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Comparative Corporate Governance (LAWS70134)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
July
Lecturer:
Professor Wen-Yeu Wang (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | July |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject explores how publicly-held corporations in China, Taiwan and the United States are owned, controlled and governed. We will introduce the background of corporate governance, ownership structure, agency problems as well as issues of corporate purpose. Next, we will consider the primary actors, major regulations, and fiduciary duties. Lastly, we will discuss four topics; the distinctive features of state-owned enterprises; the distribution of powers between shareholders and board of directors; the regulation of related-party transactions; as well as investor protection, corporate restructuring, and securities law enforcement.
In this subject, students will engage critically with key debates in contemporary corporate governance and provide relevant background for those interested in cross-border legal work.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Critically explain the concept of corporate governance and examine the relationship between ownership structure and the agency problem
- Identify and probe issues related to "Environment, Social and Governance" matters (ESG)
- Analyse the concept and justify the importance of "fiduciary duty" and the pitfalls of legal transplantation
- Engage thoughtfully in debates around Chinese 'state-owned enterprises' (SOEs) and compare the different approaches of jurisdictions to protect investors
- Analyse how related-party transactions are regulated
- Discuss how corporate power is distributed between the board of directors and shareholders.
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class participation | During the teaching period | 20% |
In-class Group Assignment
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Research paper
| Wednesday 28 August 2024 | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | N/A |
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- July
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 5 June 2024 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 3 July 2024 to 9 July 2024 Last self-enrol date 13 November 2023 Census date 4 July 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 July 2024 Assessment period ends 28 August 2024 July contact information
Lecturer:
Professor Wen-Yeu Wang (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students. Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 19 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS during the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Laws Course Graduate Diploma in Asian Law Course Master of Commercial Law - Links to additional information
law.unimelb.edu.au
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 19 April 2024