Olaf Riss

Olaf Riss is a Professor of Austrian and European Civil Law at the University of Vienna, holding this position since February 2025. Previously, he served as Professor of Private Commercial Law at the University of Klagenfurt (2019–2025) and Professor of Civil Law at the University of Linz (2014–2019). He is affiliated with the Institute for Civil Law at the University of Vienna and has been a Senior Researcher/Consultant at the Institute for European Tort Law of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and University of Graz since 2006.

Research Interests: His work focuses on civil law, including property law, credit security law, insolvency law, banking law, financial market law, standard terms law, consumer law, tenancy law, developer contract law, and economic analysis of law, with a strong emphasis on European context.

Education:

• Diplomstudium in Law (University of Vienna, 1996–2000)
• Postgraduate Program in Information and Media Law (University of Vienna, 2002–2003)
• Doctorate in Law with distinction (University of Vienna, 2004)

Scientific Awards:

• Doctoral Degree awarded with distinction (2004)
• Very Good Success in Austrian Bar Exam (2014)

Professional Experience:

• Research Assistant at the Institute for Civil Law (University of Vienna, 2001–2011)
• Legal Trainee and Attorney at Law in Vienna (2012–2016)
• Lecturer/Advisor for economic and civil law courses, including Law Clinic - Tenancy Law, Civil Law Exercises, and specialized seminars on banking and real estate law.