Publication in the Diário da República: Despacho n.º 5958/2024 de 27/05/2024
6 ECTS; 1º Ano, 1º Semestre, 56,0 TP , Cód. 604212.
Lecturer
- Cláudia Liliana Sousa Rosa Henriques (1)(2)
(1) Lead Professor
(2) Teaching Professor
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Objectives
Provide students with a complete overview of the legal discipline of economic-business activity, its agents and the legal acts developed in this area.
ODS: 4 - Quality Education; 8 - Decent work and economic growth; 16 - Peace, justice and effective institutions
Program
I Introduction
1. Concept and scope of commercial law.
2. An outline of the historical development of commercial law.
3. Objectivist and subjectivist conceptions of commercial law.
4. The specific needs of commerce and the justification for the autonomy of commercial law.
5. The characteristics of Commercial Law
6. Commercial Law as a branch of Special Private Law and its relationship with Civil Law.
7. The sources of Commercial Law.
II Commercial acts
1. Concept
2. Objective commercial acts and subjective commercial acts.
3. The business-oriented conception of commercial acts.
4. Other classifications:
i) absolute commercial acts and commercial acts by connection or accessory nature;
ii) formally commercial acts and substantially commercial acts;
iii) bilateral, unilateral or mixed acts;
III General rules governing commercial acts
1. Form
2. Joint and several liability
3. Limitation period
4. Interest
5. Spouses liability for commercial debts.
IV Parties engaged in commercial activity
1. Concept of a trader.
2. Sole traders
3. Requirements for acquiring the status of a trader:
i) Legal personality;
ii) Commercial capacity;
iii) Professional engagement in trade;
iv) Conducting business in ones own name and for ones own benefit. Risk.
4. Incompatibilities and restrictions on disposal.
5. Administrative conditions and licences.
6. Distinction between traders and other professional categories.
7. The special obligations of traders:
i) The business name
ii) Bookkeeping
iii) The balance sheet and the presentation of accounts
iv) The commercial register (registration).
V The organisation of the trader
§ 1 The company
1. The company and commercial law.
2. The various meanings of company in commercial law.
3. The company as an institutional unit.
4. Classification of companies.
5. Complementary groups of companies (ACE).
6. European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIGs).
§.2 The commercial establishment
1. Concept.
2. The elements of the commercial establishment.
3. The legal nature of the commercial establishment.
4. The sole trader with limited liability.
5. Rights and legal relationships concerning the commercial establishment.
i) Business transfer
ii) Transfer of operations
VI Insolvency, Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganisation
1. Brief considerations and purpose of the proceedings.
2. Insolvency of legal persons and natural persons.
3. The main issues relating to the classification of insolvency.
4. The Special Revitalisation Plan.
5. The Special Plan for a payment arrangement.
VII Negotiable Instruments
1. Concept of a negotiable instrument.
2. General characteristics of negotiable instruments.
3. Classification of negotiable instruments.
4. The main types of negotiable instruments.
5. The bill of exchange.
6. The promissory note.
7. The cheque
VIII Commercial Companies
1. Introduction
2. The concept of a commercial company.
3. The various types of commercial companies.
4. Incorporation of a commercial company.
5. Legal personality and capacity of commercial companies.
6- The articles of association.
7- Form. Unincorporated partnerships.
8- Elements of the articles of association of a commercial company.
9- Multiple shareholders. Sole proprietorships.
10- Contributions of assets or services. Share capital. The formation of share capital in the various types of
companies.
11- The corporate purpose. Change of corporate purpose.
12- The registered office. Change of registered office.
13- Amendment of the articles of association.
14- Rights and obligations of shareholders.
15- Corporate bodies types and members of the bodies.
16- Management and representation bodies.
17- Supervisory bodies.
18- Methods of decision-making by shareholders. General Meetings.
19- Convening and conduct of General Meetings.
20- Minutes.
21- Interpretation of corporate resolutions.
22- Conversion of companies.
23- Merger of companies.
24- Demerger of companies.
25- Extension of the duration of companies.
26- Dissolution and winding-up of companies
Evaluation Methodology
Two midterm tests with a pass mark of 10/20.However, only the students who obtained a grade equal to or greater than 8 (eight) in the first written test can take the second written test. Students qualified to take the (written) exam must get a minimum of 10/20 to pass. The minimum mark of 10/20 is also required to achieve a pass in the resit.
During any of the assessment periods, should there be any suspicion of cheating, the student will only pass if they successfully complete an oral examination.
Bibliography
- Cordeiro, M. (2022). Direito Comercial. Coimbra: Almedina
- Coutinho de Abreu, J. (2022). Curso de Direito Comercial. (Vol. I). Coimbra: Almedina
- Coutinho de Abreu, J. (2024). Curso de Direito Comercial - Das Sociedades Comerciais. (Vol. II). Coimbra: Almedina
- Pais Vasconcelos, P. (2020). Direito Comercial. Coimbra: Almedina
Teaching Method
Theoretical-practical classes, in which the various program contents are developed, followed by a period for solving practical exercises and clarifying doubts.
Software used in class
