Patrick Leyens

Patrick Leyens is a Full Professor at Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, holding the Erasmus Chair of Empirical Legal Studies within the Law and Economics department. His work centers on the Behavioural Approaches to Contract and Tort research programme, with strong ties to the Research Institute of Law and Economics (RILE) through joint doctoral (EDLE) and master's (EMLE) programmes.

Education

• Law at University of Cologne (State Exam, 1999)
• Master in International Business Law at Queen Mary University of London (LL.M., 2000)
• German Referendariat (Bar Exam, 2006)

His research prioritizes empirical analysis of corporate governance, securities regulation, and comparative commercial law across jurisdictions. As the Erasmus Chair of Empirical Legal Studies, he examines legal operations under varying economic conditions, emphasizing quantitative methodologies in private law.

Recent publications (2024) reveal concentrated expertise in German and EU regulatory frameworks, particularly board structures, supply chain compliance, and securities legislation. His work bridges theoretical law and economic analysis, with strong focus on German Commercial Code (HGB) and Securities Trading Act (WpHG) applications.

Scientific Awards

• Recipient of the Otto-Hahn-Medal from the German Max Planck Society
• Multiple first place awards for doctoral thesis
• Multiple first place awards for post-doctoral thesis

Leyens actively supervises master's theses and promotes PhD candidates in the EDLE programme. His academic collaborations span the European Corporate Governance Institute (2017-present), New York University (2017), Humboldt University of Berlin (2016), and Institute for European Integration (2011-present), reflecting extensive international research networks and grant-related activities.

He leads the Erasmus Chair of Empirical Legal Studies, driving interdisciplinary work through the EDLE/EMLE programmes and contributing to Behavioural Approaches to Contract and Tort research group, with significant partnerships in Germany, UK, and USA.