00221 - Business Law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the law governing economic activities and business organizations. Students will know the legal framework in which entrepreneurial activity takes place and the different types of business organizations that may be used to organize, conduct and finance economic activities. Students will also understand the main governance challenges posed by these organizations and how the law addresses them.

Course contents

The regulation of entrepreneurial activities, with specific focus on the following topics:

• The legal notion of "enterprise" and the different types of enterprise
• The special regime governing commercial enterprises
• The transfer and legal regime of the business
  
• Joint ventures, firm associations and networks
• Competition law

The law of business organizations, with specific focus on the following topics:

• The business organization in general
• Partnerships
• The joint stock company
• The limited liability company
• Cooperatives
• Conversions, mergers, spin-offs
  

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The following topics are not covered by the course:

• Trade names, trademarks and other distinctive signs, intellectual works and industrial inventions
• European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIGs)
• Commercial contracts
• Negotiable instruments (bills of exchange, promissory notes and cheques)
• Business insolvency and restructuring law
• Societas Europaea

Readings/Bibliography

The suggested textbook is the following:

G.F. Campobasso, Manuale di diritto commerciale (M. Campobasso ed), Torino, Utet, latest available Edition

Students may use different textbooks, provided that they are updated. Possible alternative textbooks are the following:

1) F. Vella e G. Bosi, Diritto dell'impresa e dell'economia, Bologna, Il Mulino; F. Vella e G. Bosi, Diritto ed economia delle società, Bologna, Il Mulino

2) G. Presti e M. Rescigno, Corso di diritto commerciale, volumes I e II, Bologna, Zanichelli

3) M. Cian, Manuale di diritto commerciale, Torino, Giappichelli

Teaching methods

Classes are held by the course teacher.

Throughout the course, the instructor will encourage discussion and active student participation by posing questions and inviting students to express their views on the topics and issues addressed.

Practical cases will be analysed and discussed in class.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate actively in class discussions.

Assessment methods

The final examination will consist of an oral exam.

The examination will cover the topics listed in the "Course contents"section.

Students will be assessed on the basis of:

• their knowledge of the fundamental principles and core concepts of the subject;
• their ability to analyze case law and academic commentary;
• their ability to identify and explain connections between different parts of the syllabus;
• their ability to develop well-reasoned and critical arguments;
• the clarity and organization of their presentation; and
• the precision and accuracy of their answers.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Each lecture will be accompanied by presentation slides, which will normally be made available to students via the "Virtuale" platform on the day preceding the relevant class.

The same platform will also be used to upload any additional teaching materials (including judicial decisions and academic literature) intended to facilitate the further study of specific topics.

Office hours

See the website of Sergio Gilotta