International Business Law

Climate change threatens humanity. The purpose of law is to protect legitimate human interests. You want to join the new generation of lawyers who engage constructively with these problems. They see practicing law in the context of the wider developments in society -- such as climate change and sustainability -- as the way forward for the legal profession.
Anyone running a business successfully today, cannot ignore sustainability. And, anyone wanting to devote themselves to tackling climate change must have knowledge of how businesses function. VU Amsterdam is the first university in Europe to offer an International Business Law degree that combines an outstanding, all-round Master’s programme in Business Law with a specific focus on one of the most complex legal challenges of our day: climate change.
During this Master's programme, you will be seeking answers to highly important, yet complex, questions such as: What are the legal means to fight climate change? What rights and responsibilities do businesses and governments have in terms of sustainability? Can states be forced to bring their policies in line with the Paris 2015 Agreement? How can corporate law facilitate green startups?

The trade and investment specialization of IBL focusses on the international and European law regulating international trade and goods and services, and international investment. It will make you an expert in the law of these areas, but distinguishes itself from other masters in this field by its explicit focus on creating lawyers with a conscience. The mission of the programme is to create future lawyers who can take a leading role in the world of international business, trade and investment law, and shape that law so that it makes the world a better place. We believe that this serves not just the interests of humanity, but also of the firms and organisations that you will advise and represent.
This means that our courses teach all the traditional trade and investment law that you need to become an expert, including practical issues such as the psychology of negotiations, and cutting-edge topics like the role of behavioural science in financial markets, the use of blockchain in trade, and the regulation of quasi-monopolistic mega-firms.