KDEC 9660 - Corporate Governance & Ethics
KDEC 9660 · Fall semester 2026-2027
- Language of tuition
- English
- Course type
- Cours séminaire
- Number of hours
- 24
- Credits
- 4
Information
Description
A corporation relies on human beings to take actions and make decisions within a governance system of rules, practices, and procedures designed to ensure accountability to those who have a stake in the enterprise. This course will examine corporate governance, with an emphasis on the board of directors. In addition, students will simulate a board meeting of a France-based multinational luxury-goods firm that needs to respond to allegations of corruption and serious worker mistreatment involving a key supplier abroad. The course will conclude with an examination of specific issue areas, ranging from board composition, reputational risk, and executive compensation to M&A and geopolitics.
Prerequisites
None.
Teaching format
Students must participate actively in the board simulation exercise. Students are strongly encouraged, but not required, to participate actively in discussions, too.
Assessment
Continuous assessement (40%): Évaluation continue n° 1 (10 %) : réflexion individuelle ; Évaluation continue n° 2 (20 %) : présentation en petit groupe ;
Évaluation continue n° 3 (10 %) : rôle de discutant en petit groupe pendant la présentation d'un autre groupe.
Final exam 60%
Workload
Students should plan to devote 4 hours outside the class for each 2-hour class session. This includes reading, watching videos, and writing.
Readings
Main readings 5
-
Drew Shagrin, Gilles Pillet & David Chekroun, Managing the challenge of short-termist activist investors: law-based tools and strategies (ESCP Impact Papers, https://academ.escpeurope.eu/pub/IP%202021-19-EN.pdf)
-
In re Caremark International Inc. Derivative Litigation, 698 A.2d 959 (Court of Chancery of Delaware1996, https://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/court-of-chancery/1996/13670-3.html)
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In re Nine W. LBO Sec. Litig., 505 F. Supp. 3d 292 (S.D.N.Y. 2020, https://casetext.com/case/in-re-nine-w-lbo-sec-litig-3)
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Milton Friedman, A Friedman doctrine‐- The Social Responsibility Of Business Is to Increase Its Profits (The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/13/archives/a-friedman-doctrine-the-social-responsibility-of-business-is-to.html)
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US Department of Labor rule relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” (87 Fed. Reg. 73822 (December 1, 2022, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/01/2022-25783/prudence-and-loyalty-in-selecting-plan-investments-and-exercising-shareholder-rights)
Further readings 4
-
Eve Tahmincioglu, Oracle of Omaha Slams Independent Directors for Kowtowing to CEOs (Directors and Boards website, https://www.directorsandboards.com/news/oracle-omaha-slams-independent-directors-kowtowing-ceos)
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Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, What Makes Great Boards Great (Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2002/09/what-makes-great-boards-great)
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Matt Levine, Money Stuff: Boards Have to Pay Attention (just the portion on the lawsuit against Boeing boardmembers accused of wrongdoing) (Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-09-13/money-stuff-boards-have-to-pay-attention)
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Simon Kuper, How FC Barcelona blew a fortune — and got worse (Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/c2c8565a-e282-481c-8897-0530b0c81bce)
Teaching units
| Unit no. | Unit type | Teaching units | Teachers | Number of hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16559 | Cours séminaire | Corporate Governance & Ethics | Andrew SHAGRIN | 24 | 4 |
Teachers
- Andrew SHAGRIN
In the curricula
- General LLM - Term 1 - 2026/2027ÉCOLE DE DROIT
- Master Droit économique - 2ème année - Enseignements électifs - semestre 3 - 2026/2027ÉCOLE DE DROIT
- Master Droit économique, spécialité Global Governance Studies, semestre 3 - 2026/2027ÉCOLE DE DROIT
- Programme d'échange, Master Droit économique, semestres 1 et 3 - 2026-2027ÉCOLE DE DROIT
Contacts and resources
- Contact
- MENGUY Hélène