Vocabulary tasks

A Match the following categories of law with their Russian equivalents.

1 Sales law 2 Consumer law 3 Contract law 4 Employment law 5 Intellectual property law 6 Antitrust law

a договорное право b трудовое право c право интеллектуальной собственности d антитрастовые законы e правовые нормы, регулирующие продажи f потребительское право

B There are usually several practice groups in the firm. Match the name of the groups with their functions.

1 Corporate Group	deals with banking institutions providing advisory in financial transactions and operations
2 Property Group	can work for insurance companies and also advise clients on the interpretation of insurance policies
3 Commercial Group	prepares a case and documents, conducts disputes, acts for clients in a lawcourt
4 Banking Group	renders extential legal support of projects and construction designs
5 Tax Group	renders property advice and helps to arrange property transactions
6 Insurance Group	deals with business formation and incorporation, shareholders agreements, investment projects, acquisitions, financial planning
7 Project and Construction Group	offers corporate tax planning
8 Civil (Commercial) Litigation Group	specializes in Sales law and Consumer Law application, includes experts in Intellectual Property, Product Liability, Advertising and Marketing, Information Technology and Telecommunications

C A trainee at a law firm

Dialogue

(trainee Peter and junior partner Mr. Edwards)

Mr. E. Well, Peter, after you have read the information, would you like to ask anything?

P. Certainly. The information in the booklet is very brief. It’s hard to pick up the details. Besides, I’m not practising and have only textbook reading experience.

Mr. E. Go ahead with your questions. I’ll be glad to give you a hand.

P. Let’s start with the Corporate group. What exactly do they do?

Mr. E. First, they assist in incorporation of companies - prepare documents for registration, perform expertise of the papers. Secondly, they act for clients in solving all corporate problems – shareholder’s agreements, Stock Exchange transactions, investment planning. Besides, as the companies develop and expand, they often plan mergers with other companies, or joint ventures. Our lawyers help to implement such schemes because they know the appropriate laws.

P. I see. With mergers and takeovers there is always a danger to break the rules of fair competition. We’ve studied Antitrust Law this semester.

Mr. E. Good. Let me see how well you know the legislation.

P. No objections. Now you go ahead with your questions

Mr. E. ……………….. P. …………………

D Study the information below and continue the dialogue in which Mr. Edwards checks Peter’s competence.

USA Antitrust Law

Antitrust laws were passed in the USA from 1890 onwards. They made it illegal to form large combinations of existing commercial and industrial organizations or any new concerns having the effect of setting up monopolies which kill healthy competition. The laws also make it illegal to act in restraint of trade - to do anything to limit a person’s freedom to carry on business as he wishes. Both restraint of trade and monopoly power are fundemental concepts of antitrust law. In the USA the federal agencies that enforce the federal antitrust laws are the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

UK The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

The Code, first published in 1968 and later amended, holds the statutes on takeovers and mergers. It was initiated by the Bank of England to create equal terms of competition for businesses, and ensures fair rules of acquisition strategy.

Property

The Property group of the legal firm provides expertise in all kinds of property transactions. They ensure necessary information of all the trends of property market and help the companies to create good property portfolio - acquire land, buildings, production facilities etc. The clients of the firm are also trading companies and retail firms which need qualified support in commodity bargains, commercial property realization. The Property group also deals in leasing projects.

Intellectual property – an idea, design or artistic work which a person or organization has invented or created and on which they have obtained a copyright, trademark or patent.

Patent – a legal document giving a person or company the right to make or sell a new invention, product, or method of doing something and stating that no other person or company is allowed to do this.

Copyright – a legal right to be the only producer or seller of a book, play, film, or record for a particular length of time.

Trademark – a special mark placed on a particular brand of article to distinguish it from similar goods sold by other producers.