Marta Pertegás Sender

Marta Pertegás Sender is a Full Professor and Chairholder of Private International Law and Transnational Law at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law. She also holds a part-time position at the University of Antwerp, a YUFE Full Partner University, and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg. She is Co-Director of M-EPLI and actively involved in the PAX Moot competition.

• Full Professor, Maastricht University (2018–present)
• Part-time Professor, University of Antwerp (2002–present)
• Visiting Professor, University of Johannesburg (2019–present)
• Co-Director, M-EPLI (2020–present)
• Former Member, Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on PIL (2008–2017)

Her research centers on private international law, particularly the interaction between legal systems, the impact of globalization, and the role of soft law. She explores the dynamics between regional and global frameworks, jurisdictional challenges, and the protection of individuals in cross-border disputes, especially children in migration contexts.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in private international law, with emphasis on the 2005 Choice of Court Convention, the FAMIMOVE project on children in migration, and the interplay between hard and soft law. Her work spans commercial, family, and property law domains, often analyzing EU regulations and Hague instruments through comparative and interdisciplinary lenses.

Scientific and Academic Leadership:

• Co-Director, M-EPLI (Maastricht European Private Law Institute)
• Organizer, PAX Moot – International Moot Court in PIL
• Contributor to major international handbooks and commentaries
• Active participant in treaty development via the Hague Conference

She has advised on legal codification and treaty negotiations and continues to shape the academic and practical development of private international law across Europe and beyond. Her work integrates scholarly rigor with real-world legal practice, bridging academia and international institutions.

Marta is affiliated with research initiatives such as FAMIMOVE and M-EPLI, which focus on migration, family law, and the evolution of private international law in a globalized world. These teams foster interdisciplinary collaboration across European and international universities.