Course Schedule

Discover how to price transactions between subsidiaries of multinational corporations buying and selling goods, services, intellectual property and other assets in light of tax obligations and other considerations.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. This class will meet once a week for two and a half hours (there will be no class on 3 weeks of the semester). Enrollment has been limited to a maximum of 12 students. There are no course prerequisites.

In the global economy of the 21st century, arbitration is the dispute resolution procedure of choice for many international business transactions. This course teaches the principles of effective client representation in international arbitration. The course will employ a real world dispute in which the students will become counsel from initial consultation with the client to litigating the case. The semester will focus on developing the practical skills needed to represent your client in an international arbitration. The practical exercises–including writing a claimant’s and respondent’s brief, and presentations of oral arguments will all be centered around the same hypothetical, but quite detailed and real, international contractual dispute. Grading will be based on class participation, writing assignments and presentations of oral arguments. There is no mid-term or final exam. The final 6 weeks of classes will be participating in a mock arbitration. 

This survey course is designed to provide you with a broad overview of the skills and understanding you will need to advise clients on business transactions involving more than one country.  There are no prerequisites: no prior knowledge of business or international law is required.

The course will examine different ways in which a business can structure its international business transactions (e.g. entering direct import/export agreements; appointing foreign agents or distributors; transferring technology to foreign licensees; and establishing or acquiring foreign direct investments), along with the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

We will analyze the unique contractual and regulatory issues presented by each type of transaction, focusing on relevant provisions of US law; multilateral treaties such as the World Trade Agreements (WTO) Agreements and the Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG); and regional agreements such as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly known as NAFTA).

Along the way, we will explore current policy debates on topics such as US-China trade relations; and the economic, social and security implications of the current legal framework for international trade and investment.  

International business transactions (IBTs) have become increasingly important in today's global economy, raising a host of complex legal and policy issues: What law(s) should govern international business contracts? Should the US impose tariffs on imports from China? Should it continue to participate in international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), and trade agreements such as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)? What effects, if any, are likely to ensue as a result of the United Kingdom’s decision to “exit” the European Union (EU)?

This survey course is designed to provide you with a broad overview of the skills and understanding you will need to advise clients on these issues and more. We will focus on three primary types of IBTs:

• international trade transactions (import-export agreements)
• international technology transfer agreements (intellectual property license agreements); and
• foreign direct investment (establishment or acquisition of a foreign business operation).

There are no prerequisites.

At the end of the semester you should be able to understand the following concepts and apply them to specific fact situations:

• the main types of IBTS and their basic characteristics;
• sources of IBT law (e.g. domestic law; foreign law; customary international law; treaties such as the WTO, USMCA, CISG and the New York Arbitration Convention);
• regulatory issues raised by IBTs (e.g. customs law; trade remedies; export controls; foreign investment restrictions; corporate social responsibility rules)
• contractual issues raised by IBTs (e.g. choice of law; dispute settlement; payment & transportation)

International business transactions (IBTs) have become increasingly important in today's global economy, raising a host of complex legal and policy issues: What law(s) should govern international business contracts? Should the US impose tariffs on imports from China? Should it continue to participate in international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), and trade agreements such as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)? What effects, if any, are likely to ensue as a result of the United Kingdom’s decision to “exit” the European Union (EU)?

This course is designed to provide you with a broad overview of the skills and understanding you will need to advise clients on these issues and more. We will focus on three primary types of IBTs:

• international trade transactions (import-export agreements)
• international technology transfer agreements (intellectual property license agreements); and
• foreign direct investment (establishment or acquisition of a foreign business operation).

There are no prerequisites.

At the end of the semester you should be able to understand the following concepts and apply them to specific fact situations:

• the main types of IBTS and their basic characteristics;
• sources of IBT law (e.g. domestic law; foreign law; customary international law; treaties such as the WTO, USMCA, CISG and the New York Arbitration Convention);
• regulatory issues raised by IBTs (e.g. customs law; trade remedies; export controls; foreign investment restrictions; corporate social responsibility rules)
• contractual issues raised by IBTs (e.g. choice of law; dispute settlement; payment & transportation)

International arbitration specialist practitioners, experienced in international disputes worldwide, provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations. Those include forum selection, analysis of various nations' arbitration laws, planning and drafting, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcing arbitration awards. International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes, so a lawyer who intends to practice across borders should know this area of practice. International arbitration is one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those individuals (arbitrators) enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury, and render globally portable awards that national courts review (for the most part) deferentially. Understanding that delegation, which can differ from country to country, allows students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, but a substantial portion of the final grade depends on class participation.

International arbitration specialist practitioners, experienced in international disputes worldwide, provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations. Those include forum selection, analysis of various nations' arbitration laws, planning and drafting, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcing arbitration awards. International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes, so a lawyer who intends to practice across borders should know this area of practice. International arbitration is one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those individuals (arbitrators) enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury, and render globally portable awards that national courts review (for the most part) deferentially. Understanding that delegation, which can differ from country to country, allows students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, but a substantial portion of the final grade depends on class participation.

International arbitration specialist practitioners, experienced in international disputes worldwide, provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations. Those include forum selection, analysis of various nations' arbitration laws, planning and drafting, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcing arbitration awards. 

International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes, so a lawyer who intends to practice across borders should know this area of practice. International arbitration is one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those individuals (arbitrators) enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury, and render globally portable awards that national courts review (for the most part) deferentially. Understanding that delegation, which can differ from country to country, allows students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, but a substantial portion of the final grade depends on class participation.

International arbitration specialist practioners, experienced in international disputes worldwide, provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations. Those include forum selection, analysis of various nations' arbitration laws, planning and drafting, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcing arbitration awards. 

International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes, so a lawyer who intends to practice across borders should know this area of practice. International arbitration is one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those individuals (arbitrators) enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury, and render globally portable awards that national courts reivew (for the most part) deferentially. Understanding that delegation, which can differ from country to country, allows students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, but a substantial portion of the final grade depends on class participation.

International arbitration specialist practioners, experienced in international disputes worldwide, provide students with legal knowledge and practical skills to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations. Those include forum selection, analysis of various nations' arbitration laws, planning and drafting, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcing arbitration awards. 

International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes, so a lawyer who intends to practice across borders should know this area of practice. International arbitration is one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those individuals (arbitrators) enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury, and render globally portable awards that national courts reivew (for the most part) deferentially. Understanding that delegation, which can differ from country to country, allows students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, but a substantial portion of the final grade depends on class participation.

International arbitration specialists experienced in international disputes worldwide provide students with the legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to navigate all aspects of international commercial arbitrations, including forum selection, analysis of arbitration laws and provisions, arbitrator selection and challenges, enforcement of arbitration awards, and more.

International commercial transactions almost invariably require international arbitration of disputes; so the transnational lawyer should know this area of practice.International arbitration represents one area where states have delegated a judicial function to private individuals. Those arbitrators enjoy wide discretion, act as judge and jury and render globally portable awards that suffer minimal state oversight. Understanding the terms of that delegation, which differ from country to country, will allow students to appreciate what can, and should, be left to private ordering of disputes. The course will address the major topics in international arbitration: its contractual nature; the “who (court or arbitrator) decides” question; choice of law; arbitrator selection; the role of international treaties; and review and enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards. Student performance is evaluated on a final exam, with a substantial portion of the grade dependent on class participation.

The course will examine the development and current state of International Criminal Law. Among other topics, it will explore the history of international criminal justice from the aftermath of World War II to the recent establishment of the International Criminal Court, the “core crimes” of international criminal law, theories of criminal liability, and available defenses. It will also investigate a number of other topical issues in international criminal law, including the crime of international terrorism, U.S. policy towards the International Criminal Court, and dilemmas of transitional justice.

The course will examine the development and current state of International Criminal Law. Among other topics, it will explore the history of international criminal justice from the aftermath of World War II to the recent establishment of the International Criminal Court, the “core crimes” of international criminal law, theories of criminal liability, and available defenses. It will also investigate a number of other topical issues in international criminal law, including the crime of international terrorism, U.S. policy towards the International Criminal Court, and dilemmas of transitional justice.

The course will examine the development and current state of International Criminal Law. Among other topics, it will explore the history of international criminal justice from the aftermath of World War II to the recent establishment of the International Criminal Court, the “core crimes” of international criminal law, theories of criminal liability, and available defenses. It will also investigate a number of other topical issues in international criminal law, including the crime of international terrorism, U.S. policy towards the International Criminal Court, and dilemmas of transitional justice.

The course will examine the development and current state of International Criminal Law. Among other topics, it will explore the history of international criminal justice from the aftermath of World War II to the recent establishment of the International Criminal Court, the “core crimes” of international criminal law, theories of criminal liability, and available defenses. It will also investigate a number of other topical issues in international criminal law, including the crime of international terrorism, U.S. policy towards the International Criminal Court, and dilemmas of transitional justice.

The course considers some of the most pressing global issues of our time through an overview of the history, theory, and practice of international human rights law, as well as the related fields of international humanitarian and criminal law. It identifies decades-long tensions about the legitimacy and meaning of human rights, with a focus on how those tensions are manifested in the national, regional (Latin American, European, and African), and international case law. Much of the course is organized around in-depth and comparative study of the adjudication of human rights claims about matters including racial, gender, and sexual equality; rights to property, housing, and health; rights of indigenous peoples; religion and culture; and humanitarian law. Students will be exposed to a broad spectrum of approaches to human rights—from conservative, libertarian, and liberal to critical, feminist, Third World, and abolitionist. As a part of the course, students will work in teams to select, edit, analyze, and present a legal case on human rights to the rest of the class. This course is also open to non-law graduate and professional students with relevant background. The course contains the requisite coverage of Latin American materials for students pursuing MAs in Latin American Studies.

The course considers some of the most pressing global issues of our time through an overview of the history, theory, and practice of international human rights law, as well as the related fields of international humanitarian and criminal law. It identifies decades-long tensions about the legitimacy and meaning of human rights, with a focus on how those tensions are manifested in the national, regional (Latin American, European, and African), and international case law. Much of the course is organized around in-depth and comparative study of the adjudication of human rights claims about matters including racial, gender, and sexual equality; rights to property, housing, and health; rights of indigenous peoples; religion and culture; and humanitarian law. Students will be exposed to a broad spectrum of approaches to human rights—from conservative, libertarian, and liberal to critical race, feminist, Third World, and abolitionist. As a part of the course, students will work in teams to select, edit, analyze, and present a legal case on human rights to the rest of the class.

The early exam will be in the floating format with dates to be determined (it will start on/after November 15 and end before December 10).

This course is also open to non-law graduate and professional students with relevant background. The course contains the requisite coverage of Latin American materials for students pursuing MAs in Latin American Studies. 

The course considers some of the most pressing global issues of our time through an overview of the history, theory, and practice of international human rights law, as well as the related fields of international humanitarian and criminal law. It identifies decades-long tensions about the legitimacy and meaning of human rights, with a focus on how those tensions are manifested in the case law of adjudicatory and quasi-adjudicatory legal institutions created by international and regional treaties, as well as by domestic courts. Much of the course is organized around in-depth and comparative study of the adjudication of human rights claims about matters including racial, gender, and sexual equality; rights to property, housing, and health; rights of indigenous peoples; religion and culture; and humanitarian law. As a part of the course, students will work in teams to select, edit, analyze, and present a legal opinion on human rights to the rest of the class.

Non-law graduate students who are planning to graduate in May will not be able to get a final grade submitted in time for graduation. Thus, enrollment in this course would require a delay of graduation to August or December. Alternatively, students in the LBJ School of Public Affairs may take this course on a pass/fail basis if they still wish to graduate in May.

The early exam will be in the floating format between April 19 - April 22.

The course considers some of the most pressing global issues of our time through an overview of the history, theory, and practice of international human rights law, as well as the related fields of international humanitarian and criminal law. It identifies decades-long tensions about the legitimacy and meaning of human rights, with a focus on how those tensions are manifested in the case law of adjudicatory and quasi-adjudicatory legal institutions created by international and regional treaties, as well as by domestic courts. Much of the course is organized around in-depth and comparative study of the adjudication of human rights claims about matters including racial, gender, and sexual equality; rights to property, housing, and health; rights of indigenous peoples; religion and culture; and humanitarian law. As a part of the course, students will work in teams to select, edit, analyze, and present a legal opinion on human rights to the rest of the class.

Non-law graduate students who are planning to graduate in May will not be able to get a final grade submitted in time for graduation. Thus, enrollment in this course would require a delay of graduation to August or December. Alternatively, students in the LBJ School of Public Affairs may take this course on a pass/fail basis if they still wish to graduate in May.

The course considers some of the most pressing global issues of our time through an overview of the history, theory, and practice of international human rights law, as well as the related fields of international humanitarian and criminal law. It identifies decades-long tensions about the legitimacy and meaning of human rights, with a focus on how those tensions are manifested in the case law of adjudicatory and quasi-adjudicatory legal institutions created by international and regional treaties, as well as by domestic courts. Much of the course is organized around in-depth and comparative study of the adjudication of human rights claims about matters including racial, gender, and sexual equality; rights to property, housing, and health; rights of indigenous peoples; religion and culture; and humanitarian law. As a part of the course, students will work in teams to select, edit, analyze, and present a legal opinion on human rights to the rest of the class.