Bankruptcy Law
40.04.01 In english and russian
Level of education Master
Type of instruction Full-time
Duration 2 years
Programme description
- The master’s programme "Bankruptcy Law" is unique in the present-day educational system. It provides students with an opportunity to master professional competencies for full legal support of any field of activity. The programme addresses the issue of changing (transforming) the actions of most legal institutions, both private and public ones, in case of a debtor’s insolvency. Graduates of the programme may also be in demand in the field of supporting bankruptcy proceedings and collecting bad debts (this is currently a considerable share of the legal market). Additionally, they can apply the knowledge gained in any legal field, since the programme is devoted not only to procedural and proceeding issues, but primarily to substantive ones
- The programme trains experts with the required skills and competences for the professional activities of a bankruptcy lawyer. They can also work in the field of: supporting bankruptcy proceedings; collecting bad debts and distressed asset management; protection of creditors’ rights, including those of authorised bodies; activities of a bankruptcy commissioner; and within the broad competence of a private law lawyer. They are ready for practical implementation of professional activities in the Russian and foreign labour markets. Graduates of the programme are much-in-demand in almost all sectors and areas of economic activity, as anyone can find themselves in legal relations with an insolvent counterparty. This specialisation will be particularly relevant for such sectors of the economy as banking, insurance, and construction. The graduates will be in demand in: the commercial court system; the banking and financial system; legal consultancy firms; public defender’s offices; and the Federal Tax Service. They can also work as in-house lawyers in any field. The skills mastered while training in the programme may also be much-in-demand in law enforcement in the area of economic offences
Main courses
- Introduction to Bankruptcy Law
- Cross-Border Bankruptcy
- Procedural Peculiarities of Bankruptcy Proceedings
- Legal Status of the Bankruptcy Commissioner
- Rehabilitation Bankruptcy Proceedings
- Liability in Bankruptcy
- Taxes and Bankruptcy
Our advantages
- The master's programme ‘Bankruptcy Law’ is unique in the present-day educational system. It provides students with an opportunity to master professional competencies for full legal support of any field of activity. The programme addresses the issue of changing (transforming) the actions of most legal institutions, both private and public ones, in case of a debtor’s insolvency.
- Bankruptcy is an integral institute of the market economy. It is an institute designed to answer the questions: what to do in case the very ‘fears and risks’ that make up the essence of entrepreneurial activity occur; and what to do when the financial and economic basis of a person – natural or legal - is undermined and they cannot fulfil their obligations. In this regard, the specialisation of a lawyer in bankruptcy law is relevant, as also evidenced by the number of disputes related to bankruptcy in arbitration courts.
- Institutes of challenges in bankruptcy, responsibility of persons controlling the debtor, subordination of claims of affiliated persons, and cross-border bankruptcy are actively developing. The programme responds to the question of what is happening with legal relations with the participation of the debtor in an abnormal situation caused by insufficient funds to satisfy all the claims of creditors.
- Graduates of the programme may also be in demand in the field of supporting bankruptcy proceedings and collecting bad debts (this is currently a considerable share of the legal market). Additionally, they can apply the knowledge gained in any legal field, since the programme is devoted not only to procedural and proceeding issues, but primarily to substantive ones.
Main areas of research
- The impact of insolvency (bankruptcy) of a corporation on the rights of its participants
- Bankruptcy of groups of companies: prospects for development in the Russian Federation
- The ratio of subsidiary liability for the impossibility of full repayment of creditors' claims with other types of civil liability
- The ratio of challenging and colourable transactions
- Rules of absolute and relative priority in a rehabilitation plan
International relations
Master’s students have an opportunity to take advantage of St Petersburg University’s extensive international links in their studies.
Career opportunities
- Legal adviser, company lawyer
- Specialist in distressed assets management
- Non-performing loan manager
- Lawyer
- Judge assistant
- Judge
- Lawyer in a consulting company
- Public service employee of relevant ministries and government agencies
- Bankruptcy commissioner
Accreditation
The programme has been internationally accredited by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) as part of the institutional accreditation of the Faculty of Law, the Certificate dated 26 February 2021.