00221 - Commercial Law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is expected: (i) to reach an in-depth knowledge of the Italian and EU laws regarding the exercise of business activity and the structure and functioning of partnerships, corporations, securities and capital markets; (ii) to understand the role of corporate and securities laws and capital markets in the financing and efficient functioning of the firm; (iii) to become acquainted with the legal and contractual strategies aimed at reducing the agency problems among firm's managers, shareholders and stakeholders; (iv) to understand the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and preserving a fair competition in a modern economy.

Course contents

1. Introduction: A short Account of the History of Italian Commercial Law
2. Rules Applicable to the Carrying-out of a Business Activity in Italy
3. Entrepreneur: Powers, Duties and Responsibilities
4. Sale of a Firm
5. An introduction to Bankruptcy Law and Insolvency Proceedings.
6. An account of Copyright Law and Antitrust Law
7. Partnerships
8. Corporations: Closely Held Corporations; Publicly Held Corporations; Shareholders; Board of Directors; Internal Auditing/External Auditors
9. Mutual Companies
10. Group of Companies
11. Mergers and Acquisitions
12. Agency Problems and Conflict of Interests within Corporations.
13. Negotiable instruments and Dematerialization thereof.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Gaetano Presti e Matteo Rescigno, Corso di diritto commerciale, Volume I, Impresa-Contratti-Titoli di credito-Fallimento, Zanichelli Editore, latest edition: only “Lezioni” I (Il diritto commerciale); II (L'imprenditore); III (Categorie di imprenditori e normative applicabili); IV (L'azienda, i segni distintivi e la proprietà intellettuale); V (La concorrenza fra imprese); XI (I titoli di credito); XII (La dematerializzazione dei titoli di credito); XIV (La crisi d'impresa: fondamenti e soluzioni concordate) limited to paragraph 1.1; XV (Fallimento: struttura ed effetti) limited to paragraphs 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; XVI (Il procedimento fallimentare. Il fallimento delle società) limited to the whole paragraph 4.

2. Gaetano Presti e Matteo Rescigno, Corso di diritto commerciale, Volume II, Società, Zanichelli Editore, latest edition: All “Lezioni” included in the textbook except for Lezione XXXIII (Le società con azioni quotate in mercati regolamentati); paragraphs from 3.1 to 3.7 of Lezione XXXIV; Sections 1 (trasformazione), 2 (fusione), 3 (scissione), 7 (fusione transfrontaliera) of Lezione XXXVI. 

3. The students are recommended to read the above-mentioned textbooks together with an updated edition of the Italian civil code and the main laws and regulations dealt with in the course in order to facilitate the understanding of the subject.

Assessment methods

Written examination.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Pomelli