General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6283 / JDOC6283 |
| Course name: | Aircraft and International Asset Finance Law |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisite / Co-requisite: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credit / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This course fuses the practical and transactional aspects of aircraft finance with the legal theory underpinning international secured transactions law. Beginning with an introduction to the history of international cross-border finance, this course will introduce participants to the work of the “three sisters of private international law” (UNIDROIT, UNCITRAL and the HCCH) and their role in establishing a harmonised global legal framework for secured transactions. The course will then delve into the development, key legal features and innovative aspects of the Cape Town Convention.
Once participants have developed a core understanding of the treaty system, its operational aspects will be explored through an in-depth examination of aircraft finance practice and how it is facilitated globally by the Aircraft Protocol. The course will cover typical aircraft finance structures, undertake case studies and practical examples of issues that can arise and discuss how aviation finance has been affected by broader macroeconomic conditions, such as the economic challenges caused by the COVID19 pandemic. Finally, the course will then broaden participants understanding of international asset-based finance through the consideration of the additional Protocols to the Cape Town Convention, in order to provide a grounding in relation to the finance of railway rolling stock, space assets and mining, agriculture and construction equipment. The course will also briefly touch upon possible future developments in harmonising cross-border asset-based finance in relation to ships and renewable energy generation assets.
By the end of the course, participants will not only understand the key elements of aircraft finance and cross-border asset finance, they will also have a strong grounding in the development of international standards for asset-based finance and the role of key international institutions. This fusion of practical and theoretical learning will be valuable for students looking to undertake careers in international finance, commercial dispute resolution, and more broadly international private law and transnational commercial law.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | William Brydie-Watson | TBA | TBC | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
To be advised by the course convenor.
2.2 LLM Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | 20% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Take home exam | 80% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/