The business law course covers the study of business firms and of their markets (business firms). The course is mainly dedicated at an in-depth study of business organizations, thus partnerships, companies and cooperatives (business organizations): we will analyze general principles and rules, as well as the law of partnerships, companies (including listed companies) and of non-profit organizations (including cooperatives).

Knowledge and understanding: regular attendance to classes allows Economics and Management students to, first, familiarize with the legal terminology specific to business law, and then, thanks to that, to quickly understand the core issues of business law, namely of its problems and of the solutions provided for by the law in the codes, in courts, and by lawyers. Results will be verified in an oral conversation at the end of the course. However, mid-term tests will be organized: on the one hand, these will stimulate active participation of students in class, on the other hand, these will also facilitate the study of the subject matter, generally considered amongst the more challenging of the entire academic program. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students will be able to use their acquired knowledge to reality, thus recognizing the various business and organizational models and having command of the various applicable rules. Critical thinking: the skills acquired during the course allow the student to identify data and tools relevant for the analysis of the sources of business law and to critically consider the various orientations elaborated by commentators and courts in connections with the various issues studied. Thus, the student acquires the ability to analyze cases and is capable of qualifying them from a legal standpoint. Communication skills: at the end of the course the student will be able to use, with adequate terminological precision, the technical and legal vocabulary of business law in relation to the issues studied.

The business firm. The competition and the markets. Business distress and insolvency procedures. Contracts between firms and between firms and consumers. Securities and financial instruments. Business organizations. General principles of company law. Partnerships. Companies. Cooperatives. Dissolution, withdrawal, redemption. Extraordinary operations. Groups.

Business organizations: A. Stagno d’Alcontres, N. de Luca, Manuale delle società, 2nd ed., Giappichelli, Torino, 2023 (mandatory). Business firms: G. Presti, M. Rescigno, Corso di diritto commerciale, Vol. I, Impresa, contratti, titoli di credito, crisi e insolvenza, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2023, 11th ed. (recommended) Instead of Presti-Rescigno, for the study of business firms, students may choose in alternative: G.F. Campobasso, Manuale di diritto commerciale, a cura di M. Campobasso, 8th ed., UTET giuridica, Torino, 2022 (Chapters: 1-9, 27-49); M. Cian (a cura di), Manuale di diritto commerciale, 5th ed., Giappichelli, Torino, 2023 (Sections 1-8).

The chosen teaching method requires the study of textbooks before each class. This permits that classes are interactive, as students will be constantly involved in the discussion.

The final exam consists of an oral interview covering the entire program of the course. However, attending students can take a mid-term test relating to business firms issues (content of weeks 1 to 4), the result of which, if positive, exempt from the correspondent part: in this case the oral exam focuses on company law only (content of weeks 5 to 12). During the oral exam the student must demonstrate that he/she has definitively acquired both the terminology and the contents of business law. For the purposes of assigning a mark out of thirty, the following evaluation criteria are taken into account: 1. Mid-term test, optional (30%) 2. Final test (from 70% to 100%). The final test is oral and assessed as follows: knowledge and understanding of the issues and principles of the subject and ability to apply them to concrete cases (70%); command of the technical-legal vocabulary, ability to consult and evaluate relevant sources, acquisition of the study method (30%). Gaps on one or more issues or principles of the subject matter entails a negative assessment even in the presence of basic knowledge of the subject.

Course attendance and successful completion of the exam