LAWS6034

Advanced Corporate Governance

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2014

Callaghan Campus Semester 1

Corporate Governance concerns the way that public corporations are directed, managed and controlled. It has been a controversial topic for as long as the corporate form has existed. In recent times that controversy has been considerably heightened by concerns that poor corporate governance contributed significantly to the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-8 the major corporate collapses of the beginning of this century, including Enron Corporation in the USA and HIH Insurance in Australia.
The course builds upon student’s knowledge of corporate law to explore in greater depth the legal principles, rules, institutions and practices of corporate governance in the Australian. The course provides students with an advanced and integrated understanding of the legal rules underlying key mechanisms of Australian corporate governance. During the course students will critically reflect upon and evaluate these key mechanisms in the light of past and current corporate performance, including key case studies on corporate accountability. Students will also be introduced to corporate governance perspectives from select comparable countries to assist with this critical reflection.

Objectives Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Explain the key mechanisms of corporate governance in the modern Australian context
2. Demonstrate specialized knowledge of the legal doctrine, legal policy and regulatory theories underpinning the key mechanisms of corporate governance in the modern Australian.
3. Engage in high-level critical evaluation of differing approaches to corporate governance in the Australian context.
4. Critically reflect on Australian corporate governance in the light corporate governance perspectives from select comparable jurisdictions.
Content Topics in this course include:
1. Corporate Governance: History and Theory.
2. Australian Corporate Governance: System and Structure.
3. Legal Duties of Directors and Officers.
4. Structure of Corporate Boards.
5. Corporate Information Disclosure.
6. Membership Voting and Litigation
7. Third Party Auditing of Financial Accounts
8. Influence of Market Forces: Takeovers and Executive Remuneration
9. Regulatory Intervention
10. Informal or ‘soft law’ initiatives and the role of private regulators such as the Australian Securities Exchange.
11. Case Studies on Corporate Accountability
12. Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
Replacing Course(s) NA
Transition NA
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge For Master of Laws Students: Nil

For Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Students: LAWS 6010 Company Law
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Seminar
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Research Essay
Examination: Formal
Group/tutorial participation and contribution Class Participation - Students will receive a participation mark which will be assessed on the basis of the following:
a. Evidence that the prescribed readings have been completed;
b. Active engagement and willingness to participate in seminar discussion and activities, responses, questions or other contributions that indicate a comprehension of the relevant material and thoughtful and intelligent consideration of the issues it raises;
c. Responses, questions or other considerations that indicate an awareness of the broader legal and policy issues.
Contact Hours Seminar: for 2 hour(s) per Week for 13 weeks
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment This course is only available to students enrolled in the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice or the Master of Laws.
Timetables 2014 Course Timetables for LAWS6034