Law

Law

General Courses

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School of Economics and Management

All

IA9991GCA1

2.00Credits

講義 (Lecture)

Fall semester 2026

(Fall semester)

Ryo SAKAIRI

School of Economics and Management

English

7／8／9／10／14

After the class, at the class room

ryo_sakairi@em.u-hyogo.ac.jp

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1-2◎／2-1〇

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【Course Objectives】
Our social activities cannot be isolated from legal issues. In this regard, every person should have basic legal knowledge. Especially, business law skills are important, since quite a lot of people engage in commercial activities. Against this background, the objective of this course is that students can understand essentials of law and important commercial rules (Competition Law / International Trade Law) and apply them to solve specific legal problems.

【Learning Outcome】
Students are expected to achieve two goals. Firstly, they can explain basic concepts of law including sources of law. Secondly, they can apply Competition Law / International Trade Law to specific cases. Since these rules are expected to strike the balance between economic growth and sustainable developments, it is essential to apply those to take into account non-economic values.

【Subtitle】Fundamentals of law and important commericial rules
【Keywords】Competition Law, International Trade Law

This course starts from basic concepts and other fundamentals regarding law. After explaining these basics, the course deals with important commercial rules (Competition Law / International Economic Law) with some case studies.

1. Introduction and importance of Law
2. What is Law
3. Justice system: courts and procedural rules
4. Sources of law: what is referred in judgments
5. Legal interpretation: basic concepts and methods
6. Basics of Competition Law: overview of substantive rules and enforcement
7. Cartels: requirements and effective enforcement mechanism
8. Vertical agreements: types and requirements
9. Monopolies and the abuse of market power: types and requirements
10. Mergers and acquisitions: requirements and effective enforcement mechanism
11. Basics of International Trade Law: overview of substantive rules and dispute settlement system
12. Rules on non-discrimination and market access: most-favoured-nation treatment, national treatment, prohibition on quantitative restrictions, tariff concessions
13. Exceptions to principles: general and security exceptions
14. Trade remedies: safugaurds, antidumping and subsidies and countervailing Duties
15. Summary

In-person

• In-person classes only
• Not subject to the cap on distance-education credits

Limited permission for use

In this class, the use of generative AI is permitted within the following scope. The use of generative AI outside the following scope is prohibited, except when specifically permitted by the lecturer. If it is found that generative AI has been used beyond the scope permitted by the lecturer, credits may not be recognized or recognition may be revoked. Even if the use of generative AI is permitted in the preparation of reports, the output results of generative AI must not be submitted as is. The output results of generative AI must be fact-checked, and any part of the results that cannot be supported by sources and references must not be used. Even if the results can be supported, sources and references must be specified, and expressions must be appropriately modified according to the context.
< Scope of Availability >
- Summary of Materials on topics introduced in the course
- English translation of legal materials written in languages other than English

Materials are provided by the lecturer.

Ariel Ezrachi, Competition and Antitrust Law: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2021), ISBN: 978-0-198-86030-3
Peter Van den Bossche & Denise Prevost, Essentials of WTO Law (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed., 2021), ISBN: 978-1-108-79362-9
Other important books or articles may be introduced through the course, if needed.

Students are expected to do following things outside the sessions:
- read materials provided by the lecturer in advance, before each session (1 hour per each session);
- review materials and notes as well as reflect on the course content, after each session. (2 hour per each session);
- submit three written reports (5 hour per each report).

Students are encouraged to share their thoughts on Competition Law/International Economic Law cases.

[Grade Evaluation Criteria]
In view of the above goals, credits will be awarded to students who can explain the basics of Law and apply commericial rules referred to in this course. Credits will be awarded based on S (90 points or higher), A (80 points or higher), B (70 points or higher), and C (60 points or higher) grades.
[Grade Evaluation Method]
Students will be evaluated comprehensively based on 40% of written reports and 60% of final examinations taking into account students' contribution to case studies.

As for written reports, students are normally provided feedback in upcoming sessions after deadlines.
The lecturer is also planning to show general comments on a final exam through the system.

Students are expected to fully prepare and review the course content in order to achieve the course goals.

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