University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to American Corporate Law

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University of Pennsylvania

Introduction to American Corporate Law

David Hoffman

Instructor: David Hoffman

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
3 hours to complete
3 weeks at 1 hour a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
3 hours to complete
3 weeks at 1 hour a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

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Recently updated!

July 2025

Assessments

1 assignment

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

This module introduces the foundational elements of American corporate law and the role it plays in shaping modern business institutions. Learners will explore how the corporation is not merely a business vehicle, but a legal architecture constructed through statutes, judicial interpretation, and economic incentives. Key concepts such as legal personhood, limited liability, centralized control, and share transferability will be discussed, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of the corporation’s role in the economy and society.

What's included

11 videos

Building on foundational concepts, this module walks learners through how corporations are formed and governed. It covers the procedural and substantive steps in incorporation, including the filing of charters and the adoption of bylaws. Learners will examine how governance is structured through shareholder voting, board formation, and rule-based systems that define internal corporate authority. The module emphasizes the ways law enables control, coordination, and accountability within the firm.

What's included

5 videos

This module focuses on the obligations of corporate fiduciaries and the legal frameworks that manage agency costs. It introduces the core fiduciary duties of loyalty and care, examines protective doctrines like the business judgment rule, and analyzes key cases that illustrate these principles. Learners will also study the procedural rules governing shareholder litigation, including derivative suits, demand requirements, and special litigation committees, all of which act as gatekeepers to corporate accountability.

What's included

8 videos

The final module expands the scope to consider variations in firm structure, major corporate transactions, and the cultural and narrative dimensions of corporate law. It examines closely held firms and their unique governance challenges, merger and acquisition law including fiduciary realignment, and the informal ways in which norms, stories, and reputational incentives shape behavior in the corporate sphere. Learners will gain a nuanced view of how law functions both formally and informally at the boundaries of institutional enforcement.

What's included

10 videos1 assignment

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Instructor

David Hoffman
University of Pennsylvania
1 Course1 learner

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