International Commercial Arbitration (Moses)

International arbitration is the dispute mechanism of choice in international business transactions. Parties to international transactions tend to resolve disputes by arbitration because they do not want to end up litigating in the court of the other party’s country. They also prefer arbitration because arbitration awards are more easily enforceable internationally than court judgments, and the awards are confidential. This course will deal with the parameters of international commercial arbitration, its laws and rules, and how it actually works in practice. The importance of the arbitration clause will be discussed, and students will learn how to draft an arbitration clause. The course will also focus on the interaction of courts and arbitral tribunals, the selection of arbitrators, procedures at the arbitral hearing, the award, and enforcement of the award.

International & Comparative Employment Law (Zimmer)

This course will compare basic employment law in the United States and in China. Coverage will include individual employment contracts, union-management relations and discrimination law.

Introduction to Chinese Law and Legal System (Leonhard & Zimmerman)

This course aims to provide students with an overview of the modern Chinese legal and political systems. As an economy and society in transition, China has undergone tremendous changes and is facing many challenges while it seeks to transition into a China style market economy. Our class discussion will focus on the issues that China is trying to address and the pitfalls of which international legal practitioners should be aware when representing clients doing business in China or with Chinese companies. The course consists of two components (with a little Chinese culture, language and survival tips sprinkled in as appropriate): 1. an overview of the historical foundations of Chinese law and the present legal system and political institutions in China; and 2. a brief introduction of China's General Principles of Civil Law and Commercial Law.