“Thinking Ahead in Private Law“

With the academic symposium "Thinking Ahead in Private Law," being held in English on 1–2 October 2026, we are celebrating the Institute’s 100-year anniversary. With a focus on our core research areas, we will look to the future in the international, interdisciplinary, and dialogue-based spirit that has characterized the Institute since its founding. Due to limited seating at the Institute, the symposium will be held as a closed event on site. Nevertheless, we would like to offer everyone interested in the symposium and connected with the Institute an opportunity to participate. Therefore, we will broadcast the symposium live via Zoom. We warmly invite you to join our celebration online!

Registration

Please register by Wednesday, 30 September 2026 through this LINK to participate in the symposium via Zoom. You will receive the meeting link in the afternoon of 30 September 2026.

Program

Thursday, 1 October 2026

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Welcome
Ralf Michaels

2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Precedents and Time in European Laws
Nils Jansen

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Discussion

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Break

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Reimagining Hosting
Annelise Riles

4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.   
Discussion

 

Friday, 2 October 2026

9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.               
Contesting Family Law Exceptionalism: The Sexual, Economic, and Natural Family
Fernanda G. Nicola

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.             
Discussion

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.             
Break

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.        
Corporate Law in Transformation. The Art of Integration under the Rise of European Business Law
Rüdiger Veil

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.                           
Discussion

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.               
Break

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.                 
Congratulations from the “Freunde des Hamburger Max-Planck-Instituts“
Walter Doralt, Jennifer Trinks

1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.                 
Panel discussion featuring the speakers

2:40 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.                 
Closing remarks