The aim of this course is to enable students to develop a deep and critical understanding of the law relating to international sales transactions and associated financing techniques. The main focus will be on the applicable substantive law in the area of international sales.

10 x 2-hour seminars

None

None

The course is assessed by an essay of 1500 words (25%) and a 2 hour final examination (75%).

The aims of the course are to:

■ introduce students to the main legal issues in international sales and financing;

■ provide students with a clear understanding of the sources and hierarchy of applicable laws and the rules for determining the applicable laws;

■ examine the contractual and documentary structure of the international sale transaction and its associated financing;

■ consider, in particular, the role of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) 1980;

■ consider the remedies open to contracting parties in international sales transactions.

By the end of the course, students should:

■ be in a position to identify and analyse the principal legal issues surrounding international sales transactions;

■ have a sound understanding of how to apply relevant legal rules to international sales;

■ to advise on a wide range of contractual and documentary issues relating to international sales;

■ understand and critically analyse soft law principles applicable to international sales contracts;

■ understand and critically analyse Community Sales Law and its impact on both domestic and international sales transactions;

■ understand the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) 1980 in terms of its scope, techniques and relationship with national legal systems;

■ understand the rules governing allocation of jurisdiction and choice of law in disputes arising from international sales transactions;

■ be capable of applying the knowledge and skills referred to above in order to identify and appreciate the relative merits of remedies available to parties to international sales transaction.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.