Introduction to American Corporate Law

This course introduces the legal structure of the modern corporation. Rather than treating corporate law as a technical checklist, we will study it as a system of institutional design that allocates power, defines obligations, and structures economic behavior. Through close readings of key cases and practical examples, you will learn how the law creates and governs the firm, how directors are shielded and constrained, and how rules interact with norms to shape decision-making inside companies. We will begin with the foundational attributes of the corporate form and move through formation, governance, fiduciary duties, shareholder litigation, and major corporate transactions. Along the way, you will come to see corporate law not as a niche subject, but as one of the central legal pillars of the modern economy. Whether your interest is in law, business, or public policy, this course will provide a clear and thoughtful introduction to how corporations are built, maintained, and challenged.