Academic Career

1987
Abitur
Commenced studies at the University of Cologne (philosophy; Romance studies; German studies; theatre, film and television studies)

1988-1993
Study of law and political science at the Universities of Cologne and Clermont-Ferrand; scholarship recipient of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (“Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes”)

1993
First state exam in law (Cologne)

1994-1995
Doctoral studies at the Institute for Environmental and Technology Law, University of Trier

1997
Doctoral degree awarded in connection with a dissertation in the field of constitutional law (“Grundrechte in der mobilen Gesellschaft”)
Second state exam in law (Nuremberg)

1997-1998
Internship at the European Commission and research stay in Brussels; supported with post-doctoral scholarship by the German Research Foundation

1998-2003
Research assistant at the Institute of Law and Technology, Friederich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Prof. Vieweg)

2000
Awarded the Bavarian Habilitation Prize

2003
Awarded post-doctoral degree (Habilitation) by the Friederich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg based on the text “Normkonkretisierung im Privatrecht” (The Concrete Interpretation of Norms in Private Law); honoured with the Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg’s Konrad Hellwig Prize

2004
Awarded Heisenberg Scholarship by the German Research Foundation

2004-2023
Chair of Civil Law, European and Private International Law at Bucerius Law School

2006
Offered private law chair with emphasis on the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) by the University of Zürich (declined)

2015
Offered professorship in civil law, family law, succession law, and business law by the University of Bochum (declined)

From 1 January 2024
Director at the Institute and professor at Bucerius Law School

Guest Professorships and Research Stays

Since 2010
Professeur invité der Université de Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas

2014
Lady Beaufort Visiting Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford

2010
Invitation from the University of Kyoto

2012, 2014
Academic Visitor, Institute of European and Comparative Law, University of Oxford

Committees and Memberships

• Academy of Science and Literature in Mainz: Member of the Working Group for Legal Studies and Contemporary History (since 2021)
• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: Member of the Selection Committee on the Granting of Anneliese Maier Research Awards (2017-2019)
• Association Henri Capitan
• German Research Foundation (DFG): Member of the Senate and Grant Committees for Research Training Groups (2010-2016)
• German Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
• Deutscher Juristentag: Member and expert (2010: Ist unser Erbrecht noch zeitgemäß?)
• Association of Comparative Law (Gesellschaft für Rechtsvergleichung)
• ICON-S Deutschland (International Society of Public Law): Member of the Advisory Board (2018-2022)
• Juristische Ausbildung (JURA): Co-editor (2012-2023)
• Law Faculty of the University of Vienna: Member of the Scientific Advisory Board (since 2023)
• Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony: Member of the Research Commission “Die Funktion des Gesetzes in Geschichte und Gegenwart” (since 2016)
• Schriften zum deutschen und ausländischen Familien- und Erbrecht: Co-editor
• German Association of Professors in Private Law (Zivilrechtslehrervereinigung) (since 2004), Member of the Extended Board (2016-2022)
• Wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für Familienrecht, i.a.