Modules for course M1AL | LLM/LB
LLM Law and Banking

Compulsory Modules

Semester 2

• SXL-4300: Dissertation (60)
  This module consists of researching and writing a Dissertation project in the field of Law, and in particular either Commercial law or the Law of Post-Devolution Wales. The Dissertation will be 15,000 words in length. The subject of the Dissertation will be confirmed in consultation with the supervising tutor and the Director of Postgraduate Studies. The student will be expected to show a clear understanding of the literature in their chosen field of study (primary and secondary sources), and, if the project involves empirical research, a familiarity with techniques of data collection and analysis.
• SXL-4405: International Banking Law (15)
  This module will examine the practical and theoretical issues in International Banking focusing on aspects of UK Banking Law and International Banking Practices recommended by the Basel Committee under BIS. The module will provide students with comprehensive knowledge of Basel Development and its supervisory role on banking. The law on the capital market looks to the practical aspect of securities regulations under English law but within a comparative international context , - US/ European.

15 credits from:

• SXL-4119: Legal Research Methods (15) (Semester 2)
• SXL-4409: Legal Research Methods (15) (Semester 1 + 2)
  The module will cover the following topics: using a Law Library, essay writing for Masters students, legal writing, identification and evaluation of sources, avoiding plagiarism, referencing correctly, compiling a bibliography, planning a dissertation project, writing a research proposal, identifying a dissertation research question, research methodologies, and doing a literature review
• Students starting this course in January must take SXL-4119. Students starting this course in September must take SXL-4409.

Optional Modules

15 to 30 credits from:

• ASB-4125: Invstmt Strat & Portfolio Mgmt (15) (Semester 1)
• ASB-4402: Bank Financial Management (15) (Semester 2)
  External and internal drivers that shape bank financial management; Financial and performance analysis; Asset and liability management; Lending and securitisation; Risk and capital adequacy; Capital allocation and VAR (Value-At-Risk) modelling; Current issues in bank financial management.
• ASB-4411: International Banking (15) (Semester 1)
  • Overview of financial management at modern banks; • Current trends and impacts of foreign banks • Origins and evolution of international banks and markets • Evaluating country risks; • The location decision; • Diversification, risk and value • Syndicated lending; • Financial crises; • Issues in international bank regulation; • Issues in executive compensation
• ASB-4414: Corporate Risk Management (15) (Semester 1)
  The nature of risk management; Risk identification; Business loss exposures; Risk measurement; Probability distributions (uses and limitations); Risk control tools; Risk financing tools; Influence of the market on risk management decisions; The interdependence of insurance and loss prevention decision; Insurance versus alternatives.
• ASB-4423: Islamic Finance (15) (Semester 1)
  The induction of Riba, Gharar and Maysir; Traditional Islamic financial instruments; The role of the capital market; Risk management and Structured Islamic financial products.
• ASB-4424: Islamic Banking (15) (Semester 2)
  Theoretical foundations of Islamic Banking; Development of the Islamic banking model; Islamic banking products and services; Islamic insurance (Takaful); Challenges facing the Islamic financial development.
• Choose 15-30 credits from Business modules.

60 to 75 credits from:

• SXL-4401: Competition Law (15) (Semester 2)
  This module will explain and illustrate the importance of competition (or, anti-trust) rules for 21st century economies. . It will highlight the importance of companies/firms complying with the Competition Law rules and adhering to pro-competitive business practices. Focus will be placed on the anti-competitive nature of the following practices: cartel activity, concerted practices, illegal price-fixing agreements, market sharing, production restraints, predatory pricing, the abuse of a dominant position and illegal arrangements in relation to the licensing of intellectual property rights. It will also examine the civil and criminal liability of firms, directors and managers who do breach the Competition Law rules. The module will consist of seminars relating to the theory of competition, comparative competition law regimes, UK Competition Law, EU Competition Law (particularly Articles 101 and 102, TFEU) and U.S. Antitrust Law (Rule of Reason). The seminars will also cover the following important issues: restrictive practices, vertical and horizontal restraints, abuse of a dominant position, competition litigation and enforcement, the intersection between Competition Law and Intellectual Property Law, current proposals to reform the UK Competition Law regime, current proposals to reform the Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation i.e. Regulation (EC) No 772/2004 and, finally, analysis of the EU Merger Control Regulation i.e. Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings.
• SXL-4403: Marine Insurance (15) (Semester 2)
  The seminars will explore the nature and scope of the contract of insurance, evaluate its salient features, discuss the relationships between the parties to the contract and explain the application of insurance law in practice. In brief, the content includes an introduction to insurance law, examination of the statutes and common law of insurance, the fundamental principles of insurable interest, utmost good faith, subrogation, contribution and the principles of indemnity. In addition, the module examines the formation of insurance contract; the terms of contract; construction and causation; claims under policy; different types of insurance with a particular emphasis on marine insurance. The recent development of the case law and reform on Insurance Law are also discussed.
• SXL-4406: Intn'l. Commercial Arbitration (15) (Semester 1)
  The course is divided broadly into three parts: The first part of the course is concerned with the theoretical and institutional structure of arbitration. It begins with a historical overview of international commercial arbitration and a comparative analysis of arbitration and litigation. The aim of this section is to provide students with grounding in the rules and procedures of international commercial arbitration. The second part of the course will be devoted to the examination of the legal framework within which arbitral disputes are resolved. This section focuses on certain specific aspects of international commercial arbitration such as the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards, the extent and timing of judicial review of awards, ground for refusing recognition or enforcement of awards, and interim measures of protection. The third part of the course focuses on a review of the principles and practices of international commercial arbitration. This section examines recent developments in international commercial arbitration and the emergence of converging arbitral rules. Also included will be an overview of the arbitral institutions in China, Hong Kong and Japan.
• SXL-4410: Global Trade Law (15) (Semester 1)
  This course is a survey of the international legal framework for international trade provided by World Trade Organisation (WTO). The focus of this course is to examine the origins, structure and scope of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and, since 1995, of the WTO. Considerable attention will be given to the core principles of the GATT 1994, and these core principles will be placed in their historical and intellectual context. The course also addresses some current WTO controversies, such as international trade in services, TRIPs and access to essential medicines, the trend towards regional and bilateral trade agreements and how the WTO deals with developing countries. The course is divided broadly into three parts: The first part begins with a review of the economic theory underpinning contemporary international economic relations. It covers the arguments for and against free trade, the history of the GATT system, and the creation of the WTO. It moves on to consider the broad institutional dimension of international economic relations, and more specifically the institutional legal framework of the GATT/WTO. This includes analysis of dispute settlement system underpinning the WTO. The second part is concerned with the broad principles underpinning WTO law, and with an analysis of specific agreements and disputes. It begins by examining core notions and principles such as tariffs/quotas, Most Favoured Nation and National Treatment. Also included will be analysis of various problems to the free trade principle, including GATT, Article XX and security/safeguards exceptions. The third part of the course will be devoted to contemporary legal problems of WTO. This session concerns an in-depth examination of some of the issues that are currently most debated in the world trading system, such as the Doha Round and the future of the WTO. Within international intellectual property issues, this session generally consists: 1) justifications for intellectual property in an international context; 2) The TRIPs and its implications to developing countries; 3) international dispute resolution involving intellectual property debates.
• SXL-4411: Comparative Corp. Governance (15) (Semester 1)
  • Introduction to Company Law; • The Cultural Roots of Corporate Governance; • Directors and Shareholder; • Extending the Duties of Directors; • Corporate Scandals; • Corporate Governance in Acquisitions and Mergers; • Corporate Governance and Banks; • Corporate Governance-and European perspective; • Corporate Governance in Commonwealth Countries- Australia, Canada, Nigeria; • Corporate Governance in the USA; • Corporate Governance- in China; • Globalisation and future developments.
• SXL-4414: Employment Law (15) (Semester 2)
  1. The history, development and regulation of the employment and labour law; 2. The impact of European and Human Rights Law on development of employment and labour law; 3. The employment relationship- distinguishing between employee and self- employed status; 4. The contract and terms of employment.; 5. Gender and Race Discrimination; 6. Disability and Employment- a developing equality agenda; 7. Health and Safety- common law and statutory provision and protection; 8. Fair, Unfair, and Wrongful Dismissal; 9. Trade Union recognition and the rights to collective action; 10. Employment and labour protection in other Commonwealth Countries; 11. Employment and Labour protection in other EU Countries; 12. Employment protection in the US and China;
• Choose 60-75 credits from Law modules