This course seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the legal and financial aspects of corporate transactions, with a particular focus on Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), mergers and acquisitions, going private transactions, private equity, venture capital, project finance, and corporate restructuring. It will also analyse the role of transactional lawyers when advising private companies and different actors in capital markets, including listed companies, hedge funds, institutional investors and boards of directors.
The course starts by providing a background on the role and function of transactional lawyers, as well as the intuition and skillset that transactional lawyers need to possess to effectively advise clients in an increasingly complex, changing and global world. It will then analyse, from an interdisciplinary perspective, a variety of corporate transactions, including some major deals and corporate disputes that have taken place in the past decade.
The course will conclude by examining how technologies are reshaping corporate transactions, with particular emphasis on the use of AI and data analytics tools by law firms as well as the rise of technology-based fundraising methods such as Initial Coin Offerings.
- Being able to understand the role and function of transactional lawyers
- Acquiring the intuition, background and skillset that lawyers need to possess to effectively navigate corporate transactions in a complex, changing and global world
- Getting to know the economic and financial aspects of corporate transactions
- Being able to connect different disciplines and areas of practice involved in corporate transactions
- Being able to advise companies and investors in a variety of corporate transactions and in different market and institutional environments
Arbitral institutions are important stakeholders in the field of international arbitration, but the nature and importance of their role have often been overlooked. The course seeks to introduce participants to the role and function of arbitral institutions in guiding and shaping the practice and development of international arbitration, and to the complex issues that arbitral institutions face in the administration of arbitrations, including, among others, the appointment of arbitrators and the issuance of arbitral rules and practice notes. In this connection, SIAC has grown to be one of the most popular arbitral institutions not just in Asia, but the world.
The course involves a study of SIAC processes as well as related case law emanating therefrom. Participants will learn not just what the relevant rules, procedures and processes are, but more importantly, participants will gain insight into why those rules exist, and how those rules are implemented in practice. Participants will be taught by experienced guest instructors from the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and by other leading arbitration practitioners, who will share their unique, practical perspectives on administering or advancing a particular case. After each session involving SIAC instructors, participants will solidify their understanding through a review of case law and class presentations. Participants keen on developing a practice in international dispute resolution will find this course of direct relevance.
- Mastering the legal framework regulating institutional arbitration, including international treaties and instruments such as the New York Convention.
- Understanding the structure, role and function of arbitral institutions, and similarities and differences between arbitral institutions.
- Understanding how arbitral institutions guide and shape the practice and development of international dispute settlement, such as climate change and technology innovation.
- Understanding the complexity that arbitral institutions consider in the administration of arbitrations, including the appointment of arbitrators, the issuance of arbitral rules and practice notes.
With its rising economic clout, Asia has become a magnet for firms from around the world. While the ever-expanding Asian market provides endless opportunities, many businesses find that the Asian legal systems present a big challenge to their investment in or trade with Asian countries. Deeply influenced by diverse legal traditions, Asian legal systems that exist today also bears heavy marks left by the Civil Law system, the Socialist ideology, as well as the Common Law system in its commercial law. Thus, the Asian legal systems appear unique and complicated.
This course aims to help the students to gain an insider’s perspective of one of the most important nations in the world today, with a special emphasis on its legal systems. In addition to the doctrinal studies on key areas in the Asian legal systems, the course, under the Overseas Project Experience (Law in Asia) model, will also expose the students to its practical operations through project-based consultancy with our Asian partners and a week-long field trip in a particular Asian jurisdiction. Through this course, the students will not only grasp the basic contours of the Asian legal systems, but also gain hands-on experience by working with Asian legal practitioners to solve real-world legal issues.
The overseas trip is expected to take place between Week 17 - 20 (depending on overseas partners), during which students are expected to finalize their final project.Note for graduating students: If you are taking this course in Term 1, you will graduate in Term 2 instead of Term 1 (This will not affect your commencement ceremony). If you are taking this course in Term 2, you will graduate in Term 3A instead of Term 2 (This will not affect your commencement ceremony).
In this course, students will be introduced to topics on “equal access to justice” and how digital technology can assist to bridge the gap for those who lack access to the resources that could help meet their legal needs. Students will work in groups for one or more legal aid organisations or public agencies in Singapore to design and develop a solution that will improve access to justice or the effectiveness of legal representation. Depending on the type of application chosen for the project work, students will learn one or more of the following areas:
(a) document assembly and expert systems;
(b) chatbots;
(c) machine learning and natural language processing;
(d) data analysis and visualisation;
(e) cloud computing services;
(f) search and information retrieval search and information retrieval.
At the end of the term, the groups will showcase their solutions and compete for the opportunity to represent SMU at the Iron Tech Lawyer Invitational international competition (https://www.georgetowntech.org/irontechlawyer).
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Understand the importance of equal access to justice and some of the common issues faced by both individuals with legal or justiciable problems and the organisations that assist them.
- Evaluate and compare practices and solutions from other jurisdictions or service industries to generate new ideas for improving access to legal services or justice in Singapore.
- Solve specific real-world access to justice problems through iterative design, prototyping and testing of digital applications in a collaborative team setting.
This course will explore the legal system of Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), as well as its external relations with key trading partners such as ASEAN countries. Taiwan was ceded to Japan by the Qing Dynasty under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. The ROC was established in 1912 following the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. According to the Cairo Declaration, the ROC resumed control of Taiwan after the Second World War. In 1949, following its defeat in the civil war by the Chinese Communist Party, which established the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the ROC government relocated to Taipei. In 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 transferred China’s seat from the ROC to the PRC, contributing to Taiwan’s unique status under international law.
Taiwan’s legal system is based on the ROC Constitution promulgated in 1947. The ROC implemented the Chinese legal system in Taiwan, which had been influenced by Japan during its administration. Germany and the United States have also significantly influenced Taiwan’s legal development, particularly in constitutional, civil and commercial law. The Legislative Yuan (Parliament) is Taiwan’s unicameral legislature. The Constitutional Court of the Judicial Yuan holds the power to interpret the Constitution. The Executive Yuan serves as the executive branch, with the Premier appointed by the President, who is elected every four years by universal suffrage.
Today, Taiwan ranks among the largest Asian economies and operates as a vibrant democracy under a two-party system.In this SMU-X course, students will examine various aspects of Taiwanese law and explore Taiwan’s legal relationships with China, the EU, Singapore and the United States. They will gain practical experience by working with lawyers and legal counsel to address real-world legal challenges.
Please note: Supported by the Taiwan Studies Project Grant from the ROC Ministry of Education, this course does not include an overseas trip and does not fulfil SMU’s global exposure requirement. However, students will interact and engage in projects with legal and policy experts specialising in EU–ASEAN law and relations. The course will also incorporate SMU’s blended learning approach, which may include some online sessions.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand Taiwan and civil law jurisdictions
- Solve real-world legal issues through a student consultancy project
- Incorporate active mentoring by faculty and project sponsors
This course will explore interdisciplinary issues in EU-ASEAN law and relations. The EU and ASEAN are among the world’s most advanced regional structures, representing distinct models of integration. Since the 1980s, the evolution of EU-ASEAN relations has offered valuable insights into the multifaceted concept of interregionalism in international law and relations. ASEAN became a priority in the EU’s Asia policy agenda following the Treaty of Lisbon, and the European Commission’s 2015 “Trade for All” strategy articulated an ASEAN approach based on individual agreements, culminating in a region-to-region framework. The recent conclusion of the EU’s trade and investment agreements with Singapore and Vietnam reinforces this incremental approach towards realising the EU-ASEAN free trade agreement.
Amidst China’s changing status, the impasse in WTO negotiations, and the COVID-19 pandemic, EU-ASEAN legal frameworks and relations have gained prominence on the global stage. In 2020, the two blocs upgraded their “Dialogue Partnership” to a “Strategic Partnership,” which aimed at enhancing economic and security cooperation, sustainable connectivity, and development. In 2021, the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy underscored its engagement with the ASEAN-led regional architecture, particularly in light of the economic and political impact of the CPTPP and RCEP.In this SMU-X course, students will explore EU and ASEAN institutions and examine the EU’s new Indo-Pacific strategy from legal and political perspectives.
The course will specifically evaluate EU-ASEAN economic agreements and focus on cutting-edge areas such as trade and investment liberalisation, AI and digital trade, and sustainable development. Students will gain practical experience by collaborating with legal and policy experts to tackle real-world challenges.Please note: This course does not include an overseas trip and does not meet SMU’s global exposure requirement. However, students will visit EU and/or ASEAN institutions in Singapore and engage in projects with legal and policy experts specialising in EU-ASEAN law and relations. The course will also incorporate SMU’s blended learning approach, which may include some online sessions. The grade will be on a pass/fail basis.
This course aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Understand EU-ASEAN law and relations
- Solve real-world legal issues through a student consultancy project
- Incorporate active mentoring by faculty and project sponsors
Thailand and Singapore share many economic and cultural cross-border interactions with strong people to people ties. Business between the two countries has played an integral role contributing to the two countries’ bilateral economic growth and cooperation as ASEAN members. In any interaction (social or business), language is an important and effective tool to break the ice and build better relationships between individuals and organizations. The focus of the course is to strengthen the student’s knowledge of basic Thai in the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing with an emphasis on applying these skills in a business setting. The course will provide students opportunities to learn, practice and sharpen their skills of oral presentation in both informal settings, such as social interactions (e.g., engaging in small talk) and also formal settings, such as giving a business presentation or participating in an interview. Students are expected to have basic knowledge of Thai language.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Intellectual and creative skills: Able to use language skills — to communicate in Thai with an emphasis on business scenarios and settings.
- Interpersonal skills: Able to express themselves to be understood by local Thai who may only possess basic level of proficiency in English (or Chinese) language; and gain cultural insights through Thai language interaction. Moreover, student will practice the use of persuasive language to propose ideas, and able to use language tactfully to counter propose.
- Global citizenship: Understand and gain some knowledge and appreciation of Thai culture and customs which related to other Indochinese countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar which are closely interlinked with Thailand economically, historically and socially.
- Personal Mastery: Able to communicate effectively in Thai in different settings (formal and informal) by having good foundation in Thai pronunciation as well as knowledge of variety of structures and vocabulary.
The course content is jointly developed by professors from the six local universities and will be delivered using a blended learning approach. Singapore is both a city and a country contained in a small geographical space located in Southeast Asia. It houses a diverse population in terms of race, language, religion, class and nationality. It possesses no natural resources, but has a highly educated labour force. Its economy has experienced significant growth rates, particularly in the late 70s and early 80s, coupled with low unemployment.
Like most other more developed economies, it now confronts a range of socioeconomic issues (rapidly ageing population, declining fertility rates, widening income inequality, rising costs of living) amidst increasing global competition, technological advancements, and security threats. At the same time, Singaporeans have become more of a people with a stronger national identity, a greater propensity to participate in the decisions that affect the destiny of the country, and a wider range of views and voices on the future direction of Singapore, the challenges it confronts, and the strategies and means by which to achieve their preferred goal(s) for themselves, their children, and the country.
This course provides students with Business Korean speaking, listening, reading and writing skills necessary to communicate in a business environment, such as during job interviews, interacting with colleagues, and making simple business calls. The students will learn the business knowledge required for the different business situations, and improve their job skills based on the basic Korean Communication skills. Students are expected to have basic knowledge of Korean language.
- Disciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge: Students will become familiar with the culture and language of Korean, business etiquette and behavioural norms in Korea, to ensure greater adaptability to doing business in Korean and more generally, in a fast moving, globalised world.
- Intellectual and creative skills: Students will be able to express themselves in business Korean using formal forms and honorific forms, write their resume and cover letter, and interact with native speakers during interviews, telephone conversations and via emails. This will help equip them with the foundation to learn and master the language at higher levels later on.
- Interpersonal skills: Students will be able to communicate with Korean speaking people, as well as understand the nuances in verbal and non-verbal interactions in this unique culture. This helps to enhance their ability to engage and connect with people from Korea, as well as other North Asian cultures, in the business context and otherwise.
- Global citizenship: Students will be able to understand and appreciate the culture of Korea, and the history, geo-political, business etiquette and economic background that has contributed to the current spread of the Korean cultural phenomenon. This allows them to appreciate the differences and similarities of cultures, but also the interconnectedness of global cultures and economies and how language and culture can be powerful connectors.
This course introduces statistical concepts and basic tools involved in modelling and analyzing spatial data: Data that are correlated in ‘space’, arising in regional and urban economics, epidemiology and public health, environmental science, ecology, biology, geology and other disciplines. An outline is given to the three types of spatial data: geostatistical data, lattice data and point patterns. Emphasis is on the analysis of lattice data due to its close ties with regional science and economics. Exploratory spatial data analysis methods, including various plots and tests for spatial autocorrelation, are introduced. Some standard spatial linear regression models and spatial panel data models are also discussed. Quasi-maximum likelihood and GMM methods are used for model estimation and inferences. Real data analyses using R are presented throughout the course.
We will cover the following topics:
- Spatial Data in R: Vector and Raster
- Handling geometry operations and coordinate reference systems
- Making maps, a.k.a. the ancient art of cartography
- Spatial descriptive measures and point pattern analysis
- Areal data analysis and spatial models
- Engaging in geostatistical analysis