Antonia Sommerfeld

Antonia Sommerfeld is a Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law since 2023 and a lecturer at the University of Hamburg. She holds a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Hamburg (2021) and completed both her First and Second State Exams in law in 2016 and 2022, respectively. Her research focuses on civil law, international arbitration, and the intersection of private law with sustainability and the circular economy.

Education:

• LL.M. equivalent (Dr. iur.) from the University of Hamburg (2021)
• Studies at the University of Hamburg and Université Aix-Marseille (France)
• Scholarships: Deutschlandstipendium, FAZIT Foundation, and Albrecht Mendelssohn Bartholdy Graduate School of Law

Research Interests:
Her work explores legal frameworks for the circular economy, particularly in fashion, private international law, and comparative law. She investigates legal flight in commercial contracts and the reform of standard form contracts. Recent contributions include her award-winning article on circular fashion and legal design.

Awards and Recognition:

• Werner von Melle Prize (2021)
• José María Cervelló Business Law Prize (2024)
• Lindemann Fellowship (2025–)

Teaching and Professional Experience:

• Lecturer at the University of Hamburg and China University of Political Science and Law
• Visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge (2019), University of Edinburgh, and Kyoto University
• Legal Trainee at Hamburg Higher Regional Court (2020–2022) and UN Mission in New York

Current Project:
Leading a research project on private international law’s role in supporting a sustainability transformation in the fashion industry.