Business Law for Managers and Entrepreneurs

Estimated Learning Time: 3 hours per week (total 30 hours)

PRERREQUISITES AND RECOMMENDED PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

The subject offers a perspective of legal solutions, legal options, and the instruments it provides, as an essential component of business strategy. The legal framework, in particular the one that regulates economic activity, commercial transactions, and competition of companies in the market, defines the context in which traders, entrepreneurs, companies, managers or investors adopt their decisions, shape their business model, and develop their activity. Therefore, the proper understanding of the strategic opportunities offered by legal instruments, as strategic tools, as well as the limits established by the principles of Law and legal norms, strongly define the capacity to develop a business strategy and amply determine the success and sustainability of that business.

With that aim, the course is divided in 4 parts (blocks) to assist the taking of the four main steps in the process from an idea to a business project: setting up the organization, concluding transactions, protecting the key assets, and planning expansión.

OBJECTIVES: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

General objectives:

1. Understand the role of the law as part of the business strategy.
2. Identify the legal tools necessary to effectively implement business decisions.
3. Promote student entrepreneurship.

Specific objectives:

1. Identify the different types of companies and understand their characteristics to adapt them to the different business models.
2. Learn how to customize the corporate vehicle to adapt it to the interests of the partners: decision making, directorship and management of the company, entry and exit of partners.
3. Identify the diverse business financing models and how to implement them.
4. Understand the phases of the contractual process: negotiation, formation, performance.
5. Know how to negotiate and draft a contract.
6. Assess the availability and convenience of legal actions and remedies in case of default.
7. Differentiate the available instruments of asset protection (patents, brands, designs, industrial secrets) and know how to design and develop a comprehensive protection strategy.
8. Know the formulas for expanding a business and the differences between the various alternatives (agency, distribution, franchise, subsidiaries, joint ventures).

Knowledge:

• Fundamental issues of company law.
• Basics of insolvency law.
• Basic concepts of contract law.
• Basics of Industrial, Intellectual Property and Competition.

Skills and abilities:

• Strategic analysis of complex situations.
• Problem solving.
• Team work.
• Ability to negotiate.
• Identification of critical factors in a situation and development of alternative scenarios.
• Practical application of theoretical knowledge.
• Interpretation of regulatory provisions and contractual conditions.

TEACHING MATERIAL

The course is divided in 4 blocks. Each block contains the following teaching material:

1. Notes.
2. Presentation.
3. Case Study.

Additionally, references may be made to external sources or complementary readings.

 PRACTICAL ASSIGMENTS AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

There are 4 case studies, one for each block. Assignments 1, 2 and 3 are thematically connected, whereas the last one has no relation therewith.

Case studies will help the student to understand the practical relevance of the issues discussed in each block and effectively apply the acquired knowledge to a real case.