37294 - Principles of Law

Learning outcomes

This course is designed to explore the legal foundations of the market, through the study in comparative perspective of a number of doctrines derived from different legal traditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on the law of obligations and business contracts, with a special focus on the European law of regulated markets. By the end of the course, students have acquired a general understanding of the working of the legal system and grasped the main peculiarities of the different legal traditions, by means of proper legal terminology.

Course contents

20 classes; 60 hours

• Basic elements of the law of obligations, contracts and remedies

• Predictability in legal relationships. The notion of ‘good faith’: pre-contractual liability, contract validity and exact performance

• Contract Law and the Protection of the Weaker Party

• Financial Stability in the Eurozone.

• The “social dimension” of business

• Islamic Law & Finance

• International Investments, Sustainable Development & Applicable Law

Readings/Bibliography

Jan Smits. Contract Law. 2nd edition, Edward Elgar Publishing Inc., 2017 (relevant chapters and sections will be specified by the instructor before each class)

Other materials will be handed out by the instructor

Teaching methods

Lectures, open debate on cases and articles.

Assessment methods

Partial oral exam (March/April) + final oral exam (June/July/Sept). Active class participation will be considered favorably in the overall final grade.

Teaching tools

Open access texts, journal articles, published court decisions, newspapers, official press releases, Power Point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Quarta