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Vanderbilt in Venice Summer 2017 Courses

Session I

Comparative Perspectives on Counterterrorism (2 credit hours)

This course offers a comparative analysis of the national approaches of, inter alia, the United States, Israel, the European Union, and other states. This multidisciplinary course focuses on the dual interlocking axes of legal norms [flowing from international as well as national perspective] and the accompanying political and operational imperatives. Counterterrorism is a global cooperative phenomenon, and the study of its practice entails the use of case-law, legislation, international law, and national policy directives and operational decisions. Students will be exposed to case-law from a number of jurisdictions, to include international courts and commissions, reaching occasionally contradictory results. Counterterrorism also entails discussion of human rights law, humanitarian law, and comparative statutory study. The course will also entail extended use of scenario driven exercises.

Taught by Michael Newton, Professor of the Practice Law, Vanderbilt Law School

International Law: The International Arbitral Process (2 credit hours)

This course is designed to acquaint students in the understanding of both public and private international law rules from an arbitral perspective. Special emphasis will be made on international economic law. Inquiry is made into the sources of international law and will include related bodies of rules involving more than one legal and political system. Hence, particular reference will be made to new sources of global law such as the Unidroit Principles for international commercial contracts and lex mercatoria. We will focus on the understanding of doctrines, institutions and applications using historical, political and jurisprudential perspectives.

The topics employed to explore these themes include:

  • Sources of international law
  • The European Community Law experience
  • The Hague Peace system for intergovernmental dispute settlement and ICJ
  • WTO and economic disputes
  • Mixed arbitration: State contracts; ICSID, the Iran-US Claims Tribunal and UNCC
  • Transnational commercial arbitration

Taught by Italian Professor of Law, TBA 

Session II

European Union Law (2 credit hours)

The European Union is the most ambitious legal, economic, and political integration among nations in the post-World War II era. This course provides a general introduction to the legal system and scope of economic regulation of the European Union. After an introduction to the EU’s institutions, lawmaking processes, and integrated system of legal remedies, we will study the substantive pillars of market integration, from protections on the free movement of goods, services and capital to the Union’s current broad competences to regulate markets. The coverage will introduce students to the aspects of EU lawmaking that have greatest impact on US business and government interests.

Taught by Kevin Stack, Professor of Law, Vanderbilt Law School

Transnational Litigation (2 credit hours)

This course will provide an introduction to the procedural issues that arise in the legal resolution of disputes in international transactions.  Transnational litigation in U.S. courts is the primary focus, but there will be some discussion of transnational litigation in the courts of other countries, especially the countries of the European Union.  The course covers jurisdiction, sovereign immunity, service of process abroad, taking evidence abroad, parallel litigation, applicable laws and treaties, comparison of trial procedures, enforcement of foreign judgments and use of arbitration.

Taught by Ingrid Wuerth, Helen Strong Curry Chair in International Law & Director, International Legal Studies Program, Vanderbilt Law School