J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management BLAW 921-0, Section 71
Northwestern University Spring 2005
Tuesdays 6:00-9:00p.m.
Chicago Campus
Professor:
Craig C. Bradley
Office Direct Phone: (312) 902-5353
Fax: (312) 577-8769
Email:
Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman
525 West Monroe Street
Suite 1600
Chicago, Illinois 60661
BUSINESS LAW FOR ENTREPRENUERS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to provide the would-be entrepreneur with a working knowledge of certain essential substantive areas of the law and the ability to work with and use lawyers effectively. The focus will be on the practical legal considerations in forming and sustaining an entrepreneurial enterprise, including entity organization, securities laws, employment benefits, operational liabilities, financing, mergers & acquisitions and intellectual property law.
TEXT BOOK; SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Our text book will be “The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Law”, 2nd Edition, by Constance E. Bagley and Craig E. Dauchy. This book was co-authored by a professor of the Harvard Business School and a top Silicon Valley attorney. The book should be available at the campus bookstore and is also available through Amazon.com. In addition, there will be materials handed out occasionally at class as well. Some materials may be distributed via e-mail. I will assume that all students can receive communications reliably via their e-mail address.
GRADING POLICY
The grade for the course will be based on the following components:
Class Attendance and Participation 40%
Final Exam 60%
COURSE SCHEDULE
Please note that class will not meet on March 29 – a make-up date will be announced later. The first class will meet on April 5.
Session
No. Topics
1 Introduction; Contracts; Selecting and Working with Attorneys
Reading: Chapters 3, 8 and 9
2 Employment Arrangements; Incentive Equity Compensation
Reading: Chapters 2 and 10
3 Structuring Ownership
Reading: Chapter 4, 5 and 6
4 Operational Liabilities; Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy
Reading: Chapters 11 and 12
5 Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets; Licensing
Reading: Chapter 14
6 Patents
Reading: Chapter 14
7 Mergers and Acquisitions
Reading: Chapter 16
8 Going Global
Reading: Chapter 17
9 Securities Regulation; Going Public
Reading: Chapters 7 and 17
10 Angel and Venture Capital Financing
Reading: Chapters 13 and 17
Final Exam Take Home Exam Distributed at end of Last Session.