Listed Company M&A in Practice (LAWS90201)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Off Campus
About this subject
Contact information
August
Andrew Godwin (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact law-wil@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | August - Off Campus |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
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, discuss their perceptions of the role of law in practice, and reflect on the role of corporate law and the place of stakeholders in practice.
Important information about enrolling
This subject is not available for self-enrolment but is an application-based enrichment subject, which means prospective students must apply to enrol. Many of these application-based enrichment subjects also involve a selection process.
More information about the application process can be found on the Application-based enrichment subjects information page inside the Juris Doctor LMS Community [Juris Doctor student access only].
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: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
AND
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50030 | Property | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
Note: the following subject/s can also be taken concurrently (at the same time)
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50035 | Corporations Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Apply to Enrol
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. See the JD LMS Community for announcements about applying to enrol in JD enrichment elective subjects.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Attendance and satisfactory participation at clinical activities | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Preparation of written work and reports to client on corporate law topics
| During the teaching period | 50% |
Reflective Essay
| End of the teaching period | 20% |
Oral presentation to Listed Company client
| Timing will be agreed with students and Listed Company client at the end of the teaching period (and to ensure no clash with exam period) | 20% |
Additional details
The due dates of interim assessment will be made available to students on the Assessment Schedule on the Juris Doctor Canvas LMS Community. Note, these are updated regularly.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- August - Off Campus
Principal coordinator Andrew Godwin Mode of delivery Off Campus Contact hours Students will participate in timetabled classes and work at KWM, sitting in the corporate/M&A team, equivalent to 12 days. Total time commitment 150 hours 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 11 August 2025 to 24 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 November 2024 Census date 12 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 November 2025 Assessment period ends 19 December 2025 August contact information
Teaching staff:Andrew Godwin (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact law-wil@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. Applications will be assessed by the Subject Coordinator and students will be asked to attend an interview with KWM partners.
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 and are not available for students to self-enrol.
For up-to-date details, see the Application-based enrichment subjects Canvas page as well as announcements from the JD LMS Community about applying to enrol in the suite of JD enrichment elective subjects.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
Last updated: 4 March 2025