David A. Weisbach
Walter J. Blum Professor of Law and Kearney Director of the Program in Law and Economics
1111 East 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
phone: 773-702-3342
email: d-weisbach@uchicago.edu

Current Year Courses

• 42501 1 Corporate Finance
  This course examines basic corporate financial matters, including valuation of securities and projects, portfolio theory, returns to risk bearing, the theory of efficient capital markets, the use and valuation of options and derivatives, and corporate capital structure. The course primarily focuses on the financial aspects of these matters rather than on any specific laws governing particular transactions, and the textbook is a basic business school corporate finance textbook. A student's grade is based on a proctored final examination. Students with substantial prior exposure to these issues (such as students with an MBA, joint MBA/JD, and undergraduate finance majors) are ineligible for the course.
  Autumn (3) +
  
  
• 46012 1 Climate Change
  This seminar will study the law, economics, and policy of climate change. It will be centered around a simulation of climate change negotiations. Students will be assigned to represent a nation or region as diplomats at an international climate change treaty negotiation (sorry, no exotic locations, just a seminar room). The initial sessions will be devoted to briefings for the diplomats from scientists, economists, and industry. If possible, we will have field scientists and representatives from industry do these briefing and the student/diplomats will have the opportunity to pose questions. The latter part of class will devoted to the negotiations and a debriefing. Student/diplomats can also negotiate outside of the formal in-class negotiations, with nations making any side-deals that they desire. Student/diplomats will have to prepare positions papers for their countries that examine the incentives of the country to participate in various treaties, including the impact of climate change on that country, the costs of mitigation of the harm, and the local industries affected by a treaty. Position papers should also consider issues of justice: how much of the burden should each nation be obligated to bear. Grades will be based on the position papers and class participation, including advocacy of your country s interests. Enrollment is limited to 20.
  Winter (3)
  
  
• 49901 41 Independent Research
  Second- and third-year students may earn course credit by independent research under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Such projects are arranged by consultation between the student and the particular member of the faculty in whose field the proposed topic falls.
  Autumn (3)
  
  
• 75801 1 Taxation of Corporations I
  This course examines income tax aspects of the formations, distributions, and liquidations of corporations. The focus is on transactional and planning aspects of the corporate tax. Introductory Income Tax is recommended. The student's grade is based on class participation and a final examination.
  Winter (3)
  
  
• 75901 1 Taxation of Corporations II
  This course surveys the taxation of reorganizations and other adjustments involving continuing businesses: mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and other similar shifts of ownership and control; recapitalizations; and divisions. Points of focus are the recognition of gain and loss and the survival and allocation of tax attributes (basis, earnings, and loss carryovers) in these transactions. Taxation of Corporations I and Introduction to Income Tax are recommended. Students' grades based on a final proctored examination.
  Spring (3)
  
  

Other courses taught include:

• Economic Analysis of the Law
• Partnership Taxation
• Introduction to Income Taxation
• Tax Policy and Public Finance
• Taxation of Derivatives