37296 - Commercial law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Teaching Activities related to the course Commercial Law, students will count with a comprehensive understanding of the main institutions accountable for the corporations and the firms, focusing on their basic characteristics and tasks, from the moment certain commercial regulations are conceived until these same regulations and norms expire. Furthermore, students will be able to acquire and grasp the basic notions about all the different types of firms, consortiums and lobbies, in order to assess and verify how these organizations, which are widespread in the Italian Economic scenario, could be profitably used for the practice of the economic activity (principles, structures and organizations). The International approach to the course Commercial Law sets the platform for a continuous comparative evaluation between Italian commercial law and Italian Industrial legislation versus the international directives on this very field (with a special focus on EU regulation on the subject), also considering international agreements, basic concepts of commercial law and industrial law, taking into careful consideration the antitrust legislation, unfair competition and unfair practices like dumping, misleading communication, the regulation of particularities and all creative activities, regulation of know-how and of technologies as well.

Course contents

1. Introduction to Commercial Law
2. History of Corporate Law
3. Separate Legal Personality
4. Limited Liability
5. Shares and Shareholder Rights
6. The General Meeting
7. The Board of Directors
8. Directors' Duties
9. Legal Capital
10. EU competition law policy and economics
11. Article 101(1)
12. Article 101(3)
13. Article 102
14. Mergers
15. Introduction to intellectual property law
16. Patent law
17. Copyright law
18. Trademark law

Readings/Bibliography

Exam materials will be provided on virtuale.

Teaching methods

Each lecture will focus on a specific topic. Active student participation is encouraged.

Traditional seminar-style lecture will be held throughout the course, covering the basics of each topic.

A number of experimental lectures is added to the 2023-2024 iteration of the Commercial Law course. During those lectures, many of which will take place on the MS Teams platforms, students will interact with qualified outside experts in the practice of Business Law, discussing topics related to the course and analysing documents related to the practice of the law. This unique opportunity will help students to come to grips with the day-to-day running of a business.

Assessment methods

Multiple choice midterm and full exams will take place in person. For further details please see the course eol webpage.

Teaching tools

Reading materials will be available for download on virtuale.

Exams will be administered through eol, to which students need to subscribe at the beginning of the academic year.

MS Teams will be used during most of the experimental lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Ghetti

See the website of Carlo Meo