 2022
LAW 1035: Mergers and Acquisitions
This course focuses on the role of law and lawyers in the evaluation, design and implementation of mergers and acquisitions transactions, including mergers, stock sales, and asset sales. Primary attention will be devoted (1) to corporate law issues relevant to merger or acquisition transactions; and (2) to contract law issues on important private ordering mechanisms, such as merger or acquisition agreements, and confidentiality and other ancillary agreements. Time permitting, we will also delve into other legal issues, such as those involving federal securities, tax, and antitrust laws. Prerequisite: Corporations, except on petition to the instructors based on prior coursework or special experience. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, Exam.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
Instructors:
Choi, A. (PI)
LAW 1036: Introduction to Finance
This course is a basic introduction to the principles of finance. It will prepare you for the 3-credit version (Corporate Finance 1009) and introduce you to principles of valuation that are useful in everything from family law to settlement negotiations over civil disputes. The course provides a framework for answering the basic question: how much is this firm (or project) worth? We will cover topics such as: earnings, cash flows, income statements, interest rates, time value of money, risk and return and the cost of capital. No prior knowledge of finance or fancy math skills will be assumed. The course will consist primarily of on-line modules and problem sets that you will complete on your own and in small groups. We will have "live" class sessions to discuss the application of these principles in a legal setting and to hear from lawyers, investors and policy makers how finance has been useful in their careers. There will be weekly problem sets and you will get experience with building a simple excel spreadsheet that will help you estimate the value of a potential new project. There is a final project where you are asked to value a company and present your teams' findings to the class. On-line component. Elements used in grading: Written Assignments, Final Project. Participation.
Terms: Win
| Units: 2
LAW 1037: The Evolution of Finance
(Formerly
Law 487) This course provides a framework to understand how uncertainty and technology affect the evolution of finance (and businesses generally), with heavy emphasis on recent developments and future trends. In recent years Myron Scholes has given about half the lectures with the other half given by prominent guests. The guest list changes year to year but 2017's list included David Booth, Katie Hall, Howard Marks, James Manyika, George Osborne, Kevin Warsh, Tom Kempner, and Larry Summers. Jeremy Bulow may replace Myron for a small number of lectures. Special instructions:
LAW 1037 is limited to 15 law students. If more than 15 law students enroll, a lottery will be run to determine the final class list. Elements used in grading: No Exam. Participation 50% Projects/Papers 50%. Mandatory attendance. Absences impact grade. Cross-listed with Graduate School of Business (
MGTECON 343).
Last offered: Winter 2019
LAW 1038: The Future of Finance
This 2-credit course will examine vast changes driven by innovation both from within traditional finance and from new ecosystems in fintech among others. Breathtaking advances in financial theory, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational capability, IoT, payment systems (e.g. blockchain, crypto currencies), new products (e.g. robo advising, digital lending, crowd funding, smart contracts), new trading processes (e.g. algorithmic trading, AI-driven sales & trading), and new markets (e.g. ETFs, zero-cost products), among others are changing not only how financial and non-financial firms conduct business but also how investors and supervisors view the players and the markets. We will discuss critical strategy, policy and legal issues, some resolved and others yet to be (e.g. failed business models, cyber challenges, financial warfare, fake news, bias problems, legal standing for cryptos). The course will feature perspectives from guest speakers including top finance executives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs on up-to-the-minute challenges and opportunities in finance. Elements used in grading: Class Participation, Attendance, Final Paper. Cross-listed with Economics (
ECON 152/252), Public Policy (
PUBLPOL 364), Statistics (
STATS 238).
Last offered: Winter 2020
LAW 1039: Deal Litigation Seminar
This seminar is designed as an introduction to mergers and acquisitions litigation. The course provides both a practical and doctrinal perspective on M&A-related litigation and relies heavily on readings and issues derived from practice in the Delaware courts where much contemporary deal litigation occurs. Students will be asked to apply cases and legal principles in various practical situations that may arise in a transactional litigation practice. Familiarity with basic corporate law principles is assumed. Classes and readings. The first segment of the course will introduce basic doctrinal principles of M&A law and provide an introduction to the litigator's role in the transactional setting. The remaining sessions will revolve around two detailed M&A case studies, with seminar members divided into group roles. The first week of each case study will involve the negotiation and structuring of an M&A transaction. The second week will involve litigation relating to the transaction. As part of the case studies, students will negotiate a transaction, advise their client, take depositions, write briefs and present oral argument. Reading for the case studies will include case scenarios, supporting materials, and additional relevant case law and articles. Written assignments and grading. Students will be expected to write a final paper, in addition to the brief they will write in connection with their assigned case study. Special Instructions: After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer from section (01) into section (02) which meets the R requirement, with consent of the instructor. Students taking the seminar for R credit can take the seminar for either 2 or 3 units, depending on the paper length. Corporations (
Law 242) is a prerequisite. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, brief writing/oral argument, and paper. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS website (Click Courses at the bottom of the homepage and then click Consent of Instructor Forms). See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline. Please note that due to scheduling issues this quarter, class will not meet on April 6 or 13, or May 18, and makeup classes will be scheduled.
Last offered: Spring 2020
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