Course Description
This course examines complex corporate transactions and contracts–that is, “deals.” The first component presents a framework for evaluating alternative transaction structures, including transaction costs, information economics, risk sharing and incentives, property rights, and finance. Students then apply these concepts to “live” deals negotiated by alumni in transactional legal practice.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate law students will not be doing any extra work beyond
that required of the Juris Doctor students. J.D. students are
post-baccalaureate students and the workload expected of them is
the same workload expected of post-baccalaureate graduate
students. Law students are professional students, not
undergraduate students. Graduate law students are primarily
international lawyers seeking expertise in the American legal
system. This expertise is gained through exposure to Juris
Doctor courses.
Athena Title
Deals
Undergraduate Prerequisite
JURI 4210/6210
Graduate Prerequisite
JURI 4210/6210
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The course objectives are to identify contracting patterns that emerge across various types of deals (potentially including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and others); to develop a toolbox of concepts and skills broadly applicable in transactional legal practice; and to discern idiosyncrasies that affect transaction structures and contracting practices in various deal contexts. Readings draw from multiple fields, and negotiation, drafting, and analytical exercises illustrate various elements of transactional practice and design.
Topical Outline
Part I: Concepts and Tools Introduction Value Creation Through Contracting and Organizational Design Creating and Distributing Value Adverse Selection Moral Hazard Capital and Organizational Structure Incentive Contracts Asset Specificity and Opportunism Contracting Over Time Derivatives, Hedging, and Managing Risk Third Parties and the Renting of Reputation Part II: Analysis of Live Deals Presentations (by each student team, followed by the alum who provided the deal)
Syllabus
Public CV