On April 1, 2020, Professor Dr. Christoph Kumpan, LL.M. (University of Chicago), Attorney at Law (New York), assumed the newly established Chair of Civil Law, Corporate Law and Capital Markets Law at Bucerius Law School, a new position funded by the Dr. Harald Hack Foundation. The addition of such an experienced and renowned lawyer to our law school is another example of our expanding focus on commercial law.
Dynamic Legal Field as a Focus
Law and economics share a complex relationship with each other, which is characterized by great dynamics. The law defines the framework for economic relations, which is subject to constant change in today's world, thus requiring a variety of new regulations. This interplay of conflicting priorities is just one of the key research areas that this new position plans to examine.
Multifaceted Career
Professor Dr. Christoph Kumpan studied economics in Berlin, in addition to studying law in Berlin, Heidelberg and Chicago. After his first state examination in law (2000), he obtained an LL.M. from the University of Chicago (2002) before taking the second state examination in law (2004). Christoph Kumpan wrote his doctoral thesis on "The Regulation of Off-Exchange Securities Trading Systems in German, European and US-American Law" (2005) and qualified for a teaching position in Hamburg with his habilitation (post doctoral) thesis "Conflict of Interest in German Private Law" (2013). He worked in Hamburg from 2000 to 2012 at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law. After holding an interim professorship at the University of Münster (2013) and a visiting professorship at the Humboldt University in Berlin (2013-2016), he became the Chair of Civil, Business, Private International and Comparative Law, as well as Director of the Institute for Business Law at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg (2016-2020).
Strengthening International Research
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Katharina Boele-Woelki, Dean of Bucerius Law School, remarked on the new appointment: "We are looking forward to our highly qualified colleague who brings a wealth of experience in teaching as well as international and interdisciplinary research. With Professor Kumpan, the university is strengthening its focus on commercial law, an area it has been committed to ever since its establishment."
Christoph Kumpan has already enjoyed a close relationship with Bucerius Law School during his professional life in Hamburg: "I have come to appreciate the academic exchange of ideas at the numerous events offered. I was extremely impressed by the commitment and excellent legal knowledge of the students. I am convinced that the university, with its modern teaching concept of legal education, is on the right track to providing young lawyers with the necessary tools for their future work in view of the ever-increasing internationalization and globalization of business and law," said Prof. Kumpan. "I am therefore very pleased to join the prestigious community of Bucerius Law School, to face current and future challenges together, as well as finding those solutions together."
Profile of Prof. Dr. Christoph Kumpan
Author: Lena Johannes
Translation: David Patrician
