Christoph Van der Elst

Christoph Van der Elst is a Full Professor of Business Law and Economics at Tilburg Law School, affiliated with the Private, Business, and Labour Law department. He holds visiting professorships globally and is a member of the Belgian bar and ECGI. His research focuses on corporate law and sustainability, shareholder activism, and empirical legal analysis. Active in interdisciplinary projects like 'Connecting Responsible Organizations,' he explores topics such as sustainable governance, ESG reporting, and legal tech applications in blockchain and corporate governance. He has over 150 publications, including works on shareholder sustainability questions, SFDR reporting, and auditor selection processes. External roles include membership in the NWO Scientific Advisory Board and the Scientific Advisory Committee of Tilburg Law School.

Education:

• Research Assistant, Financial Law Institute (Ghent University, 1995–2001)
• Attorney at the Belgian Bar (since 1995)
• Professorial roles at Ghent University (2001–2005) and Tilburg University (2005–present)

Research Interests: Corporate Law, Sustainability, Shareholder Activism, Legal Tech, Blockchain Governance, ESG Compliance.

Recent Work Trends: Analysis of shareholder engagement mechanisms, legal frameworks for digital governance (DAOs, blockchain), and corporate sustainability reporting strategies. Recent articles highlight the strategic use of shareholder questions in Dutch AGMs and the role of legal tech in corporate decision-making.

Grants & Projects: Leads projects on corporate governance dynamics, sustainable business reporting, and the legal implications of financial innovations. Collaborations include global networks on corporate law and economic policy.

Labs/Teams: Part of Tilburg Law and Economic Center (TILEC) and the 'Connecting Responsible Organizations' research program, fostering interdisciplinary legal and economic research.