Patrick C. Leyens

Patrick C. Leyens serves as Professor of Civil Law, Commercial and Corporate Law at the University of Bremen's Faculty of Law, where he also holds the position of Vice Dean and Director of the Institute for Commercial Law. His academic career spans multiple European institutions including Erasmus University Rotterdam and Karl-Franzens-University Graz.

His educational background includes law studies at the University of Cologne, an LL.M. from the University of London (2000), and both his PhD (2006) and Habilitation (2015) from the University of Hamburg under Professor Klaus J. Hopt. Prior to his current position, he worked as a research assistant at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg and held professorships at several German and Austrian universities.

Leyens' research focuses on the intersection of law, technology, and business, with particular expertise in corporate governance, supply chain regulations, and digital transformation of commercial transactions. His work examines how traditional legal frameworks adapt to emerging technologies like AI and blockchain while maintaining legal certainty and protecting human rights. Recent publications analyze the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, smart contracts in B2B contexts, and AI liability frameworks.

His publication trends reveal a consistent focus on how legal systems respond to technological disruption, with increasing attention to European regulatory developments in sustainability and digital markets. Recent work shows strong interdisciplinary connections between corporate law, technology regulation, and human rights frameworks.

• Best Teacher of the Year 2022/23 (European Master in Law & Economics program)

Leyens actively supervises doctoral candidates including Stefan Heiss, whose dissertation on 'Artificial Intelligence and Civil Liability' received the Theodor Körner Award. He collaborates with legal practitioners through the annual 'Mergers & Acquisitions: Cycle of a Corporate Transaction' seminar co-organized with law firm Noerr. His research has informed policy discussions, including advising the German Federal Ministry of Finance on depositor and investor protection reforms.

As Director of the Institute for Commercial Law, Leyens leads a research team including associates Niklas Derwort, Govinda Geiger, Julius Goetsch, and Paulina Skarke. His work bridges academic research and practical application through partnerships with legal practitioners and participation in professional committees including the Schmalenbach Society for Business Management and the Verein für Socialpolitik.