The need for corporate law and good governance has become increasingly apparent as large corporate scandals illustrate how some executives have maximised their interests at the expense of the company.

This course provides students with an introduction to corporate law and the legal and non-legal governance mechanisms which encourage directors to act in their company's best interest. Beginning with an introduction to company law, the course then considers the regulation and governance of companies.

Designed to situate corporate law and governance mechanisms in the economic and business context in which they operate, this course will engage you with important questions such as how do corporate law and governance mechanisms facilitate economic activity? As well as how do they respond to the problems generated by the organisational form of the company?

Using an explicitly comparative approach drawing on UK and US corporate law, as well as examples from continental European companies, you will understand the alternative ways corporate law can respond to different economic demands and problems.