In the absence of any institution for imposing legal liability on glob
al business, the idea of instituting a cosmopolitan court for internat
ional corporate offenses is advocated. The proposal is then critically
examined and defended in light of a number of key objections. Having
both civil and criminal jurisdiction, such a tribunal could benefit do
mestic and international legal systems, multinational corporations, an
d victims of transnational and international corporate misdeeds. By la
ying down minimal global standards of corporate liability, resolving c
onflicts between the regulatory activities of national legal systems,
and affording redress for aggrieved parties in countries with inadequa
te legal infrastructures, the tribunal would promote the objectives of
compensatory, distributive, procedural and retributive justice at the
global level. Moreover, the court would assist corporations by transl
ating compliance with minimum ethical standards to the bottom line. Et
hical corporations will gain competitive advantage relative to unscrup
ulous firms, since the latter's activities will be sanctioned. The int
ernational community need not leave obedience to basic norms up to the
voluntary good-will and discretion of multinational firms.