International Business Agreements

ldrop2041  2024-2025  Louvain-la-Neuve

International Business Agreements
5.00 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Language
English
Main themes
The first part of the course will deal with main international contracts like the international sales, including the incoterms, the joint venture contracts, international distribution and the contract of transfer of technology, and mergers and acquisitions. Attention will be paid to the standard clauses in international contracts and more particularly the letters of intent, the hardship and force majeure clause and the best efforts clauses. The structure of the energy market will be analyzed; in second place the international regulation related to energy and thirdly the specific clause in energy contract.( take or pay clause) The course will specifically deal with the common law terminology in continental.
Content
The first part of the course will be devoted to main international contracts, especially international sales of goods (including Incoterms and interactions with Lex Mercatoria), and other contracts that may vary from one academic year to the next. The second part of the course will examine contractual practices relating to the import and export of certain goods, services and technologies... ).
Aim: The aim of the course is to introduce students to the practice and drafting of international contracts. The specificity of international trade rules compared with national law will also be explored. Particular emphasis will be placed on the reception of Anglo-Saxon legal terminology in continental European contracts.
Teaching methods
The course will follow multiple teaching methods. In addition to theoretical developments, problems linked to frequent concrete situations will be proposed, and debates/dialogues with students will play an important role in the course of the sessions. The course will be given in English.
Evaluation methods
Written exam combining knowledge questions, and/or analysis questions (on decisions, scholarship or legislative texts) and/or reflection questions and/or problem questions.
The written exam lasts two hours and may consists of up to two parts:
- The first part may involve short questions or MCQs. This part is “closed book”: Students are required to answer these without the possibility of consulting any sort of material. This part is designed to test knowledge acquisition, as well as the simple application of concepts learned in class.
- The second part may involve a reflection based on hypothetical cases or a commentary on a decision, academic text or case law. During the second part, students will be allowed to use a series of documents that will be identified throughout the semester (academic literature, Moodle documents, legislation and/or case law as appropriate). Knowledge and application of legal concepts and rules, and the ability to develop complex legal reasoning in international business law will be assessed during this part of the written exam.
Further information will be provided in the first session.
Other information
The first part of the course is devoted to international trade law in general. The main focus will be on major international contracts, especially the international sale of goods, the role of Incoterms in this context and the impact of Lex Mercatoria. Other international contracts (which may vary from one academic year to the next) will complete the first part of the course (e.g. joint ventures, distribution, etc.). In the second part of the course, we feel it is important to focus more specifically on developments in the international legal arena, i.e. the green transition and the digital transition.  Thus, for example, issues relating to climate change and energy policy, as well as the status of new technologies in international contracts, will be the subject of substantive developments. Industry operators will be invited to contribute to this module with their experience.
Online resources
Slides as well as required and/or recommended readings will be posted on Moodle for each lesson.
Faculty or entity


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Advanced Master in European Law

Master [120] in Law

Advanced Master in International Law

Master [120] in Law (shift schedule)

Advanced Master in Tax Law