Introduction To International Legal English2
Introduction To International Legal English2
978-0-521-71899-8 - Introduction to International Legal English Student’s Book: A Course for Classroom or Self-Study Use
Amy Krois-Lindner, Matt Firth and TransLegal
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6 Commercial law
Commercial law deals with issues of both private law and public law. It
developed as a distinct body of jurisprudence with the beginning of large-
scale trade, and many of its rules are derived from the practices of traders.
Specific law has developed in a number of commercial fields, including
agency, banking, bankruptcy, carriage of goods, commercial dispute
resolution, company law, competition law, contract, debtor and creditor, sale
of goods and services, intellectual property, landlord and tenant, mercantile
agency, mortgages, negotiable instruments, secured transactions, real-
property and tax law.
The work of a commercial lawyer may involve any aspect of the law as it
relates to a firm’s business clients, and the role of the lawyer is to facilitate
business clients’ commercial transactions. It is essential for a commercial
lawyer to have not only a good knowledge of a lot of substantive law, but also
a thorough understanding of both contemporary business practices and the
particular business needs of each client.
A commercial lawyer may be asked to advise a client on matters relating to
both non-contentious and contentious work. Non-contentious work largely
involves advising clients on the drafting of contracts, whereas contentious
work commonly involves the consequences of breach of contract.
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7 a Underline the adverbs in the sentences below from Listening 1 and then
decide which function the adverbs have (a–c).
a describing time of action
b describing manner of action
c qualifying an adjective
1 He’s currently undertaking a Master's of e-Law at Monash University.
2 There’s something about the challenge of taking a complex commercial
transaction and expressing it clearly and concisely that really appeals to me.
3 I also had to write patent drafts, which are incredibly detailed descriptions of
the inventions in precise legal terms.
4 It was interesting, although at times extremely difficult and demanding.
5 But I quickly realised that what I liked best was working closely with the
other lawyers on litigation, defending or enforcing patents.
6 I usually spend most of the day reviewing documents, drafting agreements,
meeting with clients and, of course, answering emails.
b Where are the adverbs placed in relation to the verbs?
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Speaking 1: Internships
In Listening 1, Michael Grant described his internship with a maritime law firm. It is
common for law-school students to work in the summer months as an intern in a law
firm, government department, non-profit group or organisation. An internship can be paid
or unpaid. Some internships lead to course credits which count towards a law degree.
9 Discuss these questions with a partner.
1 Have you done an internship? If so, describe the organisation and your
duties there.
2 What do you think makes an internship a valuable experience? What can be
gained from it?
3 What would your ideal internship be?
Julia Schwende
1Marktgasse 17
1210 Vienna
Austria
2 1 November 2008
3
Robson, Mumsen and Meech LLP
8 Hawthorn Road
Saffron Walden
Essex
CB11 3KL
to know what it is like to work at a large commercial law firm with many international
clients and to have the experience of working abroad in an English-speaking country.
14 I am extremely motivated and a hard worker and I sincerely believe that I would
have spent several summer vacations with my family in the USA and I have taken two
courses in Legal English at my university. 16 I am enclosing writing samples in English
as you request in your advert; the letters were written as part of my Legal English
courses.
17 Should you require further information, please do contact me. 18 I look forward to
Yours faithfully
Julia Schwende
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LAW IN PRACTICE
Lead-in
Internships are very often the first experience young lawyers have of the realities of
globalisation in the workplace. Many large legal firms have offices across the globe,
employing lawyers of many nationalities.
17 Discuss these questions with a partner.
1 What do you understand by the term globalisation?
2 What factors have contributed to the globalisation of the world’s economies?
3 What are the implications of globalisation for:
a businesses? b commercial lawyers?
1 The role of commercial agents is well known. They act as independent intermediaries
representing their principals in the market. A commercial agent is defined by EU
Directive 86/653 as a person ‘who is a self-employed intermediary having continuing
authority to negotiate the sale or purchase of goods (but not services) on behalf of his
principal or to negotiate and conclude such transactions on behalf of and in the name of
his principal ...’. They do not buy products from their principals, but arrange sales directly
from their principals to the customer. For the provision of this service, commercial
agents are typically paid a commission by their principals, calculated as a percentage of
the sale price of the product to the customer.
2 Commercial agency is of particular importance in international trade. It provides a
convenient structure enabling a foreign supplier to penetrate an overseas market. By
using the services of an agent established in the targeted overseas market, the principal
can benefit from the knowledge and local connection of the agent, avoid the investment
and commitment of managerial resources required by the establishment of a branch or
subsidiary and, by taking advantage of the agent’s services on a commission basis, can
effectively test the overseas market on a ‘no cure, no pay’ basis.
1 Harmonisation is the process by which different states adopt the same laws.
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3 But the position of the commercial agent is vulnerable. Because of the agent’s role as
intermediary, the principal necessarily has perfect knowledge of the customers procured
by the agent. As sales volumes build, the temptation for the principal to circumvent
the agent and enter into direct relationships with customers can often become
overwhelming against the background of an increasing commission bill, often fuelled by
repeat orders from the same customers. It is commonplace, therefore, for the commercial
agent to find his relationship with his principal brought to an end precisely at the
moment where the agent’s efforts have resulted in the establishment of a significant
new customer base for the principal in a new market. In this way, the agent becomes
the victim of his own success and the principal takes advantage of the goodwill in the
principal’s product, created largely as a result of the agent’s efforts.
3 The Agent shall endeavour to obtain business for the Principal and
is bound to serve the interests of the said Principal to the best of his
ability. He will do his best to provide all information necessary for the
purpose of promoting business, and especially inform the Principal
immediately about every order received.
4 He may not deviate from the prices, delivery and payment conditions
of the Principal without his consent.
9 The contract shall come into force on 10 February 2006 and shall be
valid for an indefinite period.
Where the contract has been agreed for a fixed period, it shall be
expected for the same period provided that notice of termination shall
not have been served, by registered letter, at least six months prior to
the end of a calendar quarter.
Where the contract has been agreed for an indefinite period, it may
be terminated by either party thereto giving, by registered letter, six
months’ notice prior to the end of a calendar quarter.
10 The provisions of the EEC Council Directive of 18 December 1986
on the co-ordination of the laws of the Member States relating to
self-employed agents (86/653/EEC) apply to this agreement. In other
respects, the law of the domicile of the Agent is to be consulted.
11 Any disputes arising out of or in connection with this agreement shall
be decided by the competent Court in the area where the claimant
has his residence or registered offices.
24 Take it in turns with a partner to explain the provisions of the contract using
SAMPLE your own words.
ANSWER
>>p.147 Clause 4 says that the agent needs permission from the principal
EXAMPLE:
to change prices and conditions of sale, etc.
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1 The last two paragraphs (17(9) and 17(10)), have been cut from this extract.
Unit 6 Commercial law 69
27 A colleague from outside the EU contacts you to ask about the legal protections
in place in the EU for commercial agents. Write a summary of Regulation 17 to
circulate to your litigation department.
Writing 2: Summary
32 Write a summary of your discussion. Include a model compensation package for
SAMPLE Chance Computing to offer their agents.
ANSWER
>>p.147
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Language Focus
1 Word formation Complete the table with the adjective form of these nouns.
noun adjective
merchant merchantable, …
commerce
negotiation
finance
bankruptcy
by for into of of on on
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