CALL FOR PAPERS

Raising Confidence in the Capital Markets through Gatekeeper Accountability: Lessons from the credit crunch.

Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
1st - 3rd February 2009
UTS Haymarket Campus, Corner of Quay St and Ultimo Rd, Haymarket Sydney
(Click here for directions)

The Corporate Law Teachers Association and the UTS Faculty of Law invite the submission of papers for presentation at the forthcoming conference which will be held on the theme:

"Raising Confidence in the Capital Markets through Gatekeeper Accountability: Lessons from the credit crunch."

Since mid 2007, global capital markets have seen dramatic volatility. In particular, the corporate debt market has significantly tightened which has driven up the price of global credit and put significant pressure on corporate balance sheets. Some large financially engineered companies have collapsed or teeter on the brink of collapse. Allegations of inadequate disclosure, misled investors and pending securities class actions have become regular features in the business media.

The downward pressure on capital markets has highlighted potential gaps and vulnerabilities in our system of corporate and capital market regulation. The regulatory paradigm of disclosure has been subject to intense scrutiny, raising a host of issues, including:

• The duties of directors, auditors and professional investment advisors
• The role of independent directors
• Related party transactions and corporate governance
• The role of credit rating agencies
• The design of executive compensation schemes
• The regulation of hedge funds
• The increasing role of sovereign wealth funds
• The role of securities exchanges
• The regulatory overlap between the ASX and ASIC
• The effectiveness of continuous disclosure laws
• Disclosure obligations of publicly listed entities in times of uncertainty, fear and market rumours
• The marketing of complex financial products such as CDOs and CFDs to unsophisticated investors
• The regulation of margin lending and short selling
• The use of securities class actions against companies in financial distress
• The reorganisation of highly leveraged financial companies
• The growing importance of equity and credit derivatives

The conference conveners welcome papers on all aspects of corporate law and corporate insolvency law. However, in selecting papers for the conference program those within the specific theme of the conference will be given preference.

Papers will be selected on the basis of an abstract of no more than 250 words. Abstracts should be submitted electronically (in word document), typeface Times Roman 12 font by email to the Conference Chair:

Jason Harris
Email: jason.harris@uts.edu.au
By Friday 31 October 2008

Participants are encouraged to submit their abstract as soon as possible to avoid potential disappointment.

Please note: The acceptance of a paper for the Conference does not imply that the costs for attending the Conference or the Conference Registration Fee will be covered by the CLTA or the conference host. The CLTA only provides the forum for discussing issues relevant to corporate and insolvency law and attempts to keep its fees to a minimum to encourage greater participation. Therefore, all participants are expected to cover their own costs.

Paper Receipt Date

Papers must be submitted electronically (in word document), typeface Times Roman 12 font to the Conference Chair Jason Harris (jason.harris@uts.edu.au) by, or before, Friday 23rd January 2009 to be included as part of published conference proceedings. Papers received after this date will not be made available to delegates by the Conference Organisers.

Best paper prize

For those wishing to participate in the Best Paper Prize, which is sponsored by Chartered Secretaries Australia, the deadline for submission of eligible papers is Monday 12th January 2009. Further information on Best Paper Prize is available at the CLTA website.

Conference Registration

Registration and payment for the conference is now available online. Registration fees are as follows:

Full Delegate Registration - $300.00
Alumni Delegate Registration - $270.50 (includes 10% discount)
Half day Practitioner Panel - $250.00 (Note -The Practitioner Panel will take place on Monday, 2 February 2009 in the morning, and includes a half day workshop with breakfast)

For further details, or to register for the conference, CLICK HERE.

Enquiries

For any queries regarding the conference theme, conference papers or any other non-administrative arrangements regarding the Conference, contact the Conference Chair Jason Harris (jason.harris@uts.edu.au). For further information about the CLTA or past conferences visit the CLTA website.
For all administrative enquiries, contact the Conference Administrator, Professional Development Unit
p: Marianne Taylor +61 2 9514 3793
e: pdu.law@uts.edu.au

Visit the Conference Website.

Download CLTA Criteria (PDF)   Past Winners