Patrick C. Leyens

Professor Patrick C. Leyens serves as Professor of Civil Law, Commercial and Corporate Law at the University of Bremen's Faculty of Law since 2020, where he also holds the position of Vice Dean since winter term 2024/25 and Director of the Institute for Commercial Law. He maintains an honorary professorship at the Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam since 2014. His academic career includes positions as Junior Professor of Private Law and Economic Analysis at the University of Hamburg (2007-2013) and professorships at Karl-Franzens-University of Graz.

Professor Leyens' research focuses on corporate governance, commercial law, securities regulation, and the intersection of law and economics. His work addresses contemporary challenges including supply chain due diligence, AI liability frameworks, and corporate transaction structures. He has published extensively on corporate governance structures, M&A processes, and regulatory responses to technological innovation.

His recent scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with evolving regulatory frameworks, particularly the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), as well as the legal implications of artificial intelligence and smart contracts. His publications reveal a pattern of bridging theoretical legal scholarship with practical business applications.

Scientific Awards:

• Recipient of the prestigious Otto-Hahn-Medal of the German Max Planck Society
• Awarded Best EMLE Teacher of the Year 2022/23 by student vote

Professor Leyens actively supervises doctoral candidates and master's theses, with notable students including Stefan Heiss (Theodor Körner Award recipient for AI liability research) and Julius Goetsch. He leads a research team comprising Niklas Derwort, Govinda Geiger, Julius Goetsch, and Paulina Skarke. His practical engagement includes organizing annual M&A seminars in collaboration with law firm Noerr, providing students with direct exposure to transactional practice.

He directs the Institute for Commercial Law at the University of Bremen, which serves as a hub for research on corporate transactions, governance structures, and regulatory developments. The institute maintains strong connections with legal practice through collaborations with firms like Noerr and engagement with regulatory bodies including the German Federal Ministry of Finance.