Niels Petersen

Niels Petersen is a Professor of Public Law, International Law, and EU Law at the University of Münster since 2015. He has held visiting positions at prestigious institutions such as the University of Auckland, University of Paris Dauphine, and Singapore Management University. His research focuses on international human rights, constitutional theory, comparative constitutional law, and the economic analysis of legal decision-making.

Education:

• PhD in Law, Goethe University Frankfurt (2008)
• M.A. in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences, Columbia University (2010)
• Second State Exam (bar exam equivalent), Landgericht Wiesbaden (2005)
• First State Exam (J.D. equivalent), University of Münster (2003)

His scholarly contributions include the monograph Proportionality and Judicial Activism (Cambridge University Press, 2017) and the edited volume Equality’s Guardians (Oxford University Press, 2025). He is recognized for bridging legal theory with empirical and economic methodologies.

Scientific Awards:

• Hauser Research Scholar, New York University School of Law
• Emile Noel Fellow, New York University School of Law