International Investment Law

This module will be of particular interest to those who wish to focus on the transactional nature of international economic and commercial relations.

International investment law examines the laws, policies and institutions affecting cross-border investment by foreign investors, which are either natural persons or corporations, in host countries. It reviews the current international legal framework for foreign direct investment, including the reasons why investors choose to invest overseas and why host countries actively encourage inward investment but may wish to control such investment by means of pre- and post-establishment regulation.

There is a similar focus on the investment activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the international legal order, which leads to a consideration of the liability of MNCs and various home state measures. Not only is special attention paid to the means of using these instruments for inward investment but also the  standard of treatment that investors can expect to receive under them.

The module focuses on such matters as breach of investor standards, the bases of claims for expropriation and available remedies, including the standard and quantum of compensation. A portion of the module is also dedicated to the settlement of international investment disputes with a focus on investment arbitration.