Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Lauber; Platt

LL.M Course 840 (cross-listed) | 1 credit hours

It is estimated that capital valued in excess of $12 Trillion is held in or through Offshore Financial Centres (OFC's). OFC's are an integral component of global capital markets and yet they consistently attract opprobrium. Why? What are the legitimate uses of OFC's? Do the benefits they confer, outweigh the damage caused by their vulnerability to criminal abuse? What impact will the growing fiscal deficits of western economies have upon the role of OFC's in the 21st century? In the absence of G20 consensus might any attack by the US and/or Europe on the traditional OFC's backfire as Asian OFC's emerge? This course assumes that students have some familiarity with basic corporate and private wealth tax planning concepts. The course examines both legitimate and illegitimate uses of OFC's with reference to detailed case studies drawn from the tutor's professional experience including examples relating to corruption, drug money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions and tax evasion. The course is designed to be an interactive experience, with students undertaking exercises and engaging in discussion on important policy issues of growing public interest.

Prerequisite: Corporations

Note: WEEK ONE COURSE. This seminar will meet for one week only on the following days: Monday, January 09, 2012, through Friday, January 13, 2012, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. This course is mandatory pass/fail and will count toward the 7 credit pass/fail limit for J.D. students. Note: Attendance at all class sessions is mandatory and all enrolled students must attend the first class in order to remain enrolled. Students on the wait list must attend the first class in order to be admitted off the wait list. Enrolled students will have until Monday, January 09, 2012, 5:00 p.m. to drop this course.