Lisette ten Haaf

Lisette ten Haaf is an Assistant Professor in Legal Theory at Utrecht University's School of Law, specializing in the Institute of Constitutional, Administrative Law and Legal Theory. She teaches and coordinates Foundations of Law and Law and Human Biotechnology courses, while also serving as the bachelor coordinator for the Law department. With expertise spanning legal theory, biolaw, health law, and the regulation of reproduction and human biotechnology, her work bridges legal scholarship with contemporary ethical challenges in reproductive technologies.

Lisette ten Haaf completed her academic journey at Utrecht University, earning a Bachelor of Law (2006-2009) followed by a Master of Legal Theory (2009-2010). She pursued her doctoral studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as a PhD candidate in Legal Theory from 2012-2017, culminating in her dissertation "Regulating Non-Existence: The Legal Conceptualisation of the Future Child in the Regulation of Reproduction," which earned her the prestigious Goudsmit Award 2025 from the Dutch Society for Health Law.

• Bachelor of Law, Utrecht University (2006-2009)
• Master of Legal Theory, Utrecht University (2009-2010)
• PhD in Legal Theory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2012-2017)

Lisette ten Haaf's research centers on the complex legal position of unborn life, with particular focus on how new appearances of unborn human life challenge existing legal frameworks. Her scholarship critically examines the conceptualization of the future child within regulatory systems across multiple jurisdictions including the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Her work explores cutting-edge issues such as:

• Compulsory contraception measures and their legal justification
• Mitochondrial replacement treatments and associated legal frameworks
• Prenatal child protection measures and judicial oversight
• The legal status of embryos and fetuses in reproductive technologies
• The philosophical foundations of legal personhood for future persons

Ten Haaf's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent trajectory from theoretical legal frameworks to practical applications in reproductive law. Her recent publications (2023-2025) increasingly address contemporary judicial decisions and legislative challenges, particularly regarding prenatal supervision, forced medical procedures, and posthumous reproduction.

Her work reveals a methodological shift from purely theoretical analysis toward case-specific legal commentary, reflecting growing engagement with real-world legal dilemmas. The interdisciplinary nature of her research connects legal theory with bioethics, medical practice, and philosophical inquiry, creating a robust framework for understanding emerging reproductive technologies within existing legal systems.

Lisette ten Haaf's contributions to legal scholarship have been recognized with significant honors:

• Goudsmit Award 2025 by the Dutch Society for Health Law for her doctoral thesis "Regulating Non-Existence: The Legal Conceptualisation of the Future Child in the Regulation of Reproduction"

As an active academic supervisor, ten Haaf guides thesis research in legal theory and biolaw, mentoring the next generation of legal scholars in navigating complex intersections between law, ethics, and emerging technologies. Her supervisory approach emphasizes critical engagement with philosophical foundations while maintaining practical relevance to contemporary legal challenges.

Her research has been supported through academic positions at Utrecht University, where she has developed specialized courses on Law and Human Biotechnology. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, her extensive publication record in prestigious journals and edited volumes suggests successful competitive funding for her research initiatives.

Ten Haaf is actively involved with UCERF (Utrecht Centre for European Research in Family Law), contributing to symposia and edited volumes on current developments in family law. Her work connects with interdisciplinary networks addressing the legal implications of reproductive technologies, placing her at the intersection of legal scholarship, bioethics, and medical practice. She collaborates with scholars across Europe to examine comparative approaches to regulating reproduction and human biotechnology.