Courses Description

LLM 600 – Legal Research and Writing Skills

The Legal Research and Writing Skills is a core element of the LLM program. The emphasis of this module is firstly on the development of research techniques and the development of key analytical and rhetorical techniques necessary for independent work at postgraduate level. Secondly, this module also focuses on students writing skills from a legal practice perspective.

It is sufficiently general that students form a variety of backgrounds with a diverse range of postgraduate aims will benefit. At the same time, it is sufficiently specific so that a number of the key issues involved in advanced research skills and methods are addressed. This course uses key terms and facts in legal research such as legislation, treaties, the UAE Civil Code, and identifies issues for legal research using analytical tools such as case law and briefings.

This course will also address principles of citation, referencing, literature review, research methodologies (empirical, economic, comparative, analytical, descriptive and other approaches relevant to high quality legal research). The coverage includes updating and validating the research, writing the research report, and presentation of research findings.

LLM 610 – Legal Systems

This course provides a comparative introduction to major global legal systems with emphasis on common law (used in DIFC and ADGM), civil law (Dubai Courts), and aspects of international law, mainly from a contractual perspective. The course introduces divergent legal systems and traditions focusing on the differences between common and civil law.

LLM 630 – Corporate Law

The course examines business structures and provides an overview of basic corporations law including the formation of companies especially under UAE and DIFC laws and consequences of incorporation; company internal rules; management and contracting; governance including membership, meetings and directors duties, shareholders remedies, accounts and financial reporting and audit, corporate litigation and regulation, liquidation and bankruptcy; external administration of companies; and UAE regional and international corporate governance standards, ethics and corporate social responsibility.

LLM 645 – International Business Transactions

This course is intended to prepare students to represent clients in a variety of business transactions that contain international elements. The emphasis is on the formation and enforcement of agreements between private commercial parties and on the anticipation and recognition of issues that are peculiar to, or are especially prevalent in, international business.

The course follows a sequence of increasingly complex transactions, from the isolated purchase and sale of goods, through sales through distributors and licensing, to foreign direct investment.

Topics include:

• The formation of the basic commercial transaction
• Financing the international sale of goods
• Agency and distributorships
• Licensing of intellectual property
• Establishing and operating a foreign investment
• Dispute settlement

LLM 650 – Litigation – Principles & Practices

The course deals with principles and practices of litigation. Attention will be paid to the best practices and skills needed in resolving commercial disputes through litigation. Emphasis will be given to the laws of UAE particularly the Civil Procedure Code, as a model for Civil Law jurisdictions.

The course will cover generality of aspects relating to commencement of action (before UAE courts) to execution proceedings including enforcement of foreign judgements. In addition, the course will also cover the practice and procedure of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and Abu-Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts as model for common law jurisdictions operating within UAE.

LLM-FCML 700 – Bribery and Corruption

The course deals with the concepts of bribery and corruption. The coverage includes UAE commercial and criminal regulations, UAE-specific issues in commercial contracts, and comparative study on UAE versus US, UK and EU regimes.

LLM-FCML 710 – Money Laundering

This course deals with the UAE legislation (Federal and DIFC), US and UK legislation on money laundering and the impact of regulations on money laundering. The coverage also includes the Middle East and North Africa financial action taskforce, the Vienna Convention, the Palermo Convention, the Merida Convention and the United Nations Model Legislation on Laundering, Confiscation and International Cooperation in relation to the proceeds of crime (1999).

LLM-FCML 720 – Competition Law

This course deals with the new 2013 UAE Federal Competition Law. The coverage also includes (comparisons with) EU law and the international dimension of competition laws. Furthermore, the course pays attention to competition elements that are included in the other UAE Laws.

LLM-FCML 730 – Financial Crimes and Governance, Compliance and Assurance

The purpose of this course is to expose students to concepts, strategies and best practices in governance, compliance and assurance in relation to financial crimes.

LLM-FCML 740 – Thesis (Specific for Each Track)

The purpose of this course is to write a thesis on a research topic, using adequate and acceptable sources of legal information. The course allows participants to draw on knowledge and comprehension of legal issues gained in the previous LLM courses. The thesis must provide a competent synthesis and critical analysis of the relevant materials and must be satisfactory as regards structure, style and presentation.