LLM News and Events
LLM 2011-12
Two Impressive New Additions to the LLM Teaching Team
The 2011 academic year sees the addition of two additional lecturers to the LLM teaching team, who will reinforce the School’s traditional strength in Commercial and Shipping Law. Dr. George Leloudas, a graduate of the Universities of Athens, Bristol, McGill and Cambridge, joins the School of Law from private practice where he has long-standing experience in air law and cargo litigation. Dr. Leloudas, originally from Greece, will teach primarily on the LLM’s popular options in carriage of goods and marine insurance. Joining Dr. Leloudas within the School of Law’s internationally-renowned Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law will be Dr. Shuangge Ren. Dr. Ren, originally from China, undertook her postgraduate education at the Universities of Nottingham and Manchester, and joins Swansea University from the University of Liverpool. Her main areas of expertise include corporate governance, company law and business ethics. Both new lecturers are set to contribute heavily to the successful LLM programmes at the School of Law and will bring exciting new areas of focus to the current extensive array of postgraduate modules.
2012 IISTL Prize Goes to Jaime Albors
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At the end of each academic year, the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (IISTL) awards a Prize to a LLM student submitting the best LLM Research Project as part of their LLM studies. This prestigious Prize is designed to encourage LLM students to produce a research output of highest quality and is open for any Swansea LLM student writing their projects in the realm of international shipping and trade law. The winner of the Prize in 2012 was Jaime Albors who originally hails from Spain. Jaime completed his LLM in International Maritime Law in 2011 at Swansea University. Prior to coming to Swansea Jaime studied Law in Spain at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and also Freie Universität Berlin in Germany.
Jaime is currently working in the Marine and International Transport department of Clyde & Co LLP. Commenting after receiving the award Jaime said “I am very grateful to the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law for the prize. It is an honour for me and I hope this is the starting point of a successful carrier in the maritime industry”.
Commenting on Jaime’s achievement, Professor Baris Soyer, Director of the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, said: “Jaime was an exceptional LLM student. He has a solid legal background and has developed himself immensely during his time at Swansea. He is a quick-thinker and problem solver and I have no doubt he will adapt himself to the legal practice with ease. The LLM degrees offered by the Law School are well-known and regarded in shipping, banking and insurance sectors. The courses are taught by internationally recognised experts who are at the cutting edge of their disciplines and are very much practice oriented. I have every confidence that the LLM degree will accelerate Jaime's rise in the legal profession as he joins the elite class of Swansea LLM Alumni which is spread all around the world”.
LLM 2010-2011
Florian and Siddhartha are the Winners of This Year’s LLM Mooting Competition
Two current LLM students, Siddhartha Sankar and Florian Schacker achieved success in the 2011 LLM Mooting Competition. Mooting has continued to go from strength to strength at Swansea with huge support from an ever increasing number of students wishing to take their advocacy to the next level. This year has seen a number of successes for the Mooting Society which has organised the largest ever competition at the undergraduate level with over 120 teams taking part, and for the first time has created a LLM Mooting Competition exclusively for postgraduate taught students. The LLM Mooting Competition started in October with 12 teams participating and eventually the team composed of Siddharta and Floarian winning the competition in March. The teams mooted on wide variety of topics from a wide sphere of commercial law, shipping, to some cases of tort, and criminal law. On behalf of the Society, Mrs Clare Hepworth, and Mr David Turner provided leadership in terms of organisation and management and two local barristers, Mr Andrew Perkins, and Miss Katie Walmsley, contributed by providing assistance in terms of judging the events.
Commenting after receiving the award Siddhartha Sankar Paul "My joys knew no bounds when my team was declared mooting champion for 2011. I consider this as a very big achievement which will give me a lot of courage and boost to deal with big issues in the court of law." Siddharta is from Bangladesh and is currently completing his LLM in International Maritime Law. Florian Schacker, who hails from Germany and is currently completing his LLM in International Commercial and Maritime Law, added that ‘Taking part in the Masters Mooting Competition was an invaluable experience which allowed me to approach a case from a different angle in that I could argue the case for the parties rather than on the "advise the parties" style seen in exams and coursework.’
Commenting on the success of the first LLM mooting competition, Professor Soyer, the Director of Taught Master Students, thanked all students who took part and the Mooting Society for extending its activities to taught masters level. He finished by saying: ‘Our LLM programmes attract gifted students from all around the world and it is great to see them developing not only their understanding on marine and commercial law but also enhancing their debating and advocacy skills whist at Swansea. I have no doubt we shall see both Siddharta and Florian contributing to the development of the law in the years to come whichever part of the world they decide to practice at.’
Top achiever gets dream international maritime law career
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A Swansea University Law student has accomplished his dream of a career in international maritime and commercial law and has also won a prize for his academic achievement. Twenty six year old Francis Libert was awarded his LLM in International Maritime Law at Swansea’s School of Law and has also been named as the winner of the annual Institute of Shipping and Trade Law’s Prize, which is given to the student that submits the best LLM project. Prior to coming to Swansea, Francis studied law in his native Belgium, first graduating as a Bachelor of Law in 2007 and then graduating with a Masters in Law in 2009. Francis then decided to come to Swansea to study for his LLM in International Maritime Law due to the quality and reputation of the course.
Commenting on Francis’ achievement, Professor Baris Soyer, Director of the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law said: “Francis is a determined and hard-working individual who has managed to develop his legal understanding considerably in the course of his LLM studies at Swansea but also contributed immensely to the learning experience of his peers whilst studying at Swansea."
Francis now works as a marine broker at the prestigious firm Concordia in Ghent, in Belgium. After receiving his award Francis said, “The prize really came as a surprise to me. I feel deeply honoured, especially when you know that the prize is awarded by a well known institute in the UK marine academic sector, and it makes my graduation extra special. I am pleased that my efforts are recognised, but is must have been a close call as I know many of my fellow classmates have put a lot of effort in their LLM reports as well.”
The School of Law Hosts its Annual LLM Careers Fair in March 2011
On 30th March 2011, the School of Law hosted its annual LLM Careers Fair, with the participation of a wide range of firms and other organisations drawn from across the sector of maritime and commercial law. As with previous years, this was a highly successful event and was attended by over 100 postgraduate students. The Careers Fair enabled students to meet and discuss their future aspirations with representatives from an array of local and international law firms, specialising in the fields of shipping, trade, commercial, intellectual property, business, finance and insurance, as well as a number of P & I clubs. The representatives from the firms gave valuable advice to our students on the recruitment process and provided a series of helpful insights and contacts.
Commenting on her experience of the Careers Fair Viktoria Boldycheva, who is currently studying for an LLM in International Maritime Law, said: ‘the Fair enabled us to make useful contacts with representatives of the human resources departments of these international organisations. I have no doubt that this will give Swansea LLM students an advantage when we make contact with them in future regarding job opportunities in their organisations. And, of course, I feel privileged that all these busy people actually came a long way to meet us and answer our questions. I always had a feeling that coming to Swansea was the right move for me. After the Fair, I realised the respect such organisations hold for Swansea graduates ’
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LLM students at the Careers Fair
Professor Baris Soyer, Director of Taught Masters’ Schemes, said: ‘the purpose of organising this event was to create an opportunity for our LLM students to discuss their plans and prospects and to learn more about how employers view recruitment and business development in the immediate and longer term. I am confident that some students will also get the opportunity to secure internships and training contracts by using the links they have made on the day. Feedback from the law firms and other exhibitors on their impressions of our students was very positive and I have no doubt that this event will prepare our students very effectively for the job market’.
One of the exhibitors, Emma McAvinchey, who represented Hill Dickinson at the LLM Career Fair, described her experience in the following manner: ‘A perfect opportunity for maritime law firms to meet students from one of the few International Trade and Shipping Institutes in the country’.
Professor Andrew Tettenborn presents his inaugural lecture on ‘Bad Contracts’
On March 3rd 2011, Professor Andrew Tettenborn, who joined the School in September 2010, delivered his inaugural lecture, entitled ‘Bad Contracts’ focusing on the treatment of defective contracts in English and some other European legal systems.
Professor Tettenborn holds a chair in private and commercial law at the School of Law at Swansea University, having recently joined the university from the Universities of Exeter (Bracton Professor of Law 1996-2010), Cambridge (Lecturer and Fellow of Pembroke College 1979-1996) and Nottingham. In the past he has also held visiting positions at the universities of Melbourne, Connecticut and Case Law School, Cleveland, Ohio.
He is well known in both common law and continental European jurisdictions, and is author or co-author of a number of books on torts, damages and maritime law (some of which have been cited by the highest courts) which establish him as a leading authority in private and commercial field. In addition he has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on various aspects of common law, commercial law and restitution.
The lecture which he presented in March was very well attended and those invited included the Vice-Chancellor, members of the University and others. The lecture ‘Bad Contracts’ was based on its thesis, a radical suggestion that the ever-troublesome distinction drawn in English law between void and voidable contracts served little if any useful purpose and could profitably be suppressed.
Following the lecture Professor Jukka Snell (Deputy Head of the School of Law) commented that ‘What Professor Andrew Tettenborn brought to the discussion today, and what I found particularly fascinating, was a deep understanding of the other European systems, and a real willingness to engage with them in search for a satisfactory solution.’
The Director of the LLM in Business Law joins Capital Law in the role of IP Consultant
Andrew Beale O.B.E., the Director of the new LLM in Business Law, joined Capital Law in the role of IP Consultant, becoming an integral part of a complete corporate and commercial service for clients. Beale will offer valuable expertise to Capital Law’s already established service headed by Nicola McNeely a partner at Capital Law. Beale will be responsible for advising on all aspects of intellectual property for clients of Capital Law.
Previously a Consultant to the World Intellectual Property Organization (a specialist Agency of the United Nations based in Geneva), Beale has achieved considerable success in raising the profile of intellectual property internationally and within the Welsh knowledge economy.
Professor Noel Thompson, Pro Vice Chancellor at Swansea University, said: "Andrew Beale’s appointment as IP Consultant with Capital Law further strengthens the strong working relationships that exist between Swansea University School of Law and the legal profession; delivering mutual benefits for the academic and practitioner in the fast-developing field of Intellectual Property, while ensuring that Wales continues to attract and retain top quality students and specialists committed to this critical area of legal activity."
McNeely, a partner at Capital Law said, said: "Andrew will further boost Capital Law’s team of already accomplished intellectual property lawyers. We’ve seen increased importance placed on protection of intellectual property by our clients so his appointment reflects growing demand for this type of service. Andrew has worked hard to raise levels of awareness and understanding of intellectual property around Wales and we look forward to a long and mutually constructive partnership."
Beale said: "I am looking forward to putting my knowledge and experience of intellectual assets management and transactions at the disposal of Capital Law clients."
New LL.M. in International Business Law for September 2011
The Law School is delighted to announce the introduction of new Masters Programme in International Business Law. Whereas our existing Programme in International Commercial Law places an emphasis on trade and broader commercial responsibilities our new offering will be focused on the practical difficulties experienced by international business. The new Programme, whilst offering a broad spectrum of International Business Law modules also allows for specialisation in new and dynamic issues such as the law relating to the intangible assets of the business such as trademarks, patents and copyright. The Programme will not only have appeal to the aspiring practising lawyer looking for a high level career in an international law firm or multinational company but also for legal advisers to small/medium sized enterprises. Applicants will require a good undergraduate degree either in law or a closely related discipline.
The LLM in International Business Law is divided into two parts. Part I comprises the taught element, which is worth a total of 120 credits (60 ECTS credits). Students are required to take 4 modules with at least two options drawn from International Intellectual Property Law, Law of Intellectual Assets Management & Transactions, Company Law in a Comparative Context or Transnational Credit and Security Law. The additional modules available to students are E-Commerce Law, European Competition Law, International Litigation and Arbitration Law.
Assessment for Part I modules will be by an equally weighted combination of coursework and examinations. In addition, there will be a compulsory research skills course in the first semester designed to offer students guidance with research preparation. Part II consists of two supervised research projects on agreed topics relating to International Business Law of not more than 20,000 words in total.
The introduction of this new and innovative LLM degree is yet another indication of the depth of expertise that is available within the School of Law. Swansea Law School is one of the largest providers of specialised LLM programmes in the realm of international maritime, trade, commercial and business law.
For further information please contact Andrew Beale O.B.E. (Programme Director) Email: a.j.beale@swansea.ac.uk Tel: +44 1792 295472
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Internationally Renowned Commercial Law Expert Joins the Swansea LLM degrees
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Attracted by the School of Law's rapid rise to the status of one of the foremost commercial law faculties in the United Kingdom, the School is delighted to announce that Professor Andrew Tettenborn has joined it from the University of Exeter as a professor of private and commercial law. Professor Tettenborn, who is well-known both in common law and continental European jurisdictions, is author, co-author or editor of a number of books on torts, damages and maritime law, notably Clerk & Lindsell on Torts, Marsden on Collisions at Sea, The Law of Damages in the Butterworths Common Law Series, and Fleming on Torts. He has in addition published numerous journal articles and book chapters on aspects of common law, commercial law and restitution (some of which have been cited by the highest courts) which establish him as a leading authority in the private and commercial field.
Professor Tettenborn has previously taught at the universities of Exeter (Bracton Professor of Law 1996-2010), Cambridge (Lecturer and Fellow of Pembroke College 1979-1996) and Nottingham. He has in addition held visiting positions at the universities of Melbourne, Connecticut and Case Law School, Cleveland, Ohio. His appointment at Swansea will mark not only a reinforcement of the commercial side of the undergraduate LLB programme, but also a further strengthening of its established LLM programmes in iinternational trade, commercial and maritime law, already well-known and respected by shipping, insurance and banking lawyers and attracting top-quality students from all around the world.
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New Modules for the LLM degrees in Commercial Law
The Law School offers specialised LLM Programmes in Maritime, International Trade and Commercial Law. These programmes attract students from all around the world and they are regarded very highly by prospective employers operating in the shipping, trade, insurance and banking sectors. Currently 14 modules are on offer to students studying at Swansea University for their LLM degrees. As from 2010-11, the Law School will give students the opportunity to follow two new specialised modules in the realm of commercial law. Company Law in A Comparative Context will seek to explore the underlying purpose for company regulation in the modern business environment and to consider the way that this area of law increasingly transcends jurisdictions as a result of international trade and the breaking down of barriers by virtue of advances in technology. This module will consider these jurisdictional issues by reference to regulation as in the EU and US, identifying common issues and convergence, and where there is divergence, how the basic problems are addressed and what this means for the company concerned and its stakeholders. The other new module, Law of Intellectual Assets Management and Transactions, will explore the legal nature of intangible assets of a company from an international perspective; the changing innovation environment within which they need to be managed within a global context; the different ways in which the law may be used to protect product/service differentiation from business competitors and the application of the criminal law to on-line trading within the global market place.
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New LLM Lecturer Receives Distinguished Teaching Award
Dr Jon Howden-Evans has been honoured by the University with an award for distinguished teaching. The award is particularly gratifying given that nominations for the award are initiated by students. Dr Jon Howden-Evans is part of the team delivering the new LLM module “Company Law in a Comparative Context”, from October 2010, which will explore company regulation in the modern business environment and consider the way that this area of law increasingly transcends jurisdictions. This module is expected to be a popular one and it certainly adds a new dimension to the LLM Programme in International Commercial Law. Jon has wide ranging experience of all aspects of company law advice and transactions, having worked as a solicitor with Eversheds and Morgan Cole, advising a variety of clients ranging from SME’s to major UK plc’s. He has also prepared a number of Training Workshops for corporate clients (including retailers, utility companies, legal service providers).
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LLM 2009-2010
Inaugural Institute Prize Goes to Michele Autuori
The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (IISTL), which plays a central role in the delivery of LLM programmes in the realm of shipping and trade law, has recently introduced a Prize that is awarded to the student submitting the best LLM Project as part of LLM studies. The winner of the inaugural IISTL Prize in 2010 was Michele Autuori from Italy. Michele completed his LLM in International Commercial and Maritime Law and also awarded a distinction for his academic achievements. Prior to coming to Swansea Michele obtained his undergraduate BA Law degree in Salerno, Italy and was also the first student in his intake to graduate on time and at the top of his class.
Commenting on Michele's achievement, Professor Baris Soyer, Director of Taught Master Schemes in the School of Law, said: "Michele is a determined and hard-working individual who has managed to develop his legal understanding considerably in the course of his LLM studies at Swansea.
"The LLM degrees offered by the Law School are well-known and regarded in shipping, banking and insurance sectors. The courses are taught by internationally recognised experts who are at the cutting edge of their disciplines. I have every confidence that the LLM degree will accelerate Michele's rise in the legal profession as he joins the elite class of Swansea LLM Alumni which is spread all around the world."
Michele is currently preparing for his oral exam - the last step in becoming an 'Awocato' which is the equivalent of a barrister and solicitor in Italy, whilst working as a trainee in the shipping finance department at the Rome office of Watson, Farley and Williams, a leading international law firm.
He added: "I had a number of offers from legal firms in Italy and abroad following my exams. Although I was not planning on returning to Italy straight away, I am really happy with my choice and just enjoy working after all those years of study.
"I may return to Swansea to do a PhD or I may venture outside of Europe for a bit where my fluency in French, Spanish, Italian and English can be used to advantage."
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Swansea LLM students experience London shipping practice
On 10 May 2010, a delegation of teaching staff and LLM students visited a number of leading enterprises within the City of London, in order to gain further practical insights into the practice of shipping and insurance law.
The delegates were first welcomed by the leading shipping and commercial law firm Ince and Co, where a number of partners gave presentations on aspects of legal training and recent developments in shipping law and practice. The students were then given an opportunity over lunch to meet and discuss shipping law with a number of members of the Ince and Co team, ranging from senior partners to recent trainees, to gain further insights into future career opportunities.
Following this, the group visited Lloyds of London, where they were given a guided tour of the striking building and its famous trading floor. In addition to receiving a number of practical insights into insurance concerns, the delegates were also fully versed in the rich and fascinating history of the Lloyds institution.
Part of the LLM Delegation
The final port of call was to the leading P&I Club, Thomas Miller. Here, the delegates received a full introduction to this vital sector of the shipping industry and an outline of a number of contemporary issues within the field. The delegates were also afforded a valuable opportunity to discuss P&I issues with a number of the very helpful and encouraging members of the team at Thomas Miller.
The students found the trip to be an extremely rewarding experience, providing them both with a series of important insights into the practice of shipping law and marine insurance, as well as an opportunity to make valuable contacts with leading practitioners within the industry.
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LLM Students Introduced to the Job Market at the Career Fair
On 17 March, the School of Law hosted a Careers Fair which was intended to give its LLM students the opportunity to meet representatives from international law firms specialising in commercial, shipping and trade law, management companies, P & I Clubs, and recruitment companies. The Careers Fair was enthusiastically received by our LLM students who were delighted to have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the national and international job market for LLM graduates.
Even more gratifyingly, the various Fair exhibitors confirmed that they were impressed with the quality of the students that they met at the event. A spokesperson for one of the leading consultancy firms said that ‘in our firm we usually place a number of Maritime LLM students with our clients each year. We were impressed by the quantity and quality of the students we met today. It is quite evident that the reputation of the teaching staff at Swansea is attracting good student numbers. Combined with the efforts the University has put in to raise the bar for entry onto their courses, the outcome is not just increased numbers but increased calibre’.
LLM Students at the Career Fair interacting with the exhibitors
The Fair was hosted on behalf of the School by Professor Richard Williams, who commented: “Having been a partner in an international law firm for over 25 years and someone who has had first hand experience of what the shipping and commercial industry requires of law students I have always been impressed by the desire of my colleagues to make our LLM programme relevant for the business world. It is gratifying to see that this aim is also appreciated by those who operate in that world and whose presence at the Careers Fair signalled their approval.”
LLM students were grateful for the opportunity the Career Fair presented to them. Philippe Van Dijck, a current LLM student at Swansea University, said “I decided to attend the Career Fair because I wanted to learn more about job opportunities for LLM students. I was pleased to see that there was a variety of firms attending the event. One of the great things at the Career Fair was the opportunity to speak not only to recruiters but also to practicing lawyers and employees. They provided me with valuable career advice and explained what being a maritime lawyer would involve. It is also interesting to note that several of the firms represented at the fair have a branch in another country. This is a great advantage for students who are looking for job opportunities outside the UK”.
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LLM Students represent the Law School at the Residential Academic Conference
On 26-28 February 2010 the annual Staff-Student Conference was convened at Gregynog Hall. The Gregynog Conference is a major feature of the academic calendar of the Welsh universities and remains a popular event, attended by students and faculty of the Law Schools of Swansea, Bangor, Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities, and held in the picturesque surroundings of Gregynog Hall in Newtown. Here the students had an opportunity to hear a wide range of academic presentations and to discuss matters of interest in a relaxed and collegial environment. Swansea Law School took a decision a few years ago to send LLM students to this prestigious event as representatives of the School. This year, 17 LLM students attended the residential course enjoying not only the academic side of the event but also the opportunity to interact with students and academics from other law schools.
The Conference Venue and the Swansea LLM delegation at the Gregynog Conference
This year saw the usual wide variety of academic subjects discussed at the conference, albeit with a distinct maritime flavour with presentations on the protection of the RMS Titanic and the development of the Rotterdam Rules. Swansea Law School was also strongly represented, including presentations from Dr Patrick Bishop and Mr Richard Caddell, two lecturers well known to the LLM cohort. The LLM students from the School of Law, who made the journey to the Gregynog Hall, found the conference to be a very enjoyable and rewarding event, allowing them to explore both academic topics and the beautiful mid-Wales countryside.
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Social Evenings and LLM Ball
One of the distinctive features of the taught master studies at Swansea is the close interaction the LLM students enjoy with their lecturers. It is common for students and staff to come together on social gatherings throughout the academic year. The social gatherings are usually held in a local pub and are well-attended both by students and lecturers.
Students at a social evening before Christmas Students enjoying themselves at a Bowling
night organised by the LLM Committee
Apart from trying to ensure that voices of the taught master students are heard at the appropriate forums within the Law School, Taught Master representatives are also responsible for organising the LLM/MA Ball (held usually in March) where students and the LLM/MA staff find an opportunity to come together in a formal setting before the exam period starts. The venue selected by this year’s Representatives - - Ms Laura Johnstone, Mr Adedoyin Adeloye and Mr Pieter Neels - - was the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. The evening was a great success and attracted over 100 guests including several members of the teaching team.
LLM students with Professor Thomas and Dr Nikaki at the end of the year party
One of the highlights of the evening was the crowning of the Prom Queen and King as determined by the votes of the LLM/MA cohort. Miss Megha Chatterjee was elected as the Prom Queen whilst Mr Saif Mbydeen was crowned as the Prom King. The formal dinner was followed by a disco evening which lasted until the early hours of the morning.
The LLM 2010 Prom King and Queen
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LLM 2008-2009
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LLM lecturer awarded OBE
Andrew Beale, a lecturer in Intellectual Property (IP) on the Swansea LLM programmes is to be made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to intellectual property and to business in Wales.
The announcement was made in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List, published on Saturday 13th June.
Mr Beale was recently seconded to the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva to work with the small & medium sized enterprises (SMEs) Division on helping SMEs to understand the importance of managing their IP. The purpose of the secondment, which is jointly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and Swansea University, is to produce a handbook for SMEs, Intellectual Asset Strategies for Open Innovation. The dynamic of the relationship between large and smaller firms is changing and the booklet seeks to enable SMEs to best position themselves within global supply chains.
Mr Beale is also Director of the IP Wales initiative, part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and European Union. The project has advised over 750 Welsh businesses, leading to over 200 patents, 60 trade marks and 25 IP licensing agreements. IP Wales is seen by WIPO's SME division as an example of Best Practice in assisting smaller businesses with intellectual property issues.
Mr Beale said: "I am honoured to have received the OBE and I hope that, through this award, further recognition will be given to the importance of intellectual property in delivering the political aspiration of a sustainable knowledge economy for Wales. Many companies fail to appreciate the value of their IP. This can lead to real commercial and financial difficulties, especially for smaller businesses. Taking steps to manage and protect IP can give companies much greater commercial freedom and a legally enforceable monopoly in their marketplace.In the present economic climate more and more Universities are looking to enhance their interface with Industry and it is so rewarding to see Swansea University's work in this area being recognised as such an important part of the team Wales approach. I hope this Award will offer a springboard for Wales to engage even more actively with the international IP agenda".
Professor Andrew Halpin, Head of the School of Law at Swansea University, said: "We are delighted with this highly deserved accolade for the immense value that Andrew has delivered to the Welsh business community over the years with IP Wales, and through his international work with WIPO."
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City of London Welcomes Swansea LLM Students
A delegation of LLM teaching staff and students recently visited a number of commercial law firms and centres at the city of London with a view to enhancing their practical understanding of shipping and insurance practice.
The day started with a trip to the offices of the prestigious international law firm Ince & Co where the delegation attended a presentation on the commercial and maritime practice by several partners of the firm. The presentation was followed by a reception, which was very well attended by partners and personnel of the firm, during which the students had the chance to speak directly with members of the firm.
LLM students attending the presentation at the Ince & Co's offices in London
The delegation then proceeded to the Lloyd’s of London to witness a typical day work at this famous institution. The day ended with a visit to Thomas Miller, one of the world class providers of insurance services. At Thomas Miller the delegation had the opportunity to meet key member of the firm and receive a presentation in relation to mutual insurance.
The student delegation at Thomas Miller
The student body found the whole experience very informative and insightful. The student delegation also commented that the London trip provided them with the opportunity to have personal contacts with key players within the industry.
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Sports Day
Although the LLM Programme is only for one year, it does not take long for Swansea LLM students each year to form a close community. Apart from attending various excursions organised by Swansea University or the School of Law or themselves, LLM students also benefit from the tremendous sports facilities Swansea University offers.
Having established a football team (men) and a volleyball team (ladies), LLM students played several friendly matches in the course of 2009.
The LLM Volleyball Team
Perhaps, the most significant day in this year’s sports calendar was the 7th March 2009 when the Swansea LLM students had an opportunity to play against their counterparts from Southampton University. It was a tremendous day for the Swansea LLM students both on and off the pitch: Having shown great hospitality to their guests, Swansea LLM teams went on to win both the football and the volleyball match very comfortably. The score of the football match was 8-1 to Swansea LLM. Also, Swansea LLM won the ladies volleyball match 2-0.
The Football team surrounded by members of the teaching team and LLM students after the victory over the Southampton LLM team
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LLM Students Benefit Immensely from the Experience of Our Visiting Fellows
Swansea Law School is dedicated in developing legal and practical skills of its LLM students. In order to enhance our LLM students’ understanding on how practice works, each year several eminent guest lecturers are invited to deliver lectures as formal part of some LLM modules.
In the academic year of 2008-09, the following practitioners were involved in the teaching of certain modules:
Mr Måns Jacobsson (Past president of IOPC Fund) (delivering parts of the Admiralty Law module);
Peter Macdonald-Eggers (Barrister, 7 King’s Bench Walk) (delivering parts of Marine Insurance module) and
Mr Christoph Benedict (Legal Director for ALSTOM) (delivering parts of the Globalisation, Law and Commerce module).
Mr Måns Jacobsson delivering the Admiralty lecture
LLM students were delighted with the input of these guest lecturers into their LLM experience. One student commented: “It is clear to me that I have made the right decision in coming to Swansea. The School and the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law are well-known in practice and they clearly have the power to attract eminent personalities from practice as guest lecturers.”
More Electronic Legal Sources Are Made Available for LLM Students
Our LLM Programmes, delivered by a group of dedicated academics and practitioners, are designed in a manner to develop legal research skills of LLM candidates. To this end, library sources are central in the legal education provided at Swansea and our library is well stocked containing a wide range of books, monographs, journals and law reports in the realm of maritime, trade and commercial law. Students also benefit from electronic legal sources such as Westlaw, Lexis Nexis and Juris.
In an attempt to improve its library provision even further, the School has recently subscribed to the complete i-law service from Informa. The subscription enables LLM students to reach electronically practitioner texts (such as Bills of Lading, Time Charters, Voyage Charters, Civil Jurisdiction & Judgments, Contracts of Carriage by Land and Air, Freight Forwarding and Multi-Modal Transport Contracts), law reports (such as Lloyd’s Law Reports and Lloyd’s Law Reports plus) and journals/newsletters (such as Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly, Lloyd’s Maritime Law Newsletter and London Maritime Arbitration). The subscription to i-law is yet another indication of the School's commitment to supplement its LLM teaching and learning.
Director of Taught Master Schemes Meets LLM Graduates in Shanghai
LLM graduates have had the recent opportunity to become reacquainted with their former mentor, Dr Baris Soyer, during his latest visit to Shanghai. Dr Soyer, the Director of Taught Master Programmes, informed participants of recent exciting developments taking place in the Law School and the University and emphasised the importance the School places in keeping in touch with its graduates both at home and internationally. Indeed, all graduates present at the gathering were students of Dr Soyer's whilst in Swansea and were delighted to reunite with him several years after graduation. The pleasure was shared by Dr Soyer who added that he was proud to see Swansea graduates holding important positions particularly in shipping and financial sectors soon after their graduation. Dr Soyer noted that the roles occupied by our graduates in China are varied and impressive.
Mr Liang Zhang, for example, is currently working at the Maritime and Administration Shanghai Aids to Navigation Department as the auto identification system manager. Mr Zhang, who completed the LLM degree in International Commercial and Maritime Law in 2006, indicated that the foundations laid down by his LLM had been instrumental for him in securing his current job.
Dr Soyer with some Swansea alumni in Shanghai
Mr Li Yun Kong also acknowledged the support he was given at the School of Law and added that Swansea University was well-known particularly in commercial and maritime circles giving a distinct advantage to its graduates. Mr Kong is currently working as a corporate and financial attorney at law in the Shanghai branch of Allbright Law Offices.
Mr Ye Tian, a graduate of the LLM degree in International Commercial and Maritime Law in 2005, is working as a ship broker at Optima, focusing on 2nd hand ship sales and purchases. Optima is an international co-operation with offices at Shanghai, Athens and Dubai.
Mr Chuan Xu, another recent sucess story from the LLM, has begun work at Shanghai Overseas Talent Centre, a governmental organisation offering services for returning Chinese and foreign students.
Dr Jinlei Zhang, on the other hand, decided to follow an academic career after completing our LLM Programme in 2003. We are delighted to report that Dr Zhang recently completed her PhD in the realm of marine insurance, again at Swansea University, and has been appointed as a lecturer at Dalian Maritime University. She said that she was grateful for the education she had received during her studies at Swansea and added that the international reputation of Swansea Law School enabled her to secure a lectureship in one of the China’s most famous law schools.
