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Business Associations (LAWS 4401)

Course Info

This course is an introduction to the law of business associations, including general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. The functions and relationships of enterprise participants, primarily promoters, equity owners, creditors, and managers are investigated. The course covers pre-organizational problems and then canvasses the roles of ownership and management, with emphasis on the special duties (fiduciary and other) imposed on certain participants in publicly and closely-held entities. The regulation of securities fraud, proxy voting and solicitations, and the issuance of securities under the federal securities laws is explored. Fundamental concepts of business financing, including valuation of the concern and claim structure, are investigated. Organic changes, including dissolutions, mergers, and tender offers, are discussed.

Instructor [Sections 310, 610]

Prof. Robert Rapp

Prof. Robert Rapp is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law who teaches securities regulation, business associations, and law, theory and practice in financial markets.

Instructor [Sections 320, 620]

Prof. Anat Beck

Prof. Anat Alon-Beck is an assistant professor of law. Her research focuses on corporate law and governance, particularly the shift in equities from public markets to private markets and the rise in the number of "unicorn" firms—privately held venture-capital backed startups that are valued at $1 billion or more.

Syllabus

The syllabus for your course is available on Canvas.

Textbooks [Rapp - both sections]

Required Text

Textbooks [Alon-Beck - both sections]

Required Text
Recommended Text

Study Aids

These study aids are available online.  Please click the hyperlinked title to view them. For instructions on how to use the specific platforms, including troubleshooting, please view Andy Dorchak's Study Aids Research Guide.

CALI

Computer-Aided Legal Instruction (CALI) requires an authorization code to use. If you do not have a CALI account, please contact Kieran Layton or the reference desk for assistance.

CALI (Computer Assisted Legal Instruction) Business Association lessons

Quimbee

If you have not registered your Quimbee account, please contact Kieran Layton or the reference desk for assistance.

Quimbee Business Associations materials

Audio Guides

Research Guide

 Course Guides