Business & Corporate

The practice of a corporate attorney is largely advisory and transactional. From the sole proprietorship to the publicly-held enterprise, the attorney counsels the client on a myriad of issues. These issues include, for example, choice of business entity, shareholder and related agreements (such as stock transfer agreements), law compliance, director and officer duties, mergers and acquisitions, and good corporate governance. In addition, the corporate attorney may opt to become a litigator, focusing on contested matters relating to alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, and insider trading.

Foundation Courses – Introducing the Basic Concepts
  • Business Enterprise
  • Securities Regulation
  • Income Taxation
Recommended Courses – Corporate Law Electives
  • Corporate Finance & Acquisitions
  • Corporate Planning
  • Corporate Taxation
  • Corporate Legal Department Practice
  • Counseling the Small Business Owner
  • Due Diligence in Business Transactions
  • Economic Analysis of Law
  • Lawyering & Ethics for the Business Attorney
  • Legal AccountingMergers & AcquisitionsNon-Profit Organizations
  • Private Equity & Hedge Fund Law
  • Representing the Entrepreneurial Client
  • Role of General Counsel
  • Securities Litigation & Enforcement
Clinics
  • Small Business Clinic
  • Tax Clinic
  • Trademark ClinicPatent Clinic 
  • Related Courses
  • Antitrust Law
  • Banking Law: Domestic & International
  • Creditors’ Rights
  • Economic Analysis of Law
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Franchising & Distribution Law
  • Immigration Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Business & Financial Transactions
  • International Franchising
  • Payment Systems
  • Products Liability
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Sale of Goods Transactions
  • Secured Transactions
  • Social Media Law
For those interested in corporate litigation, see also Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution. For those interested in corporate insolvency, see also Bankruptcy Law.

With prior permission, students may also take a limited number of graduate-level courses at SMU’s Cox School of Business.

Externships
  • Corporate Counsel Externship Program (includes classroom component)
  • SEC Student Externship Program
  • SMU Legal Affairs Office
  • Susan G. Komen for the Cure (legal affairs office)
Student Organizations
  • Corporate Law Association
Faculty
Here are some of the full-time faculty members who teach or are interested in this area: