[INTERACTIVE CONTENT] University of Fribourg: 4 focus areas to become an expert in international business law

What began as an Academy of Jurisprudence, the University of Fribourg is now one of Switzerland’s top institutions committed to extending the horizons of knowledge in all disciplines. Its reputation is built on two pillars: multilingual and personal. 

Founded in 1889, it is now the only bilingual university in the country to offer a wide range of programmes in French, German, and, for certain programmes, English. These courses are taught personally, emphasising direct and frequent contact between faculty and students. The result? As many as 91% of students are satisfied with the university’s face-to-face approach.  

The same can be said at the university’s Institute for International Business Law. It offers specialised Master of Laws (LLM) and Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in areas such as international Contracts and Arbitration, Compliance, International Business Law, or Commodity Trading. Like the rest of the university, these programmes are defined by their global perspectives and tight-knit community of students and staff.  

Statistics: 

• 10,000+ students 

• 800 professors, lecturers and research assistants 

• 16% international students 

Programme offerings: 

Contracts and Arbitration 

With the expansion of global trade comes a greater need for experts who are thoroughly familiar with multiple legal regimes and international contract practices. From drafting and negotiation to monitoring and enforcement of international contracts, such specialised know-how are now essential in many corporations and firms.  

Fribourg’s IBL meets this need with its LLM in International Contracts and Arbitration. The programme provides the flexibility to combine modules that are specific to your interests in the subject. With the help of reputable professors and experienced legal practitioners, you will develop drafting, negotiation, pleading, and presentation skills through practical exercises in graduate seminars, training clinics, and moot courts. 

The CAS in International Contracts and Arbitration, on the other hand, offers refreshers in 14 focus areas, including foreign sales of goods and services, global construction and distribution agreements, and many others that will be useful to your career. 

Compliance 

Staying within the bounds of local, national, and international laws can be challenging, especially for start-ups. With these requirements evolving, companies need support more than ever to monitor regulatory developments, identify risks, design and implement prevention mechanisms, overcome compliance difficulties, and advise on internal rules and controls. 

This LLM programme will provide you with everything you need to know to become a successful practitioner. You’ll master the main areas of compliance law — including the regulatory regimes governing taxation, antitrust issues, labour relations, banking, environmental production, trade and commerce, customs clearance, corruption and money laundering, and risk management — and take specialised courses on law and business in the world’s fastest-growing economies in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. 

If you hold degrees and qualifications in this field, the CAS in Compliance programme is a great option to complement them. It focuses on fields such as tax, competition, labour, banking, environmental compliance, trade compliance and customs regulations, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering compliance, and risk regulations and management. 

International Business Law 

Joining the LLM in International Business Law means participating in a programme developed in close consultation with the legal departments of major Swiss companies, multinational corporations, and international law firms. This partnership between IBL and industry partners opens many doors for legal internships and chambering opportunities. 

The programme has a diverse range of courses and practical training that aims to prepare graduates to become adept at handling the legal complexities and challenges faced by global businesses. It covers business laws in the world’s fastest-growing economies such as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. 

Commodity Trading Law 

The LLM in Commodity Trading Law takes a practical approach to understand the specific rules, regulations, and standards applied in the field, as well as the general international trade regulatory framework. This is done with the help of key market players, most notably Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW), an English law firm with expertise in international commerce. 

Lessons are delivered through case studies, with more than 50 of them used as examples to learn about commodity trading and its legal aspects. The programme also sets up legal clinics and drafting exercises for students to hone communication skills and negotiation techniques, both of which are essential in the field. 

Hear from students 

Sanchita Banerjea Agrawal, LLM in Compliance 

“As an experienced Compliance professional, I decided to pursue the LLM to gain the legal acumen needed for navigating complex business scenarios where legal and compliance roles intersect. The flexible online courses, well-placed Saturday sessions, and smartly paced exams make balancing my full-time job and studies easier than I imagined. Previously hesitant with legal topics, I now find many of my ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions answered, bringing my learning full circle and boosting my confidence. In addition to the high-quality professors, I have encountered valuable networking opportunities through interactions with my diverse class group, making this program highly recommended for working professionals.” 

Emeka Emmanuel Ekwuoba, LLM in Commodity Trading Law 

“Completing an LLM in Commodity Trading Law at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland was one of my best career decisions. The entire programme structure was immensely interesting and provided me with deep insights into commodity management, procurement, shipping, and compliance in trade, along with its associated risks. A particular highlight was ‘The Holistic Approach to Commodity Trade’ and ‘Global Trade Compliance,’ which were instrumental in repositioning my firm, FairBridge Derivatives & Alt Ltd and launching it into the mid-stream sector of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, where we now not only distribute products but also procure, import, store, and vend. This programme made me feel confident to go back to work and start my new role as Product Manager with certainty.” 

Jason Mier, LLM in Compliance 

“As a practitioner with 15 years of professional experience in the prosecution of white-collar crime, the LLM in Compliance is valuable to me because it allows me to deepen my existing knowledge in the areas of anti-bribery and corruption / anti-money laundering.  

At the same time, it allows me to acquire broad expertise in many other relevant topics, such as economic sanctions, corporate governance, and more). In addition, there is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas on these topics with students and lecturers from various countries and industries.