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Listed Company M&A in Practice (LAWS90201)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Off Campus

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Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
August - Off Campus
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This subject aims to provide practical experience for students in corporate law listed company takeovers and associated governance. It examines the key building blocks of Australia’s takeovers law and associated listed company corporate governance principles and how they should inform a company’s preparedness for a takeover or activist approach.

Under the supervision from partners at King & Wood Mallesons, students will be introduced to a listed company and – following a structured course to learn the building blocks of takeover laws and shareholder activism – students will provide focused advice to the company on the interplay of legal, regulatory and commercial considerations in being ready for, and responding to, an unsolicited takeover approach or activist proposal.

Students will participate in timetabled classes and work at KWM, sitting in the corporate/M&A team, equivalent to 12 days. Students will work collaboratively under the close supervision of KWM partners. The client with whom the students will work will be identified on a rotating basis. Students will receive ongoing feedback on their progress, discussion their perceptions of the role of law in practice, and reflect on the role of corporate law and the place of stakeholders in practice.

Applying to enrol in enrichment electives

This subject is an application-based enrichment subject.

Melbourne Law School offers a range of JD elective subjects that provide enrichment opportunities to students. Each of these subjects has its own application process. For up-to-date details, see the JD LMS Community for announcements about applying to enrol in JD enrichment elective subjects.

Intended learning outcomes

A student who successfully completes this subject will have a sophisticated insight into, and be able to analyse and reflect critically and meaningfully on:

  • core corporate law rules governing takeovers and changes of control of major Australian companies with whom students and the public at large will interact on a regular basis;
  • the practical, interpersonal and technical skills and ethical awareness needed for effective corporate legal practice, including in the areas of collaborative work, corporate law related research, and communicating to clients in a clear and effective way;
  • how corporate law rules operate in a non-litigious context and the role of corporate lawyers in advising public listed companies;
  • the effectiveness of corporate laws in Australia for achieving their stated outcomes, as well as good corporate governance, and for addressing the interests of stakeholders; and
  • the multi-disciplinary approaches to client dilemmas - including recognition of the non-legal aspects of client problems and the responsibilities of legal practitioners in advising across these non-legal aspects.

Generic skills

  • thinking skills, including the ability to gather information, understand interests and context, apply knowledge and convey complex legal concepts to clients in a clear, concise and effective way;
  • applied research skills, including the ability to identify, research, evaluate and synthesis relevant factual, legal and policy issues in the context of a complex area of law;
  • legal practice skills, including an understanding and experience in ethical decision making and the role and capacity of lawyers to serve clients and the community, and cognitive and technical skills relating to the generation and provision of legal advice and information attuned to client needs;
  • personal and professional skills, including learning in a collaborative environment, being accountable for team work and one's own work, self-reflection on performance and ethical professional conduct and development;
  • skills required for effective collaborative workplace performance, such as communication, time management, co-worker collaboration and office organisation; and
  • research and reflection skills, including the ability to engage in high-level analysis and critical reflection, and to develop and articulate legal reform ideas for social and environmental change based on theoretical and empirical knowledge of the operation of the law.

Last updated: 1 October 2024