معرفی
Professor Raphael Koch is a University Professor (W3) at the University of Augsburg's Faculty of Law, where he holds the Chair of Civil Law, Civil Procedure Law, Corporate Law, and European Private and International Procedural Law. He has been in this position since December 2012 and previously served as Dean of Studies for the Faculty of Law from October 2017. Professor Koch teaches a comprehensive range of courses including Civil Law, Civil Procedure Law, Corporate Law, and Consumer Law, with recent offerings such as 'Social challenges in corporate law or: extremists, sustainability, AI and equality' in the Summer Semester 2025.
Professor Koch earned his LL.M. from the University of Cambridge (Queens' College) with a focus on Commercial Law, completed his doctorate from Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster on 'The effects of the Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpÜG) on the acquisition of own shares,' and completed his habilitation in July 2012 with a thesis titled 'Mitwirkungsverantwortung im Zivilprozess' (Participation Responsibility in Civil Procedure). He also holds an EMBA in Mergers & Acquisitions from JurGrad – School of Tax and Business Law in Münster.
Professor Koch's research focuses on the intersections between civil law, civil procedural law, corporate law, European private law, and international procedural law. His work particularly emphasizes the interactions between procedural law and corporate law, as well as the influence of European law on national legal systems. His research takes an internationally oriented approach with consideration of economic aspects. Recent scholarly interests include the application of artificial intelligence in legal contexts, enforcement in cryptocurrency, consumer protection mechanisms, and contract design for family businesses.
Professor Koch's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contemporary legal challenges at the intersection of traditional legal frameworks and emerging technologies. His work addresses the evolving landscape of consumer protection in digital environments, the enforcement of judgments involving digital assets like cryptocurrencies, and the adaptation of civil procedure to modern business practices. There's a clear trend toward examining how established legal principles apply to new technological contexts while maintaining the integrity of legal systems.
While specific scientific awards are not prominently listed in the available information, Professor Koch has established himself as a respected legal scholar through his extensive publication record, editorial contributions to major legal commentaries, and leadership in academic settings. His work appears in prestigious German legal journals including Neue Juristische Wochenschrift (NJW), Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Bankrecht (WM), and Entscheidungsanmerkungen zum Wirtschafts- und Bankrecht (WuB).
Professor Koch actively supervises doctoral candidates on topics relevant to his chair's focus areas. Current doctoral projects include work on 'Protection of Cultural Property,' 'Pre-emption rights,' 'Grounds for insolvency,' 'Damages and VAT,' 'The Liability of the Witness,' and 'Defective Resolutions in Corporate Law.' He has successfully guided numerous doctoral candidates to completion, with dissertations covering diverse topics such as consumer protection in IoT, director liability in corporate crises, and corporate social responsibility.
As chair holder, Professor Koch leads a team that includes academic staff, doctoral researchers, and student assistants. His chair contributes to major legal commentaries including the 'Handkommentar Gesamtes Recht der Zwangsvollstreckung' and 'Handkommentar ZPO.' The chair regularly publishes in the 'ZIP Journal of Business Law' and contributes to the 'WuB Decision Comments on Commercial and Banking Law.' Professor Koch also co-authors the textbook 'Vertragsgestaltung' (Contract Drafting), which combines academic methodology with practical design considerations.
