Björn Hoops

Prof. Björn Hoops is a Full Professor of Private Law and Sustainability at the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Law. He specializes in Property Law, Land Governance, and the legal dimensions of the energy transition. His work addresses challenges such as expropriation, renewable energy communities, and corporate environmental liability. He holds editorial roles in journals like European Property Law Journal and Energy Law Journal.

• Education: PhD (cum laude) in Law (2017), multiple advanced degrees in Dutch, European, and comparative law, and a BSc in Economics and Business Science.
• Research Interests: Energy Commons, legal frameworks for sustainable development, and the intersection of private law with climate goals. His work often focuses on governance structures for renewable energy projects and equitable resource distribution.

Recent publications analyze corporate liability in climate litigation (e.g., Shell case), governance of Italian energy cooperatives, and legal barriers to small-scale energy initiatives. He has been awarded the Marie Curie Fellowship (2021) and a prestigious NWO grant for research on energy communities.

• Grants: NWO-XS Grant (2024), VNAL conference grant (2022), and multiple other research fellowships.
• Affiliations: Member of The Young Academy (Netherlands), Board Member of the Association of Law, Property and Society, and advisor to Olenz Notarissen.

Teaching responsibilities include Real Estate Law, Property Law, and legal research courses. He has supervised numerous projects and lectures globally, including at the University of Cape Town and Hanse Law School.