Marc Desens

Prof. Dr. Marc Desens has held the Chair of Public Law (specializing in Tax Law and Public Commercial Law) at the University of Leipzig since April 2010. He serves as Director of the Institute of Tax Law and the Ernst Jaeger Institute for Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency Law. His leadership roles include Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law (since 2022) and former Dean of Studies (2010–2016). He also chairs the Saxon Tax Circle (eV) and the Forum for Transactions in Tax Law (eV).

• Education: Studied law, political science, economic policy, and philosophy at the University of Münster (1994–2000).
• Dissertation: Das Halbeinkünfteverfahren (University of Münster, 2003).
• Habilitation: Bindung der Finanzverwaltung an die Rechtsprechung (University of Münster, 2010).

Research Focus: National and international corporate tax law, procedural, constitutional, and European law intersections. Key areas include taxation of corporate restructuring, cross-border activities, EU law impacts on tax policy, and constitutional limits of taxation powers.

Academic Roles: Leads the Chair of Public Law and teaches constitutional, European, and international tax law. Organizes seminars on tax law distinctions (e.g., commercial operations vs. asset management).

• Scientific Awards: Dissertationspreis 2003 (University of Münster), Hans-Flick-Ehrenpreis 2004, Habilitationspreis 2010 (Juristischen Studiengesellschaft Münster).
• Grants & Affiliations: Founding member of the Forum for Transactions in Tax Law (eV), member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Leipzig Legal Society (eV), and the Berlin Tax Talks (eV).

Collaborative Projects: Co-organizes seminars with the President of the Fiscal Court of Saxony-Anhalt on EU tax jurisprudence. Works with affiliated lecturers like Prof. Dr. Mathias Birnbaum and Prof. Dr. Jens Escher.