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Unit of study_
LAWS6138: Internatl Fin Transactions: Law and Prac
2025 unit information
International finance is front page news: from the role of financial markets in the energy transition, litigation against mis-selling banks, innovative greener products, the contentious role of activist hedge funds (Hindenburg versus Adani Group) and the (over) reliance on rating agencies, there is no escape. Some lenders and funds see an opportunity to prove their worth to the community, others challenging the perceived lack of action. This unit introduces and digs deep into the suite of international financial transactions, with a profoundly practical perspective, whilst also showcasing sustainable and development finance in practice. Key pillars of the unit include lending, capital markets instruments, private equity and funds, derivative markets and project finance. Within each pillar specific financial products are analysed, both from a legal and structuring perspective. We look at lending and negotiate a term sheet. We uncover the drivers and documentation of structured finance products such as securitisation. We will also look at the international regulatory reform; explore derivative products used by short sellers. The role of private equity funds will be explored, and investor litigation is a prominent feature of the unit. The lecturer shares his own transactional experience in development finance, from Asia to Africa and Latin America. Guest lecturers from top tier law firms and major banks explain transactions and risks, giving different perspectives. Case studies and a negotiation session are also included, making this a both challenging and exciting unit. Bottom line: this unit will enhance your skills for application in legal practice. No prior experience in the financial markets is required. Your unit coordinator is JJ de Vries Robb. JJ is a seasoned practitioner and lectures on international sustainable finance. He works at FMO, the Dutch Development Bank. Refer to the Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship of the various parts of the financial markets and the legal principles that govern them through accurate and insightful written work and comments and questions in class
- LO2. comprehend the commercial drivers as well as the legal risks involved in each of these markets, and how to mitigate these risks
- LO3. demonstrate a detailed understanding of the regulatory reform process and its impact on the financial markets
- LO4. develop a working knowledge of how international financial transactions are negotiated and documented in practice
- LO5. demonstrate familiarity with the opportunities and challenges presented by sustainable finance in practice.
- LO6. demonstrate high-level research and writing skills, especially in developing a critically reasoned argument supported by appropriate research
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
There are no availabilities for this year.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1a 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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