Mastering Corporate Law: Companies Act, M&A, PE/VC, and IBC — A Comprehensive 5-Month Learning Path

Corporate law is a fast-evolving field that demands a deep understanding of statutory frameworks, transactional processes, regulatory compliance, and real-world drafting skills. The mastering corporate law course discussed here offers a structured five-month curriculum designed to build expertise across the Companies Act, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Venture Capital, FEMA regulations, and the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code. Learners gain both conceptual clarity and hands-on experience, enabling them to step confidently into corporate law practice.

Why a Structured Corporate Law Program Matters

Corporate law integrates several domains—company formation, securities regulation, governance, contract drafting, transactions, insolvency, and cross-border rules. For students, young lawyers, and compliance professionals, developing a coherent understanding often takes years without guided learning.
This program shortens that journey by combining live academic classes, drafting workshops, assignments, and mentorship, making the learner job-ready within a realistic timeframe.

Month 1 & 2: Companies Act and Corporate Governance

These foundational months focus on the life cycle of a company—from incorporation to dissolution. The modules ensure familiarity with statutory requirements, practical drafting, and corporate compliance frameworks.

1. Formation and Structure of Companies

• Incorporation procedures
• Private vs public companies
• Section-8 entities and distinction from trusts/societies
• Key compliance provisions relevant to startups

Example: Learners draft a Memorandum of Association to understand objects, liability clauses, and authorized capital.

2. Drafting MOA and AOA

• Purpose and legal significance
• Steps involved in drafting MOA/AOA
• Alteration rules and common compliance issues

3. Issuance of Securities

• Types of prospectus
• Allotment procedures for private and public offerings
• Regulatory oversight in issuing securities

4. Corporate Operations and Management

• Appointment and duties of directors
• Powers of the board and shareholders
• Drafting of employment agreements

5. Governance Framework

• Conduct of general meetings
• Board meeting procedures
• Resolutions, notices, quorum, and minutes

6. Investment, Debt & FEMA Compliance

• Debt vs equity financing
• FDI and FEMA regulations
• Sector-specific filing requirements
• Drafting and negotiating shareholders’ agreements

7. Capital Markets & Share Transactions

• Share capital structure
• Transfer and buyback processes

8. Accounts, Audit, and Compliance

• Preparation of financial statements
• Role of auditors and audit committees

9. CSR Framework

• Statutory CSR requirements
• Tax treatment of CSR expenditure

10. NCLT Procedures

• Powers of NCLT
• Types of petitions
• Format and drafting techniques

11. Winding Up

• Voluntary and compulsory winding-up procedures

12. Valuation, ESG & Negotiation

• Valuation principles
• Importance of ESG in corporate governance
• Negotiation strategies in corporate transactions

13. Startup Legal Structure

• Legal considerations in forming startups
• ESOPs, IP protection, and compliance

14. Risk Management

• Annual compliance checklists
• Penalties and internal controls

15. Employment Law

• Key employment statutes
• Drafting confidentiality and employment contracts

Month 3 & 4: Mergers, Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital

These modules provide a complete view of deal-making, due diligence, regulatory requirements, documentation, and post-merger integration.

16. Fundamentals of M&A

• Types of mergers
• Deal structuring
• Valuation methods
• CCI regulations and tax considerations

17. Key Stakeholders in M&A

• Roles of acquirers, directors, and advisors
• Coordination between lawyers, CAs, bankers

18. Blueprint of a Transaction

• Steps from negotiation to regulatory filings

19. Drafting Transaction Agreements

• JV Agreements
• Share purchase & subscription agreements
• Business and asset transfer agreements

20. Statutory Provisions (Section 230–240)

• Schemes of arrangement and amalgamation

21. Due Diligence

• DD types and checklists
• Reviewing a sample DD report

22. Private Equity & Venture Capital

• Stages of funding
• Key rights: drag-along, tag-along, anti-dilution, ROFR, etc.
• Investor protections and exit mechanisms

23. Companies Act Provisions Relevant to M&A

• Preferential allotment
• Share transfer regulations
• Landmark judgments

24. SEBI Regulations

• Takeover code
• LODR compliance
• Insider trading restrictions
• Delisting guidelines

25. FEMA in Cross-Border M&A

• Valuation and pricing guidelines
• Regulatory filings (FC-GPR, FC-TRS, ODI)
• RBI circulars and enforcement

26. Technology Law & IP in Transactions

• Data protection
• Platform liability
• Licensing frameworks

27. SPVs in Deal-Making

• Structure and purpose
• Governance mechanisms

28. Post-Merger Integration

• Managing cultural shifts
• Dispute resolution frameworks

29. Case Studies

• High-profile Indian and global M&A deals

30. Ethics in Negotiations

• Transparency
• Insider trading safeguards
• Fair treatment of stakeholders

Month 5: Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC)

The final module prepares learners for real-world insolvency matters with a structured understanding of legislation, procedure, and practice.

31. Evolution of Insolvency Law

• Pre-IBC frameworks
• Introduction of IBC and IBBI
• Role of NCLT

32. Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process

• Initiation by creditors and debtors
• Moratorium principles
• Role of IRP/RP
• Timelines, CoC, and Section 53 waterfall
• Pre-pack & fast-track processes

33. Liquidation

• Appointment of liquidator
• Distribution process

34. Cross-Border Insolvency

• UNCITRAL Model Law principles
• Recognition of foreign proceedings

35. Landmark Judgments

• Mobilox
• Innoventive
• Swiss Ribbons, etc.

36. Recent Amendments

• Industry-specific reforms
• Impact on creditors and applicants

37. Interface with Other Laws

• Companies Act
• SEBI & FEMA
• Taxation and labour laws
• White-collar crime issues

38. Economic Impact of IBC

• Resolution of stressed assets
• Challenges for MSMEs

39. Trends in Insolvency Practice

• Technology adoption
• Rise of distressed asset market

Career and Skill Development Add-Ons

The course also includes training on:

• CV and cover letter drafting
• LinkedIn optimization
• Freelancing platforms (Upwork & Fiverr)
• Networking and negotiation
• Practical contract drafting exercises

Learners also complete a real-world corporate law project and receive a project completion certificate.