OVERVIEW

Commercial law is made up of all the rules of private law that specifically regulate production activities and their exercise. To this phenomenon, which in modern civilization has reached planetary dimensions and which with its presence in the social fabric permeates the life of every person, a large set of legal rules is dedicated, contained only in part in the Civil Code, but fragmented into many special laws. . There are many specific aspects of commercial law: from that relating to the creation and operation of a company, to that relating to the establishment and life of the company, to that relating to competition between entrepreneurs, and the tools they have to make advance the business.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to guide students in acquiring the legal and conceptual tools necessary to understand the functioning of business activities, with a specific focus on the dynamics of the Blue Economy market, ecological transition, and antitrust law for the protection of local excellences.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and apply the fundamentals of commercial law, with particular reference to the legal status of the entrepreneur and competition regulation.
• Analyze and evaluate market asymmetries and "green" cooperation agreements within maritime and local agri-food supply chains.
• Solve practical business problems through teamwork, simulating the design and contractual management of a corporate entity.

Soft Skills Developed:

• Personal competence (autonomy and resilience): Ability to identify one's skills, manage complexity and stress, make autonomous decisions, and develop critical and reflective thinking regarding complex tasks.
• Functional literacy competence (advanced communication): Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms, adapting specialized legal lexicon to the economic and professional context, processing information from heterogeneous sources.
• Entrepreneurship competence (project creation and problem-solving): Ability to turn ideas into actions, applying strategic thinking and creativity to innovation contexts and evolving business processes.

In line with the University's core guidelines, the course actively promotes SDG 4 (Quality Education), stimulating autonomous learning skills required for future professional environments, and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), encouraging fair and participatory leadership during group simulations.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to guide students in acquiring the legal and conceptual tools necessary to understand the functioning of business activities, with a specific focus on the dynamics of the Blue Economy market, ecological transition, and antitrust law for the protection of local excellences.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and apply the fundamentals of commercial law, with particular reference to the legal status of the entrepreneur and competition regulation.
• Analyze and evaluate market asymmetries and "green" cooperation agreements within maritime and local agri-food supply chains.
• Solve practical business problems through teamwork, simulating the design and contractual management of a corporate entity.

Soft Skills Developed:

• Personal competence (autonomy and resilience): Ability to identify one's skills, manage complexity and stress, make autonomous decisions, and develop critical and reflective thinking regarding complex tasks.
• Functional literacy competence (advanced communication): Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms, adapting specialized legal lexicon to the economic and professional context, processing information from heterogeneous sources.
• Entrepreneurship competence (project creation and problem-solving): Ability to turn ideas into actions, applying strategic thinking and creativity to innovation contexts and evolving business processes.

In line with the University's core guidelines, the course actively promotes SDG 4 (Quality Education), stimulating autonomous learning skills required for future professional environments, and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), encouraging fair and participatory leadership during group simulations.

PREREQUISITES

It is required to pass the exams of private law and constitutional law

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching methodologies
The course adopts an interactive and multidisciplinary approach, aiming to combine the study of positive law with the principles of business ethics and the centrality of the individual in the market. It consists of the following activities:

• Lectures (with class debate): Analysis of commercial law institutions, enriched by reflections on the social role of the entrepreneur, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and labor protection.
• In-depth seminars: Two dedicated seminars in October, focusing on the dynamics of the Blue Economy, ecological transition, and antitrust law to safeguard local excellences and heroic viticulture.
• Periodic review and self-assessment exercises: Analysis of practical cases and questions to monitor learning progress and train critical thinking.
• Group simulations (Project Work): Cooperative simulations aimed at designing a sustainable business, solving real contractual issues, conducting market analysis, and developing ethical promotional campaigns. This activity fosters personal development, inclusion, and gender equality standards (in line with SDG 5).

Inclusion and Accessibility:
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs and having complied with Unige procedures (described here) who need compensatory measures to prepare the exams or during the exams are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning styles. For requesting Unige services for students with disabilities and other information, please visit unige.it. For further information, please visit unige.it and contact the Department's disability liaison officer (isa.fanlo@unige.it).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The business and the company;
Business contracts;
The distinctive signs;
Competition;
Advertising.
Part I: The first part will deal with the constitutional and codicistic foundations of corporate law, with particular attention to the general principles regarding freedom of economic initiative, freedom of competition and general interest. The various types of companies, the rules regarding representation and the company will be taken into consideration,

Part II: In the second part, the general principles on business contracts and the company's forms of communication will be addressed with attention to the sectors of distinctive signs and advertising

Part III: The third part of the course is dedicated to the study of competition law and antitrust law, both national and EU.

Furthermore, students will be offered a final group work which will consist in the creation of a company in the area, based on an autonomous choice of product market, geographic market and entrepreneurial structure, in order to prepare a presentation of the company and its products

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

II Semester from february 2027
 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Assessment methods
The assessment of learning progress is carried out through an integrated evaluation system that rewards the student's journey both in itinere and during the final exam.

1. Continuous Assessment (Exercises and Project Work):
   Practical exercises, group simulations (business design and ethical campaigns), and classroom debates serve to verify problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and the level of decision-making autonomy. Active participation in these activities contributes up to a maximum of 3 points toward the final grade and remains valid for all exam sessions of the relevant academic year.
2. Final Exam:
   The final exam is oral (consisting of an interview typically structured around 3/4 open-ended questions, lasting approximately 20-30 minutes total).

Evaluation Parameters:
The final grade (out of 30) will be determined based on the following criteria:

• Methodological rigor and accuracy in explaining commercial law institutions.
• Correct and appropriate use of specialized legal lexicon.
• Capacity for critical reasoning and cross-sectoral connections between the program modules (including the seminar topics on AI/intellectual property and wine sector sustainability).

Inclusion and Accessibility:
Students having a valid certification of disability or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) and having complied with Unige procedures may request the use of compensatory measures during the exams (e.g. additional time and/or concept maps). In any case, for further information, please contact the Department’s disability liaison: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment methods
The assessment of learning progress is carried out through an integrated evaluation system that rewards the student's journey both in itinere and during the final exam.

1. Continuous Assessment (Exercises and Project Work):
   Practical exercises, group simulations (business design and ethical campaigns), and classroom debates serve to verify problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and the level of decision-making autonomy. Active participation in these activities contributes up to a maximum of 3 points toward the final grade and remains valid for all exam sessions of the relevant academic year.
2. Final Exam:
   The final exam is oral (consisting of an interview typically structured around 3/4 open-ended questions, lasting approximately 20-30 minutes total).

Evaluation Parameters:
The final grade (out of 30) will be determined based on the following criteria:

• Methodological rigor and accuracy in explaining commercial law institutions.
• Correct and appropriate use of specialized legal lexicon.
• Capacity for critical reasoning and cross-sectoral connections between the program modules (including the seminar topics on AI/intellectual property and wine sector sustainability).

Inclusion and Accessibility:
Students having a valid certification of disability or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) and having complied with Unige procedures may request the use of compensatory measures during the exams (e.g. additional time and/or concept maps). In any case, for further information, please contact the Department’s disability liaison: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it.