Advanced Contract Law invites students to examine some interesting and controversial topics from this foundational subject. Some topics will build on what students already know in their first-year/basic contract law course (e.g. how does contract law deal with change of circumstances?), some will cover new ground (e.g. the role of good faith in contract law). You will be able to write a paper on a topic of particular interest to you. The course also complements the course Advanced Tort Law and Philosophical Foundations of Contract Law.

Cautionary note for students from Civil Law Jurisdiction: a background knowledge of common law subjects is assumed, including contract, tort, equity, and company law

This course introduces core finance concepts tailored specifically for law students. Adopting a classical finance approach, it covers topics such as asset pricing, diversification, the Efficient Market Hypothesis, the Capital Asset Pricing Model, derivative pricing, financial intermediation, macroeconomic fundamentals, and capital structures. Additional coverage of mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance/law, and securities regulation where relevant highlights essential intersections with legal practice. By bridging the gap between law and finance, students will gain practical insights into how future clients such as investment bankers, traders, institutional investors, and other financial professionals operate.

This course examines ASEAN’s ongoing metamorphosis into a rules-based, tri-pillared (political-security, economic, and socio-cultural) Community pursuant to the mandate of the 2007 ASEAN Charter, paying attention to the current geopolitical climate. It deals primarily with Law but is also attentive to the Non Law and Quasi Law aspects inherent in ASEAN’s character as an international actor and regional organisation; its purposes and principles; and its operational modalities, processes, and institutions.

Students will grasp the complexities of ASEAN’s conversion to the rule of law and rule of institutions within the context of international law and its frameworks; national competences and jurisdiction; and regional relations and realpolitik.

This course provides an insight into international civil aviation and the legal and regulatory issues facing airlines, governments and the common passenger. Issues raised include public air law and policy, private air law, aviation security, climate change and aviation, and of course, the unprecedented coronavirus crisis that is decimating the airline industry. Emphasis will be placed on issues relevant to Singapore and Asia, given Singapore’s status as a major aviation hub and the exponential growth of the industry in the Asia-Pacific. Topics to be discussed include the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, bilateral air services agreements, aircraft safety, terrorism and aviation security, and air carrier liability for death or injury to passengers. Competition or antitrust law issues in the industry will also be analysed, alongside business strategies such as code-sharing, frequent flier schemes and airline alliances. The severe competitive environment introduced by weakening economies, war and terrorism and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, will also be discussed. This course is relevant for individuals who are keen on air travel and/or interested in joining the aviation industry, governments/civil aviation authorities or law firms with an aviation practice.

Business valuation is a key component of investor and corporate activities and is conducted for many purposes. In recent times, it has gained prominence because of the increase in mergers and acquisitions activities, arbitration and legal proceedings involving damages assessment and shareholder disputes, application of fair value measurements in financial reporting, and the increased emphasis on the role of intangible assets (and intellectual properties) as key value drivers in business.

As business valuation is deeply anchored in corporate activities, regulators have increasingly stepped up their presence and involvement in this practice area, particularly on matters relating to professionalism, and compliance with code and standards. In the conduct of business valuation, the International Valuation Standards (IVS) as developed by the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) is being applied by valuers in more than one hundred countries. IVSC is a global valuation standards setter and membership body that works to promote and grow the valuation profession worldwide. The Institute of Valuers and Appraisers of Singapore (IVAS) (under the auspices of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)), that certifies business valuers in Singapore, is a member of the IVSC. Business valuers certified by IVAS are designated as Chartered Valuers and Appraisers (CVA) and will need to comply with the IVS and the code of ethical principles issued by IVSC, when conducting their work in the marketplace.

The subject of business valuation arises frequently in the legal space, particularly in situations relating to insolvency and restructuring, litigation, and mergers and acquisitions. This course is developed for the students to acquire practical knowledge relating to business valuation that is applicable in these circumstances. It will provide the students with the first-hand knowledge of how business valuation is conducted in the “real world” in compliance with the IVS.

The course will commence with an introduction to the key concepts of accounting and finance relating to business valuation. It will then explore the valuation landscape, the role that business valuation plays in the marketplace and study the competences, role, and behaviour of business valuers. Students will learn about the valuation concepts, principles, terms, basis, premises, context, process and reporting requirements. An in-depth study of the various valuation approaches and methods, as stated in the IVS will be carried out. The focus will be on the application of the market, income, and cost (asset-based) approaches (and their respective methods and valuation parameters), in valuing business and equity. Last but not least, contemporary issues and challenges surrounding business valuation will also be covered. This includes matters such as the application of various discounts and premiums, rising importance of intangible assets (and intellectual properties) as key value drivers in business, and the consideration of ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)’ matters in valuation etc.

This course will focus on the different transport documents which are used in contracts for the carriage of goods by sea. This will include bills of lading (B/Ls), sea waybills and delivery orders and the growing trend towards eB/Ls. The course will examine the rights and liabilities of the parties to such contracts, including the shipowner, the charterer, the cargo owner, the lawful holder of the bill of lading etc. Major international conventions on carriage of goods, such as the Hague and Hague-Visby Rules, the Hamburg Rules, and the Rotterdam Rules will also be examined.

Commercial conflict of laws is a significant area of legal scholarship and practice. The chief aim of the course is to examine the foundational principles of commercial conflict of laws in Singapore. First, the course identifies and assesses the set of rules based on which Singapore courts decide whether to entertain international commercial disputes. Second, the course outlines the provisions based on which Singapore courts determine the law governing the parties’ cross-border disputes. Finally, the course outlines the rules according to which courts in Singapore give effect to foreign judgments.

This course examines the rules and standards that govern the subject of compliance and risk management. It starts by examining questions of governance: boards of directors, and executives. We then examine the compliance function through the lens of managers, regulators, prosecutors, whistleblowers, and gatekeepers. Next, we consider particular areas of the law: corruption, anti-money laundering, and export controls. We examine case studies where compliance fails and initiatives that go beyond compliance. Finally, we consider risk management as it pertains to lawyers; topics here include the governance of risk; approaches to risk management; reputational, operational, and enterprise risk.

The administration of criminal justice in Singapore requires a robust defence. A good criminal defence needs a sound grounding in criminal law and criminal procedure, and a strong base of written and oral advocacy and communication skills. This is an experiential course that takes students through a case from taking instructions all the way through to an appeal, using the structure of the criminal process to teach criminal law, procedure and advocacy skills. This course will give an insight into the realities of criminal practice – and includes a clinical component which will give students the opportunity to work on active cases.

This course provides an understanding of the global environmental issues; their effects and interlinkages with sustainable development; the international legal and governance framework and practice as they relate to environmental and sustainability management; and the domestic implementation and impact of such environmental norms and policies. The course will also address international environmental corporate standards.

This course seeks to introduce students to the fundamental principles of Intellectual Property (IP) law in Singapore. It has been designed to induct and immerse students who have little to no knowledge of IP law into one of the most interesting and rewarding areas of law, and to provide a strong foundation for those who intend to pursue advanced courses in IP or information technology. Since the practical application of IP law intersects with many other areas of law (e.g. corporate-commercial law, commercial dispute resolution, compliance), students seeking to complement their knowledge with a basic understanding of IP should also find this course helpful.

This course aims to equip students with the basic understanding of the law of arbitration to enable them to advise and represent parties in the arbitral process confidence. Legal concepts peculiar to arbitration viz. separability, arbitrability and kompetenz-kompetenz will be considered together with the procedural laws on the conduct of the arbitral process, the making and the enforcement of awards. Students will examine the UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention, 1958. This course is most suited for students with some knowledge of the law of commercial transactions, shipping, banking, international sale of goods or construction.