Richard Dören

Richard Dören is a Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL) in Heidelberg, Germany. He serves as Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice (since 2023) and previously worked as Research Fellow at the MPIL (2018–2023). His academic work focuses on Public International Law, Comparative International Law, German Constitutional Law, and Legal History.

• Education: LL.M. from University of Michigan (2020), PhD in Law from University of Heidelberg (2023), specializing in business and human rights
• Current roles: Senior Research Fellow (since 2023), Book Review Editor of the Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht (2018–2024)

His research explores intersections between business activities and international human rights obligations, jurisdictional immunities in international law, and historical dimensions of colonial legal frameworks. He has contributed to debates on cultural property restitution, corporate litigation under the Alien Tort Statute, and EU sanctions policy.

Dören has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Salzburg Cutler Fellowship (2020) and DAAD scholarships. He actively participates in international conferences and academic networks related to international law and has taught tutorials at Heidelberg University since 2020.

• Scientific awards: Studienstiftung ius vivum PhD grant (2024), Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation scholarships, DAAD funding
• Professional memberships: Heidelberger rechtshistorische Gesellschaft, Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung

He contributes regularly to academic blogs including Völkerrechtsblog and EJIL Talk!, focusing on contemporary legal challenges related to international litigation, cultural property, and geopolitical conflicts.