LAWCOMM 735 : Special Topic: Private Equity and Venture Capital – Corporate Law and Practice

Law

2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

Private equity is an investment class through which investors aggregate investment funds to be invested and managed by a private equity sponsor. Private equity sponsors apply funds in the takeover of private and publicly listed companies. Since private equity funds have finite lifetimes, the business plan of private equity necessarily involves the sale of acquired companies over time with a view to generating profits (the “exit”). “Private equity - law and practice” is a comprehensive “soup-to-nuts” examination of private equity as a discipline and a concept focusing on the US and UK markets. The course embraces black-letter law, economic theory, mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), regulation, and corporate governance. This subject is taught at an advanced level. A basic understanding of companies and their structures, the difference between shares and debt, the roles of shareholders and directors, and the difference between private and publicly-traded companies is recommended.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically examine private equity as a discipline and a concept focusing on the US and UK markets. (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 6.1)
  2. Analyse the thoretical framework around private equity and aply this theory to practical scenarios (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 6.1)
  3. Recognise the legal and regulatory rules governing the private equity industry. (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
  4. Provide suggestions as to the direction and approaches of future law reform (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Take Home Assessment 50% Individual Coursework
Research Essay 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Take Home Assessment
Research Essay
Class participation
Class participation will play a large role in this intensive course.  Students should come to class having completed the pre-reading and be able to contribute to a robust discussion.

Take Home Assessment
The take home assessment component comprises a series of questions which may be problem questions (fact patterns followed by questions), short essay questions or a combination of the two. Students will be required to answer all the questions in the assessment in no more than 6,250 words.

Research Essay
Each student is required to submit a research essay of no more than 6.500 words (including an abstract/synopsis of approximately 200 words) by 12 noon on the 24th June 2025. 

Workload Expectations

There will be 40 contact hours in this course. As a postgraduate course, there is an expectation that you prepare well for each class. The nature of the substantive assessment involving independent research also requires a significant amount of work outside of class. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of six hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 300 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required over the five day intensive because the course is designed to be participatory, and it depends upon students being personally present and contributing. Sessions will not be available as recordings.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Reading Materials
Reading materials will be listed on the student information system Canvas. Students may also be asked to access additional materials via the Internet or in the Davis Law Library. All students are expected to read and study all the assigned reading for each class.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This is the first time of offering.  

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 07/04/2025 12:28 p.m.