Financial Services Law

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this module, students should be able to: 

LO.1 : Explain the legal and regulatory framework governing banking and finance transactions in Ireland and the EU; 

LO.2 : Analyse the structure and documentation of common financing transactions, including corporate loans, security and guarantees; 

LO.3 : Apply core principles of banking law to practical financing scenarios and transactional case studies; 

LO.4 : Identify and evaluate legal, financial and regulatory risks arising in banking and finance transactions; 

LO.5 : Interpret the roles and responsibilities of lenders, borrowers, advisers and regulators in finance transactions; 

LO.6 : Demonstrate practical problem-solving and commercial awareness through analysis of completed financing transactions. 

Module Content 

The module provides students with a practical understanding of how banking and finance law operates in Ireland. It focuses on the legal, regulatory and commercial processes involved in structuring, documenting and implementing financing transactions, which supplements doctrinal principles established in other modules. 

The module incorporates an overview of the Irish banking system and the regulatory framework governing financial services, including the role of the Central Bank of Ireland and relevant EU legislation. Students will examine common financing structures, such as bilateral and syndicated loans, project finance, acquisition finance and asset-based lending. They will also gain a detailed understanding of core transactional documentation, including facility agreements, security documents and intercreditor arrangements. 

Two interactive seminars form a central component of the module. In the first seminar, students will analyse a completed Irish or EU financing transaction, focusing on transaction structure, regulatory issues and key contractual terms. The subsequent seminar involves a second case study based on a different completed transaction, such as a project finance or acquisition finance deal, requiring students to assess security arrangements and the practical challenges of implementation.