Corporate Law

Learn from some of the best in business law

Business lawyers handle a wide range of legal issues for corporations, including transactional, governance, litigation, and regulatory work. Nearly all of our students choose to take the
Business Associations course to develop a basic understanding of the legal system under which
corporations operate.

From issues arising at multibillion-dollar corporations to small businesses to nonprofit
organizations, Ohio State offers numerous courses covering a range of issues related to
corporate structure and governance, securities regulation and public offerings, corporate
takeovers and mergers, foreign investment, corporate finance, and other challenges.

Professor Dale Oesterle’s popular seminar, titled Hot Money, studies the legal regulation
of financial speculators in a variety of financial markets that may include, among other things,
subprime mortgages, short-selling, information markets, hedge funds, private equity funds,
venture capital funds, derivative markets (options, futures, and swaps, including credit swaps),
real estate flipping, underwriting, blank check offerings, and the currency markets.

In the wake of the financial crisis, there is an urgent need to study global capital markets,
including regulation of the internal and external governance of markets, corporations, and
financial institutions. The Moritz College of Law’s new Law and Capital Markets @ Ohio State
program, led by Professor Steven Davidoff, is uniquely positioned to be a leader in that study.
The program draws on the cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary strength of the University’s
law and business schools to provide the ideas, research and products that will provide critical
information and guidance for policymakers, the industry, and academics. The program is
designed to support academic research and to engage synergistically with private lawyers and
public officials.

The Distinguished Practitioners in Residence Program in Business Law draws some of the nation's top judges and practitioners to teach one-credit, concentrated courses in advanced subjects in business law. The program was created so that students can learn from and exchange ideas with extraordinarily accomplished and prominent practitioners. These adjunct professors participate in several on-campus activities during their stays. Past lecturers have included Scott V. Simpson, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in London; William B. Chandler, the chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery; Dan Sandman '73, former vice chairman and chief legal and administrative officer, general counsel, and secretary at U.S. Steel; and other distinguished practitioners representing some of the country's largest corporations and law firms.

In the Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic, students help emerging businesses with legal
matters ranging from corporate structure to employment contracts to the protection of
intellectual property.

J.D. students may also be invited to join the Ohio State Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal (EBLJ), which provides an excellent opportunity for them to explore the intersection of business and the law. Created and managed by students, this semiannual journal explores the legal issues facing entrepreneurs, small business owners, and venture capitalists. The EBLJ publishes scholarly articles, book reviews, and student-authored notes discussing provocative, timely issues facing the business community. Additionally, the EBLJ hosts an annual symposium where professors and practitioners from Ohio and around the country gather to discuss topical issues and emerging trends in entrepreneurial business law.

Moritz students may also have the opportunity to earn a joint J.D.-M.B.A degree. Students accepted in both programs split classes between the Moritz College of Law and the highly regarded Fisher College of Business at Ohio State. Just a quick walk from the law school, Fisher provides students with a top-notch business education that nicely complements a law degree.

J.D. students also may enroll in the Certificate Program in International Trade and Development, which is designed to provide law students with a broad legal and multidisciplinary background in international trade, investment, and commercial law. Students receive grounding in the basic business, tax, and commercial law courses that are important to any business lawyer. In addition, students are trained in domestic laws that affect international trade, such as federal trade laws that regulate countervailing duties, unfair trade practices, and export controls.

Course Sampling

 Accounting for Lawyers
 Antitrust
 Banking Law
 Business Associations
 Business and Tax Legal Research
 Business Bankruptcy
 Business of Law
 Capital Markets
 China Problem
 Corporate Finance
 Corporate Governance Law
 Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic
 Federal Antitrust Law

 Fiduciary Responsibility
 Hospital Problem
 Hot Money Seminar
 International Business Transactions
 International Joint Ventures
 International Mergers and Acquisitions
 International Trade
 Investment Management Law
 Mergers and Acquisitions
 Nonprofit Organizations
 Securities Regulation
 Small Business Finance
 White Collar Crime