CORPORATIONS Spring 2015 Professor Wald T/Th 7:30-9:20 PM Room 155 E-mail: ewald@law.du.edu Office hours: T/Th 4-5 PM, or by appointment Course Requirements and Evaluation: Class Participation This course is discussion-based. It is essential that you complete the reading assignments before coming to class and be prepared to participate in class discussion. You are expected to attend every class. Unexcused absences and tardiness will result in a reduction in your grade. Please note: the class will not meet on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, Tuesday, March 24, 2015 and Thursday, March 26, 2015 (the week following spring break). Instead of scheduling makeups, class throughout the semester will meet regularly for an extra 10 minutes, ending at 9:20 PM. Final 3.5-hour in-class examination (100%) Text Book: The text for this course is Business Associations: Cases and Materials on Agency, Partnership and Corporations, by Klein, Ramseyer & Bainbridge (Foundation Press, 8th ed., 2012) [KRB]. Business Associations: Agency, Partnership, LLCs and Corporations, 2014 Statutes and Rules, by the same authors [KRB Statutes] is recommended (optional) reading. 1 Course Outline: I. Introduction Agency Law II. Partnership Law III. Corporate Law A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. Formation Limited liability Shareholder derivative actions Special committees Role and purpose of corporations Limited liability companies (LLC) Duties of officers, directors and other insiders: duty of care Duties of officers, directors and other insiders: duty of loyalty Good faith Disclosure and fairness: introduction to securities laws Problems of control: proxy fights Mergers and Acquisitions 2 Reading Assignments 1. Thursday, January 15 Introduction Agency law KRB – pp. 1-31 2. Tuesday, January 20 Agency Law KRB – pp. 31-59 3. Thursday, January 22 KRB – pp. 69-78 Review of agency law 4. Tuesday, January 27 Partnership law KRB – pp. 79-93 5. Thursday, January 29 KRB – pp. 97-122 6. Tuesday, February 3 KRB – pp. 127-165 7. Thursday, February 5 Review of partnership law 8. Tuesday, February 10 Corporate law Introduction A. Formation KRB – pp. 169-175 9. Thursday, February 12 B. Limited liability KRB – pp. 176-200 10. Tuesday, February 17 C. Shareholder derivative actions KRB – pp. 201-225 11. Thursday, February 19 D. Special committees KRB – pp. 225-250 3 12. Tuesday, February 24 E. Role and purpose of corporations KRB – pp. 251-267 13. Thursday, February 26 F. Limited liability companies KRB – pp. 268-286 14. Tuesday, March 3 KRB – pp. 287-302 15. Thursday, March 5 KRB – pp. 303-307 Review of LLC law 16. Tuesday, March 10 G. Duties of officers, directors and other insiders: duty of care KRB – pp. 308-333 17. Thursday, March 12 H. Duties of officers, directors and other insiders: duty of loyalty KRB – pp. 334-355 18. Tuesday, March 31 KRB – pp. 355-372 19. Thursday, April 2 I. the obligation of good faith KRB – pp. 373-398 20. Tuesday, April 7 J. Disclosure and fairness: introduction to securities laws KRB – pp. 399-416 21. Thursday, April 9 KRB – pp. 433-452 22. Tuesday, April 14 KRB – pp. 462-493 23. Thursday, April 16 K. Problems of control: proxy fights KRB – pp. 516-527; 542-575 4 24. Tuesday, April 21 L. Mergers and Acquisitions, takeovers KRB – pp. 695-705, 739-761 25. Thursday, April 23 KRB – pp. 761-772 Exam review 5