Postgraduate Courses in Corporate Finance Law
(LLM)
Why study corporate finance law? The short answer is simply to make money and to be involved in one of the quickest paced, challenging and exciting industries in the world. Corporate finance law professionals, or those individuals who specialise in corporate finance issues with a strong emphasis on structuring legal documentation for large financial transactions are the highest paid professionals outside of sports heroes and movie stars. These individuals are also involved in business decisions that can have a major impact on local economies, shape the movements of how money flows in and out of industries, provide strategic advise for the buying and selling of companies and work in or closely with banking and other financial institutions. A postgraduate course in corporate finance law will give you the opportunity to pursue this career. If you are interested in what you have read so far then read on to discover how a postgraduate course in corporate finance law (LLM) can benefit you.
The Profession
The corporate finance law professional ultimately is one who has both a deep understanding of financial techniques and the law so that he or she can make deals happen and hopefully, warn and protect individuals from falling afoul of the law. In many ways, the perfect candidate for corporate finance law is one who enjoys solving business problems using the tools of finance and law. With the growth of the international financial markets, there is strong demand for highly qualified individuals who understand technical financial language, the interactions of the financial markets and how to structure deals. Individuals with corporate finance law qualifications work in private practice specialising in corporate finance, banking and finance, and investments, or in industry, especially, venture capital, private equity, investment banking and investment management. Many consider applying their corporate finance law knowledge to management consulting, especially in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, strategic financial consulting, and financial regulatory advisory.
Prerequisites
An applicant to the LLM Corporate Finance Law is normally required to have fluency in the English language (students are normally asked to submit a 1,000 word essay demonstrating their writing skill), and an undergraduate degree in law, finance, business management or economics. If the student has a degree which is not law or finance related, they may need to demonstrate knowledge and work experience in the corporate finance area. Most applicants have three to five years experience in industry, and mature students with at least five years of work experience in a relevant industry may apply.
Profile of Successful Applicants
The student population at the University of Westminster School of Law, studying a postgraduate Corporate Finance Law LLM course is international with over 20 countries represented in a class size of about 30 to 40. About 60% have law qualifications from their respective countries and have been in legal practice for at least five years. We do have successful applicants who have recently obtained their undergraduate degree and senior entrepreneurs who have had a string of business ventures. The profile of the successful applicant is one who is confident, intelligent, diligent, qualified in law or finance, and keenly interested in developing business.
What are the Specialist Subjects in Corporate Finance Law?
There is a large number of subjects which a corporate finance law student needs to master. First, there is the financial markets and how they operate to bring companies to public listing. Second, there are the numerous laws and regulations involved in forming companies, banking relationships, raising debt and equity. Third, there is the technical knowledge of financial instruments which are created for special purposes and which globally form a vast array of different forms of money circulating the planet Earth. Fourth, there are specialist subjects that have their own particular markets, processes and procedures, such as project finance law, which focuses on very large infrastructure projects including power plants, energy exploration, environmental protection, transportation. Fifth, students should also have a strong familiarity with the financial concepts that traders and investors use and the underlying operations in which these transactions are made. An example of the types of modules that one may take at the University of Westminster, School of Law , LLM Corporate Finance Law include:
Mandatory:
- Legal aspects of corporate finance
- Investment banking
- Dissertation or Project
Options:
- Legal aspects of international finance
- Deal mechanics: financial markets and operations
- Investment for managers: theory, regulations and social responsibility
- International project finance law
- International corporate law and governance
- Corporate strategy and competition law
- Money laundering and corporate fraud
Emphasis on Networking
Part of the philosophy of the Masters Programme is that individual candidates should develop business contacts with individuals involved in their industry. Living and studying in the world's premier international financial centre where the largest financial institutions operate is a great advantage to those looking for opportunities for both learning and job hunting. In order to help students with their networking skills, there are two weekends in the year where all the students learn from highly qualified professionals in an exclusive executive style conference centre set in the English countryside. The first weekend focuses on Corporate Finance Law and is taught by Professor Mark Watson-Gandy, a leading English Barrister, Mr. Florin Coseraru, Fellow in Investment Banking who is a senior investment banker with Barclays Capital and formerly of the London Stock Exchange, and Joseph Tanega who is the Course Director of the LLM Corporate Finance Law and is a US qualified lawyer with both consulting and investment banking experience. The second weekend entitled International Project Finance Law is led by Mr. Deltcho Vitchev, Fellow in Project Finance and former Principal Banker of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and speakers with many years of industry experience are invited to share their knowledge with the eager students keen to learn not just bookish information, but the actual practice of corporate finance from recognised experts.
Emphasis on Independent Study and Research
Since the LLM Corporate Finance Law is a postgraduate degree, there is an emphasis on students producing high-quality research in areas of their special interest. Each module normally requires a research report or essay of 5,000 words, and the student is also required to complete either a Dissertation of 15,000 words or a Project of 10,000 words. Many of the topics of research are in areas which are relevant to market practitioners and therefore, enable candidates to substantially upgrade their marketability to prospective employers. The types of research students have conducted have been over a broad and interesting range of financial legal topics, including:
Regulatory Analysis of Corporate Governance Mechanisms Under Kuwaiti Law
The Changing Evolution of Stock Exchanges: Cross-Border Exchange Mergers & Acquisitions
Manipulative Practices Under the New Market Abuse Directive
What went Wrong at Enron that Lead to its Bankruptcy, and what Effect would the Sarbances-Oxley Act 2002 Have on Corporate Governance if Applied
A View on Russian Corporate Governance from a Theoratical Standpoint
The Yukos Case: A New Puzzle for Corporate Lawyers
Corporate Governance: Before and After the Corporate Scandals in 2001-2002
Failures of Corporate Governance Mechanisms: How Enron Reshaped Corporate Governance Mechanisms in Context to Directors and Auditors
International Comparison of Corporate Governance Codes
Securitisation Under Islamic Finance
Recent Trends in the Venture Capital Cycle
European Private Equity Markets from a Corporate Governance, Legal and Regulatory Perspective
Duty of Disclosure and Corporate Fraud: A Case Study of Enron
Microfinance and Legal Practice
An Overview of Pension Schemes and Practice in UK and the Duties of Trustees
Collateral as a Risk Mitigation Tool: Analysis of the ISDA Credit Support Documents
Corporate Governance & Corporate Scandals: Lessons to Learn
Models for Bonds and Stocks Valuation and Their Implications in Portfolio Management
Defining Due Diligence & Compliance Procedures for Foreign Companies Intending to List on Alternative Investments Market (AIM)
The Study and Prospects of the SEC's Final Rules on Asset-Backed Securities
How Will MiFID Affect the Compliance Function and Strategy of Investment Firms in the UK?
Financial System Abuse and How Legal Regulatory Actions Affected the Cayman Islands and Other Caribbean Tax Havens
Student Comments
"I met people from all over the world who were helpful and extremely professional. World class experience."
"We learned the reality behind the legal cases. Strong learning and discussions with so many bright colleagues."
"London, finance, international. A great experience."
Studying a postgraduate course in Coporate Finance Law will deepen your knowledge and enhance your employability in this interesting and dynamic area of law. Don't delay, apply now for your postgraduate course in Corporate Finance Law and reap the benefits of a rewarding and successful career.
Joseph Tanega
University of Westminster
Email: j.tanega@westminster.ac.uk
Web: www.wmin.ac.uk/law/page-294
Related Links:
Aberdeen Business School Department of Law
