日本語 English
| 開講年度/ Academic YearAcademic Year |
20262026 |
| 科目設置学部/ CollegeCollege |
法学部/College of Law and PoliticsCollege of Law and Politics |
| 科目コード等/ Course CodeCourse Code |
EX883/EX883EX883 |
| テーマ・サブタイトル等/ Theme・SubtitleTheme・Subtitle |
Inside International Business Law: Lessons and Perspectives from Leading Practitioners in the Field |
| 授業形態/ Class FormatClass Format |
対面（全回対面）/Face to face (all classes are face-to-face)Face to face (all classes are face-to-face) |
| 授業形態（補足事項）/ Class Format (Supplementary Items)Class Format (Supplementary Items) |
|
| 授業形式/ Class StyleCampus |
演習・ゼミ/SeminarSeminar |
| 校地/ CampusCampus |
池袋/IkebukuroIkebukuro |
| 学期/ SemesterSemester |
春学期/Spring SemesterSpring Semester |
| 曜日時限・教室/ DayPeriod・RoomDayPeriod・Room |
水4/Wed.4 Wed.4 ログインして教室を表示する（Log in to view the classrooms.） |
| 単位/ CreditsCredits |
22 |
| 科目ナンバリング/ Course NumberCourse Number |
LPX2911 |
| 使用言語/ LanguageLanguage |
英語/EnglishEnglish |
| 履修登録方法/ Class Registration MethodClass Registration Method |
その他登録/"Other" Registration"Other" Registration |
| 配当年次/ Assigned YearAssigned Year |
配当年次は開講学部のR Guideに掲載している科目表で確認してください。配当年次は開講学部のR Guideに掲載している科目表で確認してください。 |
| 先修規定/ Prerequisite RegulationsPrerequisite Regulations |
|
| 他学部履修可否/ Acceptance of Other CollegesAcceptance of Other Colleges |
履修登録システムの『他学部・他研究科履修不許可科目一覧』で確認してください。 |
| 履修中止可否/ Course CancellationCourse Cancellation |
〇（履修中止可/ Eligible for cancellation） |
| オンライン授業60単位制限対象科目/ Online Classes Subject to 60-Credit Upper LimitOnline Classes Subject to 60-Credit Upper Limit |
|
| 学位授与方針との関連/ Relationship with Degree PolicyRelationship with Degree Policy |
各授業科目は、学部・研究科の定める学位授与方針（DP）や教育課程編成の方針（CP）に基づき、カリキュラム上に配置されています。詳細はカリキュラム・マップで確認することができます。 https://www.rikkyo.ac.jp/about/disclosure/educational_policy/lp.html |
| 備考/ NotesNotes |
To help students understand how legal concepts can be applied to further the aims of international business practitioners
To highlight to students the importance of cultivating non-legal knowledge so that they can build successful careers in law-adjacent roles
To inspire students to engage in further formal and informal study so that are prepared to compete on the international stage
For students to explore diverse career paths available to individuals with a legal education
To provide students an opportunity to establish relationships with leading professionals working in various fields in Japan
This course is your gateway to understanding how the legal concepts you learn in the classroom are borne out in real-life international business transactions. In this course, you will be exposed to the diverse set of roles legal professionals play in global commerce across industries.
In order to do this effectively, we will spend the first half of the course learning about topics that are essential for you to understand to work effectively in an international business environment. Topics will include economics, accounting, valuation, finance, and geopolitics, among others.
This is not just a theory class; you will learn from top legal and business professionals—all of whom have worked at some of the world’s preeminent law firms and corporations. You will hear about what legal practitioners do and how they do it, and you will gain a greater appreciation for some of the opportunities that exist for those who are able to leverage their knowledge of the law on an international stage.
This is a unique opportunity for students to interact directly with professionals who have worked on some of the most significant business transactions in the Japanese market. Whether you aspire to be a legal scholar or practitioner, or you are exploring the broader potential of your law degree, this course is designed to challenge, inspire, and help prepare you for success working across borders.
While I have taught this class before, the course contents and speakers will change somewhat from year to year.
**Note that the course schedule may change in order to accommodate the schedules of the guest speakers, but the course content is not anticipated to change.**
| 1 | Course Overview and Discussion of Economics Concepts This introductory week sets the stage for the course, focusing on basic macro- and microeconomics principles. Students will explore how these fundamental concepts underpin international business transactions and influence legal and business strategies. By the end of the session, students should understand key economic terms and ideas and how they apply to global commerce. |
| 2 | Financial Statements – The Language of Business An introduction to financial statements and their role in helping business practitioners assess a company’s health. Students will learn the basics of how to read and interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements and become familiar with accounting terms often used in business. |
| 3 | Valuation Basics – Measuring Business Worth Students will learn some of the many ways that businesses are valued, such as discounted cash flow, comparables, and multiples-based valuation methods, among others. Students will also learn how valuation informs business decisions in M&A and other transactions. |
| 4 | Fundraising – Debt, Equity, and Beyond In this class, we will explore the various ways businesses raise capital and the legal implications of these transactions. Students will learn about debt and equity financing, venture capital and private equity. Discussions will highlight how lawyers support businesses through these critical transactions. |
| 5 | Legal Practice – In-House vs. Private Practice Students will learn about the responsibilities and challenges facing in-house legal teams and private practice lawyers, and we will discuss how responsibilities differ based on industry. |
| 6 | Geopolitics and Emerging Trends in Law and Business We will examine how global trends and geopolitical dynamics shape international business and legal practice. Topics may include world order, national security, trade wars and sanctions; ESG compliance; and AI-driven transformation, among others. Students will discuss the role of lawyers in helping businesses navigate these complexities and how lawyers themselves might be impacted by geopolitics and emerging technologies. |
| 7 | Review and Midterm We will review the topic discussed in the class thus far, and students will be given a midterm assignment. |
| 8 | Being a General Counsel – Lessons from a Leader I expect to invite a General Counsel to discuss their experience managing legal and compliance functions in the tech industry. Further details to follow. |
| 9 | Being a Partner at a US Law Firm – Leadership in High-Stakes Deals I expect to invite a Partner from a top US law firm to discuss their experience in the M&A space. Further details to follow. |
| 10 | Practicing Globally as a Japanese Associate I expect to invite a Japanese associate to discuss their experiences practicing law at a top Japanese law firm. Further details to follow. |
| 11 | In-House and Capital Markets – A Counsel’s Journey I expect to invite a capital markets lawyer who also has experience practicing law in house in a global financial services firm. Further details to follow. |
| 12 | Startup Law and Innovation – The Lawyer as a Builder I expect to invite a legal professional who has extensive experience in the startup space in Japan. Further details to follow. |
| 13 | Entertainment and Media Law – Legal Practice in Creative Industries I expect to invite a legal professional who has extensive experience in the entertainment law space in Japan. Further details to follow. |
| 14 | Legal Advocacy I expect to invite a professional who helps to shape legal policy in Japan through lobbying and similar activities. Further details to follow. |
板書 /Writing on the Board
スライド（パワーポイント等）の使用 /Slides (PowerPoint, etc.)
上記以外の視聴覚教材の使用 /Audiovisual Materials Other than Those Listed Above
個人発表 /Individual Presentations
グループ発表 /Group Presentations
ディスカッション・ディベート /Discussion/Debate
実技・実習・実験 /Practicum/Experiments/Practical Training
学内の教室外施設の利用 /Use of On-Campus Facilities Outside the Classroom
校外実習・フィールドワーク /Field Work
上記いずれも用いない予定 /None of the above
This is a unique opportunity to gain access to legal professionals practicing at the highest level. I will expect students to devote significant time to prepare sufficiently to participate actively in each class.
There will be reading assignments for most classes.
In addition, students will be assigned other homework to ensure they have the level of understanding required to interact meaningfully with guest speakers.
| 種類 (Kind) | 割合 (%) | 基準 (Criteria) |
|---|---|---|
| 平常点 (In-class Points) | 100 |
Participation(35%) Midterm(25%) Homework(15%) 最終レポート(Final Report)(25%) |
| 備考 (Notes) | ||
| In order to be adequately prepared to engage with the guest speakers, it will be essential that you have done the readings and actively participate during each class--especially during the first seven classes. Attending class will NOT count toward your participation score. You must actually contribute to class discussions to receive credit. If you are absent without asking for permission, you will receive 0 participation points for that class. You will have a midterm assessment that should help you see how well prepared you are for discussions with the guest speakers. If you do not score well on it, I would advise you to revisit your notes and the course materials so that you can participate meaningfully in the classes that will follow. Homework will be assigned during the semester. Assignments will typically be due AT LEAST 24 hours prior to the following week's seminar. Scores on assignments turned in late but prior to the start of the seminar may be reduced by up to 50 points. Scores on assignments turned in after the start of the seminar but on the same day of the seminar may be further reduced. If assignments are not received by the end of the day of the last seminar, a score of 0 points will be awarded for each assignment not submitted. | ||
| その他 (Others) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A reading pack will be provided separately. |
While the contents of this course can be challenge, any student can take this course and do well. The most important thing is that you give yourself enough time to do the assignments thoroughly. It is also important that you speak up if you do not understand. This is an important skill both now and for the future.
A suitable English language proficiency level is a minimum of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.
To help students understand how legal concepts can be applied to further the aims of international business practitioners
To highlight to students the importance of cultivating non-legal knowledge so that they can build successful careers in law-adjacent roles
To inspire students to engage in further formal and informal study so that are prepared to compete on the international stage
For students to explore diverse career paths available to individuals with a legal education
To provide students an opportunity to establish relationships with leading professionals working in various fields in Japan
This course is your gateway to understanding how the legal concepts you learn in the classroom are borne out in real-life international business transactions. In this course, you will be exposed to the diverse set of roles legal professionals play in global commerce across industries.
In order to do this effectively, we will spend the first half of the course learning about topics that are essential for you to understand to work effectively in an international business environment. Topics will include economics, accounting, valuation, finance, and geopolitics, among others.
This is not just a theory class; you will learn from top legal and business professionals—all of whom have worked at some of the world’s preeminent law firms and corporations. You will hear about what legal practitioners do and how they do it, and you will gain a greater appreciation for some of the opportunities that exist for those who are able to leverage their knowledge of the law on an international stage.
This is a unique opportunity for students to interact directly with professionals who have worked on some of the most significant business transactions in the Japanese market. Whether you aspire to be a legal scholar or practitioner, or you are exploring the broader potential of your law degree, this course is designed to challenge, inspire, and help prepare you for success working across borders.
While I have taught this class before, the course contents and speakers will change somewhat from year to year.
**Note that the course schedule may change in order to accommodate the schedules of the guest speakers, but the course content is not anticipated to change.**
| 1 | Course Overview and Discussion of Economics Concepts This introductory week sets the stage for the course, focusing on basic macro- and microeconomics principles. Students will explore how these fundamental concepts underpin international business transactions and influence legal and business strategies. By the end of the session, students should understand key economic terms and ideas and how they apply to global commerce. |
| 2 | Financial Statements – The Language of Business An introduction to financial statements and their role in helping business practitioners assess a company’s health. Students will learn the basics of how to read and interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements and become familiar with accounting terms often used in business. |
| 3 | Valuation Basics – Measuring Business Worth Students will learn some of the many ways that businesses are valued, such as discounted cash flow, comparables, and multiples-based valuation methods, among others. Students will also learn how valuation informs business decisions in M&A and other transactions. |
| 4 | Fundraising – Debt, Equity, and Beyond In this class, we will explore the various ways businesses raise capital and the legal implications of these transactions. Students will learn about debt and equity financing, venture capital and private equity. Discussions will highlight how lawyers support businesses through these critical transactions. |
| 5 | Legal Practice – In-House vs. Private Practice Students will learn about the responsibilities and challenges facing in-house legal teams and private practice lawyers, and we will discuss how responsibilities differ based on industry. |
| 6 | Geopolitics and Emerging Trends in Law and Business We will examine how global trends and geopolitical dynamics shape international business and legal practice. Topics may include world order, national security, trade wars and sanctions; ESG compliance; and AI-driven transformation, among others. Students will discuss the role of lawyers in helping businesses navigate these complexities and how lawyers themselves might be impacted by geopolitics and emerging technologies. |
| 7 | Review and Midterm We will review the topic discussed in the class thus far, and students will be given a midterm assignment. |
| 8 | Being a General Counsel – Lessons from a Leader I expect to invite a General Counsel to discuss their experience managing legal and compliance functions in the tech industry. Further details to follow. |
| 9 | Being a Partner at a US Law Firm – Leadership in High-Stakes Deals I expect to invite a Partner from a top US law firm to discuss their experience in the M&A space. Further details to follow. |
| 10 | Practicing Globally as a Japanese Associate I expect to invite a Japanese associate to discuss their experiences practicing law at a top Japanese law firm. Further details to follow. |
| 11 | In-House and Capital Markets – A Counsel’s Journey I expect to invite a capital markets lawyer who also has experience practicing law in house in a global financial services firm. Further details to follow. |
| 12 | Startup Law and Innovation – The Lawyer as a Builder I expect to invite a legal professional who has extensive experience in the startup space in Japan. Further details to follow. |
| 13 | Entertainment and Media Law – Legal Practice in Creative Industries I expect to invite a legal professional who has extensive experience in the entertainment law space in Japan. Further details to follow. |
| 14 | Legal Advocacy I expect to invite a professional who helps to shape legal policy in Japan through lobbying and similar activities. Further details to follow. |
板書 /Writing on the Board
スライド（パワーポイント等）の使用 /Slides (PowerPoint, etc.)
上記以外の視聴覚教材の使用 /Audiovisual Materials Other than Those Listed Above
個人発表 /Individual Presentations
グループ発表 /Group Presentations
ディスカッション・ディベート /Discussion/Debate
実技・実習・実験 /Practicum/Experiments/Practical Training
学内の教室外施設の利用 /Use of On-Campus Facilities Outside the Classroom
校外実習・フィールドワーク /Field Work
上記いずれも用いない予定 /None of the above
This is a unique opportunity to gain access to legal professionals practicing at the highest level. I will expect students to devote significant time to prepare sufficiently to participate actively in each class.
There will be reading assignments for most classes.
In addition, students will be assigned other homework to ensure they have the level of understanding required to interact meaningfully with guest speakers.
| 種類 (Kind) | 割合 (%) | 基準 (Criteria) |
|---|---|---|
| 平常点 (In-class Points) | 100 |
Participation(35%) Midterm(25%) Homework(15%) 最終レポート(Final Report)(25%) |
| 備考 (Notes) | ||
| In order to be adequately prepared to engage with the guest speakers, it will be essential that you have done the readings and actively participate during each class--especially during the first seven classes. Attending class will NOT count toward your participation score. You must actually contribute to class discussions to receive credit. If you are absent without asking for permission, you will receive 0 participation points for that class. You will have a midterm assessment that should help you see how well prepared you are for discussions with the guest speakers. If you do not score well on it, I would advise you to revisit your notes and the course materials so that you can participate meaningfully in the classes that will follow. Homework will be assigned during the semester. Assignments will typically be due AT LEAST 24 hours prior to the following week's seminar. Scores on assignments turned in late but prior to the start of the seminar may be reduced by up to 50 points. Scores on assignments turned in after the start of the seminar but on the same day of the seminar may be further reduced. If assignments are not received by the end of the day of the last seminar, a score of 0 points will be awarded for each assignment not submitted. | ||
| その他 (Others) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A reading pack will be provided separately. |
While the contents of this course can be challenge, any student can take this course and do well. The most important thing is that you give yourself enough time to do the assignments thoroughly. It is also important that you speak up if you do not understand. This is an important skill both now and for the future.
A suitable English language proficiency level is a minimum of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.