Unit information: Regulation of Financial Markets and Institutions in 2013/14

Unit name	Regulation of Financial Markets and Institutions
Unit code	LAWD39005
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. McVea
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Foundations of Business Law or Contract Law
Co-requisites	None
School/department	University of Bristol Law School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

Recent events globally and nationally have placed financial markets and financial market regulation under intense scrutiny, and thrust what was formerly an arcane area of study into the mainstream. Set against the background of the recent financial crisis, the unit covers a selection of topics in financial markets regulation mainly, though not solely, in relation to securities regulation (rather than the regulation of high street banking or insurance business). The focus is on the public aspects of regulation rather than on private law rules, or the transactional aspects of financial services activity. Furthermore, although the unit focuses on the regulation of UK financial markets and institutions, it does so in the context of relevant EU law and emerging international norms and initiatives. The unit will complement students studying Company law and/or Banking law.

Intended Learning Outcomes

When presented with a set of facts you should be able to:

• identify the key regulatory issues arising from those facts;
• cite relevant case law and/or statutory authority;
• explain how that authority applies to the issues raised by the facts, or how the facts may be distinguished;
• draw reasoned conclusions

When presented with a proposition relating to the a particular aspect of the regulation of financial markets and institutions you should be able to:

• present arguments for and against the proposition, citing relevant authorities as well as the views of other writers, and be able to assess the weight and credibility of any argument advanced;
• examine relevant reform proposals;
• draw reasoned conclusions as to whether you agree or disagree with the proposition advanced.

Teaching Information

11 two hour seminars.

Assessment Information

A three hour examination.

Reading and References

Probably the best of what is available is: A Hudson, The Law of Finance (2nd edn Sweet & Maxwell, 2013). I MacNeil’s An Introduction to the Law on Financial Investment (2nd edn Hart, 2012) is quite a good little book but, unfortunately, it is already out of date in significant respects.