College of Business Administration
Course Syllabus
Course Name: Business Law
Course Pre-requisites: None
Instructor’s Name: Gıyas Gőkkent
Telephone: 755
Class Location: AD-M202
Office Location: S17
Course Number: MGT201
Credit hours: 3
E-mail:giyas.gokkent@adu.ae
Class Time: 15:30-16:45 UT
Office Hours: 11:00-12:15UT
Course Description
The course initially covers the organization and financing of a company. The second half
of the course examines a broad array of law-sensitive issues relating to intellectual
property, product development, M&A transactions, international trade, the duties of
directors and officers, business disputes, and bankruptcy and reorganization.
Companies and managers regularly confront law-sensitive issues that are crucial to the
company's future and the manager's career. Experienced managers bring to these
situations an awareness of how law structures opportunities and risks, and enough
understanding of law to make good use of professional advice. The goal of the course is
not to impart technical legal skills, but to enhance the judgment which students will bring
to their responsibilities as entrepreneurs, managers in established companies, or
consultants and advisors.
Course Content
1. Overview
This is a broad-gauged course. We discuss the basic framework of business law, and then
follow a new firm from the "breakaway" from an established company through
organizing and financing the new venture. We later consider going public, selling the
company, and bankruptcy. Along the way, we examine a wide range of law-sensitive
issues including intellectual property, employment law, business disputes, mergers and
acquisitions, international trade, contracts, products liability, and white-collar crime. The
course will use a textbook, lectures and discussions. Student evaluation will be based on
homework assignments, periodic tests, and a comprehensive final exam.
2. Learning Objectives (Objectives):
The learning objectives of this course are specifically:
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1. Understand the legal duties firms may face
2. Explain the basic principles of contracts
3. Describe employment law
4. Explain forms of doing business
6. Explain patent law
7. Examine current issues in corporate governance
8. Explore bankruptcy legislation
9. Outline of antitrust law
3. Weekly Outline
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-13
14
15
Topic
Basic Framework of Business Law
Legal Duties
Contracts I
Contracts II
Leaving A Company
Forms of Doing Business
Setting Up A New Firm
Patent Law
Employment
Going Public
Current Issues In Corporate Governance
Letters of Credit
Intellectual Property
Readings
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4. Pedagogy- Learning Process
Classroom activities are organized and evaluated under the lecturer’s
leadership. Many activities are interactive and collaborative.
1. Detailed examples will be used.
2. Guided exercises will follow the examples. Each exercise gives the
student a chance to work with a new concept.
3. End of chapter problems will be used as homework to cover each topic
introduced in the chapter. The homework gives the student a chance to
master the topic.
Educational Resources
1. Textbook
2. Readings:
Tort Law
Basics: Legal Duties

Kozup v. Georgetown University (liability of hospital for HIV-tainted blood infusion)

Articles on Firestone tires
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
In re Union Carbide (early procedural maneuvering in litigation on Bhopal disaster)
Basics: Contracts

Tarbert Trading v. Cometals (public policy)

Filanto v. Chilwich (dispute over inclusion of term)

Transatlantic Financing Corp. v. US (allocating risk)

Delchi Career v. Rotorex (damages)
Leaving a Company

Jet Spray Cooler v. Gifford K. Crampton

Chomerics, Inc. v. John Ehrreich
Forms of Doing Business

Legal Forms of Doing Business
Introduction to U.S. Patent Law

State Street Bank v. Signature Financial
Current Issues in Corporate Governance
 Article on Sarbanes-Oxley Act
 Enron
 Tyco
Going International I: Letters of Credit



Courtlaulds North America v. North Carolina National Bank
Sztejn v. J. Henry Schroder Banking Corp.
American Bell International v. Islamic Republic of Iran
Antitrust Law
Student Assessment
1. Expected Learning Outcomes and Associated Test
a. Homework is given to check if the concepts introduced in each chapter
are understood.
b. Each week some students will be selected to be `on deck`. This means
that they have to have read all relevant reading material for the week
and are ready to answer questions during class.
c. Finally quizzes and exams are used to check the student’s
understanding of the course. Students may NOT bring any material for
the quizzes, but may bring brief notes of their (not fellow students`)
writing for the midterm and final exams. Handouts and other printed
material may NOT be brought into examinations.
2. Student Test Elements
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a. Assignments
- Assignment 1
- Assignment 2
- Assignment 3
b. Exams
- Quizzes
- Mid Exam
- Final Exam
3. Evaluation
a) Participation, attendance, activities
5 points
b) Assignments
10 points
c) Quizzes
15 points
d) Mid Exam
20 points
d) Final Exam
50 points
Total
100 points
NB: the instructor may change the number of points for items a), b), and c) as
long as the total is 30 points.
4. Grading Key
Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
I
Percentage
90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
Less than 60
Description
Excellent
Very good
Good
Very Satisfactory
Satisfactory
Pass +
Pass
F
Incomplete
Grade Point
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.0
0.0
Attendance
1. Absences during ADD/DROP week count.
2. Make up:
i.
Quiz: none.
ii.
Late submissions: score reduced.
iii.
Midterm and Final Exam: different from and harder than original.
3. Excused Absences: There are no excused absences. All absences are recorded
as part of the Attendance Policy. Hence, you are encouraged to “save up” your
absences for “unavoidable circumstances”.
4. Tardiness: students are considered tardy if they are not present before the
classroom door is closed both at the beginning of the class and following the
break. Tardiness is counted as ½ absence. Students are requested not to
interrupt class proceedings by trying to enter once the class has begun (as
indicated by the “closed door”).
Academic Integrity
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1. The instructor adheres to all ADU policies regarding academic integrity as
stated in the ADU Student Handbook. Students are responsible for
internalizing all information regarding ADU academic integrity policies. Full
text and explanation of these policies can be found in the ADU student
Handbook.
2. Unless specifically expressed by the instructor, collaboration between students
in this course, between students in previous courses, external assistance in any
form or presenting resources/research without proper citation which has been
developed by another individual or organization is strictly prohibited. All
work must be the result of your own efforts.
3. Students who are suspected of plagiarism or other violations of academic
integrity codes will open investigation. Those found guilty are subject to
disciplinary action. Repeated offense will result in permanent expulsion from
the University.
Miscellaneous
1. Mobile phones: A student whose mobile phone rings during class will be
asked to leave the classroom and will receive ½ absence. Should this happen
during an exam, the student will not be allowed to retake the exam at another
time, while at the same time receiving a full absence.
2. Eating/Drinking/Smoking: students are requested to refrain from engaging in
these activities while in class.
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