Course Descriptions

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Biotechnology Law (LWIP510)

Instructor(s): Stephen Ferruolo

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Requirement(s): Writing
Concentration(s): Business and Corporate Law (JD), Intellectual Property (JD), LLM in Business and Corporate Law (LLMB), Business and Corporate Law (LLMUS), Intellectual Property (LLMUS), Intellectual Property Law (LLMG), Business and Corporate Law (MSLS), Intellectual Property Law (MSLS)

As one of the fastest growing industries in California (and throughout the world), biotechnology offers increasing opportunities for attorneys who can serve the broad and complex legal needs of companies developing biotech products. Developing these products, especially drugs and biologics, involves significant risks, long lead times, and typically many rounds and types of financing, including funding development through collaborations and strategic partnerships. Global intellectual property protection is also essential; biotech patents can be excessively expansive and must be pursued strategically. Biotech companies face many critical and complex regulatory hurdles to comply with a broad array of U.S. and international rules, obtain marketing approval, and satisfy governmental reimbursement and pricing requiremens. We will be reviewing these issues, risks and challenges topically, looking at case studies of notable biotech companies (including Genentech and Theranos) and inviting leading industry executives and legal practitioners to share their insights.

In addition to reading the assigned materials and participating in class discussion, each student will be required to write a substantial final paper on an approved topic related to biotechnology and the law. There will also be one or two shorter written assignments based on the readings.

Bus Transactions in Emerging Markets (LWBC512)

Instructor(s): Frederick Heller

2 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Business and Corporate Law (JD), International Law (JD), LLM in Business and Corporate Law (LLMB), Business and Corporate Law (LLMUS), International Law (LLMUS), LLM in International Law (LLMI), Business and Corporate Law (MSLS), International Law (MSLS)
Recommended Class(es): International Business Transactions

International lawyers face difficult challenges when their clients transact business in emerging markets. While local legal systems—including the courts and regulators—pose a range of distinct problems, problems also frequently arise outside of the legal systems—from the political, economic, financial and cultural dynamics of the emerging markets. Students will first explore the attributes that define emerging markets and how they differ from developed markets. Using what they learn about emerging markets, students will identify challenges that impact a business transaction in an emerging market. Students will then study illustrative real-life emerging market transactions, including legal documents, and propose ways to meet emerging market challenges through provisions in legal documents and other means. The goal of the course is to provide students with the tools to assist clients in emerging market business transactions.