Universität Wien

030581 KU International Aspects of Japanese Commercial and Business Law (2017W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Monday 23.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM41 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
Tuesday 24.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM33 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 3.OG
Wednesday 25.10. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM33 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 3.OG
Monday 11.12. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM64 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Tuesday 12.12. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM41 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
Wednesday 13.12. 16:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM43 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
Thursday 14.12. 14:30 - 17:30 Seminarraum SEM42 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 4.OG
Friday 15.12. 15:00 - 19:00 Seminarraum SEM20 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, 2.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course covers areas of Japanese law relevant to prospective lawyers who, in the future, expect to advise clients in investing in Japan and transacting with Japanese companies. Following the general introduction into the Japanese legal system, which is akin to Romano-German system, the course focusses on international/cross-border aspects of Japanese business law.
It may not be an exaggeration to say that the Japanese business system and law have been shaped through trade frictions with the US, and to a lesser extent, with Europe since the 1960s. There was a celebrated Kodak case at the WTO where the fairness of the entire Japanese business system was contested. An agreement with the US which was reached in 1990 has triggered a major reform of the legal system, namely company law and competition law.
As a result of the “regulatory reform” in the 1990s and the 2000s, the Japanese system has been converted from a parochial and paternalistic system into a more legalistic and transparent system. In the area of Corporate law, this is symbolised by the continuing reform of corporate governance. M&A law, after some incidents, has been streamlined. Cross-border M&A has been made easier. Competition law has been “galvanised” since 1990 and is much close to the European competition law.

*No Japanese language capability is required in this course. Cases are available on-line in English and there are some helpful Japanese government websites.

Assessment and permitted materials

The course will be assessed by an essay.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Books:

Hiroshi Oda, Japanese Law, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 2010
M.Baelz et al eds., Business Law Cases and Comments, Wolters Kluwer, New York 2012
J.Basedou et al eds., Japanese and European Private International Law in Comparative Perspective, Mohr Siebeck.
D.Foote ed., Law in Japan: A Turning Point, 2007 University of Washingtom Press

(the above four books will be made available in the library)

Periodicals: Zeitschrift fuer japanisches Recht (Max-Planck Institut Hamburg)

Selected articles:

M.Hayashi, Corporate Ownership and Governance Reforms in Japan: Influence of Globalization and U.S.Practice, Columbia Journal of Asian Law Vol.26, 2013, p.315ff.
A.Kamo, “Crystallization, Unification, or Differentiation? The Japanese Civil Code Reform Commission and Basic Reform Policy”, Columbia Journal of Asian Law, 2010 No.1, p.171ff.
C.Milhaupt, “Greenmail, Japanese Style”, Columbia Journal of Asian Law, 2012 No.1, p.105ff.
Hiroshi Oda, “Financial Instruments Exchange Law” (jointly with M.Kadota) in Japanese Business Law Guide, 2009 (loose leaf).
Hiroshi Oda, “The Current State of Takeover Law in Japan”, Journal of Business Law, September 2009, pp.749-775.
Hiroshi Oda, “Derivative Action in Japan: A System of Public Censure?”, Festschrift fuer Klaus J.Hopt, vol.II, Berlin 2010, pp.3213-3231.
Hiroshi Oda,
“Long Term Continuous Contracts in Japan”, in H.Baum ed., Deutschland and Japan: Zwei Oekonomien im Rechtlichen Dialog, 2012, pp.31-42.
Hiroshi Oda, “Derivative Action in Japan”, European Corporate and Financial Law Review, 2012, No.1 pp. 334–351
Hiroshi Oda,“Supreme Court’s Bulldog case decision on defensive measures”, in M.Baelz et al eds., Selected Cases in Japanese Law. Munich 2012.
Tokyo Stock Echange, White Paper on Corporate Governance 2017 (on line http://www.jpx.co.jp/english/)

Supreme Court judgments are available at http://www.courts.go.jp/english/

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 06.05.2022 00:15