LAW COURSE TAUGHT AT EMBA BUSINESS SCHOOL (Quimper, France)
Year 3 (Academic Year 2024-2025)
Syllabus and Course Guidelines
Lecturer: Franck BEAUDOIN, Avocat
Duration of the course: 20 hours / 4 sessions of 5 hours each
Updated on 11 February 2025
Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Understand the normative framework of international trade.
- Master the basics of international business law.
- Know the definition, criteria and legal regime of international contracts.
- Draft and negotiate international commercial contracts.
Course outline
LEGAL GUIDE TO DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY
SESSION 1 – Introduction to law and international law.
SESSION 2 – Private international law.
SESSION 3 – Introduction to international contracts.
SESSION 4 – Practicing international commercial contracts.
Timetable
SESSION 1: 8 January 2025
SESSION 2: 9 January 2025
SESSION 3: 21 January 2025
SESSION 4: 22 January 2025
FINAL EXAM: 19 February 2025 (from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
Personal work required for students
- There is no prerequisite.
- Each student must complete all online lessons individually before the final exam.
- Students must actively participate in class.
Evaluation
- Continuous assessment: online questionnaires at the end of each lesson. This grade carries a weight of 1.
- Final exam: online multiple-choice questionnaire (in class / duration: 1h). The final exam grade carries a weight of 3.
- Oral participation in class: the final grade will be adjusted based on oral participation.
Introduction to law
This module introduces the fundamental concepts of law and its main functions in society. It explains what law is, how it differs from other social norms, what are the main branches of law, and how legal systems are organised. 🕒 Indicative study time: 1 hour.
Lessons
Definition of law History of law: the origins of law State legal systemIntroduction to international law
This module defines what international law is and presents the major historical milestones that shaped international business law. It provides a foundation for understanding how international rules emerged and evolved to regulate trade and commercial relations between states and private actors. 🕒 Indicative study time: 30 minutes.
Lessons
Typology of legal systems Definition of international law Definition of private international law Definition of international business law The normative framework of international tradeThe fundamentals of private international law
Lessons
Conflict of laws and of jurisdiction Conflict rule and substantive law Applicable law United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 1980) (CISG) UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts (UPICC) State law as a source of private international law: the example of French lawDoing business in Europe
Lessons
Presentation of the European Union The Institutions of the European Union The Legal System of the European Union Applicable law and competent courts in the European Union European Single Market and EU Customs Union Competition law in the European Union Intellectual property law in the European UnionInternational litigations
The fundamentals of international contracts
This module introduces the essential features of international contracts and the criteria that distinguish them from domestic agreements. It examines their legal regime, the determination of governing law and jurisdiction, and the key issues to consider when drafting and negotiating cross-border contracts. 🕒 Indicative study time: 1h30
Lessons
Definition of the contract Definition of the international contract Criteria of the international contract Legal regime of the international contract Governing law and jurisdiction in international contractsPractising international business contracts
This module includes contract analysis and commentary, case studies, simulations, and business games designed to develop practical skills in identifying legal risks, interpreting and drafting clauses, and negotiating international business contracts. It also introduces the use of artificial intelligence tools to assist in contract review, risk analysis and legal drafting. This module is intended for in-class, interactive learning sessions.