LAW 7160 - Deals Seminar: Law and Investment Banking - The General Counsel’s Perspective

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: LAW 6131. Satisfies the writing requirement.

N. Radey.

This seminar will focus on the legal and compliance issues faced by a large global financial institution, preparing students to advise financial institutions on issues arising in the current regulatory environment. We will begin with an overview of how an investment bank is organized, the role of the legal and compliance department and some of the key issues these institutions have faced over the last decade and in the current environment.

Through the use of case studies, the seminar will investigate various real and apparent conflicts of interest, focusing on information barriers, the evolving role of the research analyst function, the research settlement, and Regulation FD. In addition, we will explore the issues surrounding internal investigations, highlighting the legal principles as well as practicalities involved in working with various stakeholders, including employees, regulators and investors. Additional topics include the capital commitment process, New Product review and approval processes, as well as key documentation issues. We will conclude with a discussion of significant changes implemented under Dodd-Frank, particularly in the derivatives area, and under the Volker Rule. There will be a final paper. The course also will include a session in New York where students will tour a global bank.