Courses

Comparative Constitutional Law: This course introduces students to various interesting questions in comparative constitutional law on the basis of selected constitutional instruments from different jurisdictions. Firstly, we will enter into a discussion of structural issues, including comparative approaches to the separation of powers and judicial review. Secondly, we will analyze different approaches to federalism, among others addressing a comparison of competitive and cooperative models respectively. Thirdly, we will explore the question of constitutional change, focusing on how constitutions are amended and how new constitutions are written. Finally, we will address comparative approaches to individual rights, including the question of positive rights.

Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Thilo Marauhn, Dr. Pablo Rueda-Saiz, Prof. Edward Fallone

International Economic Law & Business Transactions: International economic law is a rapidly developing area of international law concerned principally with international trade, investment, finance and banking. The course provides a theoretical and practical understanding of the regulatory framework of the international trade system and is as well addressing a range of other legal issues arising from different kinds of international business transactions. The course begins with providing a general understanding of international trade law and the international legal system, allowing you to place international economic relations in context. You will explore questions of governance through studies of the World Trade Organization and examine the mechanics of more specific systems such as international trade law, international investment, international commercial arbitration, international intellectual property law and international corporate governance.

Lecturers: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Julian Scheu, Dr. Adam Andrzejewski

Business Ethics and Human Rights Law: The course will explore the links between business and human rights, including questions regarding state obligations and the extent to which business entities such as multinational corporations have human rights responsibilities. It considers developments on the international and domestic level to promote accountability and to ensure compliance with emerging standards. We will discuss several areas that pose particularly difficult human rights challenges for companies (extractive industries, supply chain labor standards, operating in conflict areas), examining key issues and exploring how companies, civil society organizations, governments and other stakeholders have sought to address these.

Lecturers: Dr. Sorcha MacLeod, Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt

International Intellectual Property Law: This course examines the major international agreements related to patents, trademarks, and copyrights and other forms of intellectual property, which include free trade agreements such as the TRIPS Agreement, substantive treaties enforced by the World Intellectual Property Organization, and associated human rights treaties. This course will focus on the scope of the protected intellectual property rights, the limits placed on the intellectual property rights, and the enforcement of the intellectual property rights. Particular attention will be paid to how international, transnational, and domestic intellectual property institutions are impacted by the existence of the international intellectual property regime.

Lecturer: Prof. Kali Murray

Comparative Constitutional Law