37296 - Commercial law

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students are able to: - recognize the notion of the corporation and its structure; - identify and describe key issues in corporate governance and finance; - compare different the corporate laws of different jurisdictions; - analyze competition law in the European context and understand its application to practice; - analyze IP law in the European context and understand its application to practice.

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 will be encouraged.
Traditional seminar-style lectures will be given throughout the course, covering the basics of each topic.
A series of experimental lectures will be added to the 2025-2026iteration of the Commercial Law course. During these lectures students will interact with qualified experts in the practice of commercial law, discussing topics related to the course and analysing documents related to the practice of law. This unique opportunity will help students to understand the day-to-day running of a business.

Further Business Law Courses at the Faculty of Law.

Students interested in furthering their studies in Italian Business Law may wish to attend one or more of the following optional courses held at the Faculty of Law:

• Banking Law;
• Behavioural Law and Economics;
• Cooperation Law and Economics;
• Copyright Law;
• Digital Technology Law;
• Financial Market Law;
• Industrial Law;
• Insolvency Law.

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 Michele Corgatelli