LAW49215: International Financial Law

• None

• None

• None

• To introduce students to the structure and functioning of the global financial system and its regulatory problems.
• To provide a good knowledge of the architecture and governance of global finance, including international organisations, transnational regulatory networks, and industry bodies.
• To introduce students to the business of cross-border banking and finance.
• To provide a good understanding of the private law of international finance.
• To provide a good understanding of sovereign debt financing.
• To encourage an awareness of the social and economic contexts and the systemic goals that influence the regulation of global finance.

• The regulation and liberalisation of capital movements (IMF and EU) and the rise of global finance.
• Supranational Regulatory Networks (Basel Committee, FSB, IOSCO) and regulatory cooperation.
• Cross-border banking (supervision and resolution).
• Global securities law (Mutual Recognition regimes, MoUs on securities listing, Passporting, US law).
• Sovereign Debt and the International Monetary Fund.
• Capital and currency controls (private law aspects).
• Private law aspects of international financial transactions.
• Sanctions.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Students will gain an understanding of the global financial system and its architecture
• Students will gain an understanding of the principles of financial law as applicable to international financial transactions.
• Students will gain a good knowledge of the secondary literature on international financial law and policy.
• Students will gain knowledge of the key legal, regulatory, and supervisory issues relating to the working of cross-border banks, international issuers, and sovereign and private borrowers

Subject-specific Skills:

• Students will be able to identify the legal issues relevant to specific problems relating to cross-border finance.
• Students will be able to articulate and apply the core principles of financial law and regulation to real financial scenarios.
• Students will be able to engage in informed debate on the evolution of the law in the field of global finance.
• Students should be able to identify the main legal and institutional features of the law governing major banking and capital markets and to explain the differences between them.
• Students should be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of selected topics of particular relevance to international financial lawyers.

Key Skills:

• Demonstrate developed research and writing skills, including working independently and taking responsibility for their own learning.
• Develop expertise in conducting research into regulatory materials from a variety of national and comparative sources.
• Describe accurately and comprehensibly the arguments and analysis of other commentators.
• Show the skill of formulating complex policy arguments.

• The teaching will be based on seminars supported by substantial but targeted reading assignments before each seminar to provide a deeper understanding of the issues. The readings are selected from established doctrinal sources and cutting-edge scholarship in the area.
• The assessment supports the aims of the teaching methods. The summative essay will assess the ability of the students to analyze the subject material, conduct research, and present a structured and articulate argument on the subject.

The formative will entail the analysis of a legal, regulatory, or policy issue on a topic covered by the syllabus. The analysis will be 1000 words in length.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.