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Regular version of the site
Master 2021/2022

International Investment Law

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Compulsory course
Area of studies: Law
When: 1 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Konstantin Ksenofontov
Master’s programme: Law of International Trade, Finance and Economic Integration
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 40

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Cross-border investments play an important role in modern economy, as well as international relations. They have significant impact on development of countries, environment, trade and communities. It comes as no surprise that States increasingly regulate various aspects of such investments both by national laws and by entering into bilateral and multilateral treaties. Treaties and laws governing protection of foreign investment, insurance of cross-border investment, implementation of investment-related regulations that may have impact on trade, laws governing access of foreign investors are the key elements that the course will explore. Various aspects of foreign investment are subject of increasing criticism from various stakeholders including States and civil society. Criticism of investment arbitration system, where ‘unelected judges’ allegedly favor investors over States is the most intensively discussed subject. However other aspects, such as lack of effective control over foreign investors and lack of their accountability for human rights and environmental law violations, also raise important concerns. The course will explore the extent to which the various criticisms are justified and ways to address them, including the investment dispute settlement reform.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The aim of the course is to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of international investment law, particularly the regime governing protection and implementation of foreign investments. The course explains various frameworks established by national laws and rules of international law governing cross-border or international investments and how they operate in practice.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Skills and abilities: • to use specific terms and sources of the global investment law; • practical abilities to research international investment law and national laws and regulations governing international investment; • skills to advise clients on rules relating specifically to implementation of international investments and represent them in disputes concerning compliance with such rules.
  • Students must gain knowledge on: • Rules of international law and frameworks established at national law governing international investments; • Procedural framework for resolution of disputes concerning foreign investment.
  • Students should gain the following competences: • ability to work with information (search, evaluate, use information, necessary for fulfilment of academic and professional tasks, from various sources, including application of the systematic approach); • ability to carry out professional activities in the international environment; • ability to search, analyse, and work with relevant information by using the juridical, comparative and other specific methods,
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction to International Investment Law: Various Areas and Various Regimes
  • Application of General International Law to Foreign Investment
  • Protection of Foreign Investment: Scope of Applicable Treaties
  • Expropriation
  • Standards of treatment (I): Fair and Equitable Treatment, Full Protection and Security
  • Standards of Treatment (II): National Treatment and Most-Favored Nation Treatment
  • Standards of Treatment (III): Umbrella Clause and Freedom of Transfers
  • Settlement of Investment Disputes (I): fora
  • Settlement of Investment Disputes (I): procedure
  • Obligations of Foreign Investor and Their Enforcement
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Attendance, active participation and in-class discussion. Online.
  • non-blocking Essay. Online.
  • non-blocking Written Exam. Online.
    Exam for the Course will be set up as a 3 hours takeaway exam session. The exam is open book and any external sources may be used. Students are NOT allowed to consult with any other persons during writing their exam. After students receive their assignments they are expected to prepare their answers and to download them in due time to the anti-plagiarism system Turnitin following the link distributed by the HSE study office.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2021/2022 2nd module
    0.3 * Essay. Online. + 0.5 * Written Exam. Online. + 0.2 * Attendance, active participation and in-class discussion. Online.
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Douglas, Z. (2003). The Hybrid Foundations of Investment Treaty Arbitration. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.923ADAFD
  • Lim, C. L., Ho,Jean, & Paparinskis,Martins. (2018). International Investment Law and Arbitration. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.b.cup.cbooks.9781107180338
  • Stefanie Schacherer, & Rhea Tamara Hoffmann. (2019). International investment law and sustainable development. Chapters, 563. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.h.elg.eechap.17250.18
  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2007). Elimination of TRIMs, the Experience of Selected Developing Countries. New York: United Nations Publications. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=225794

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Chochorelou, M. (2018). Multinational corporations as a new subject of international investment law: Rights conferred to investors under the ISDS provisions of intergovernmental and bilateral treaties and ways to balance this new reality. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 2018. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edstdx&AN=edstdx.10803.664724
  • Douglas, Z. (2011). The MFN Clause in Investment Arbitration: Treaty Interpretation Off the Rails. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.9E4CD985
  • El Mougy, H. A. M. (2017). Transformations in International Investment Law: Incorporating Public Interest into Private Regime. Global Business & Economics Anthology, 1, 113–116. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=124646820
  • Kalicki, J., & Medeiros, S. (2007). Fair, Equitable and Ambiguous: What Is Fair and Equitable Treatment in International Investment Law? Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.F627ACCC
  • Norton, P. M. (2018). The Role of Precedent in the Development of International Investment Law. ICSID Review: Foreign Investment Law Journal, 33(1), 280–301. https://doi.org/10.1093/icsidreview/six027
  • Radi, Y. (2018). Philip Morris v Uruguay: Regulatory Measures in International Investment Law: To Be or Not To Be Compensated? ICSID Review: Foreign Investment Law Journal, 33(1), 74–80. https://doi.org/10.1093/icsidreview/six031
  • Zivkovic, V. (Dr. . (2018). International Rule of Law Through International Investment Law. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.8C42B585