The program offers valuable skills for lawyers trained outside of the United States seeking to expand or grow their practices or transition to a new, business-oriented practice, and is well-suited for U.S. trained lawyers without a corporate background who are seeking to gain a deeper understanding of business-centric practice areas of U.S law.

Participants who complete the program will earn a certificate in U.S. Corporate Law and Strategy from University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Through this interactive program, you will be introduced to several areas of corporate law theory and legal practice, including*:

Entrepreneurship and early-stage capital investment

The initial focal point is on the beginning of a company’s life-cycle—the start-up venture. This topic will focus the legal, business, and strategic issues faced in representing a start-up venture, including entity selection, intellectual property protection, employee issues, raising early-stage capital, first steps in developing a business plan and platform for venture capital.

Corporate governance and advice

As a company grows and expands, and outside investors hold equity in the company and maintain seats on the company’s board, corporate governance issues become more prominent and complex. This topic will focus on fiduciary duties to shareholders, the business judgment rule, entire fairness standards, duties that arise in the context of sale processes, and defensive measures, through the lens of transactions and Delaware case law.

Mergers and acquisitions

The pinnacle of a company’s life cycle is typically the merger or acquisition transaction—the change of control and monetization of the company’s value. This topic will focus on the different types of M&A transactions: public versus private sales, mergers versus acquisitions, solicited versus unsolicited transactions, and the agreements (and related obligations) that govern M&A transactions.

Corporate restructuring and reorganization

A company may face distress—financial, operational, or otherwise—at various stages of its life cycle. Some may additionally require financial or operational restructuring to maintain the go-forward business. This topic will focus on restructuring transactions under the framework of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including Chapter 11 going-concern sales, plans of reorganization, and the rights and obligations of a debtor-company using Chapter 11 to restructure its business and emerge from bankruptcy.

*Topics subject to change.

Program schedule available Fall 2021

Program details available Fall 2021

CLE credits may be available for lawyers in attendance. If you have any questions regarding CLE credits for this program, please email us at USCorporateLaw@law.upenn.edu.

A limited amount of financial assistance is available to qualified applicants. Requests for more information on the qualifications and availability of assistance can be directed to USCorporateLaw@law.upenn.edu.

Questions about the program, application process, and admissions can be directed to USCorporateLaw@law.upenn.edu