Rolf Sethe

Professor Dr. Rolf Sethe is a full Professor of Civil, Commercial and Business Law at the University of Zurich, Faculty of Law, holding the Chair of Civil Law. Since 2013, he has been leading the University Priority Research Program (URPP) Financial Market Regulation, a strategic initiative focused on advancing research in financial market law and policy.

He studied law and history at the University of Tübingen and earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His academic career is marked by a deep commitment to both legal scholarship and institutional leadership in the fields of corporate and financial market law.

Research Interests:

• Corporate Law and Governance
• Banking and Capital Market Law
• Financial Market Regulation
• Investor Protection and Asset Management Law
• Swiss and Comparative Company Law
• Securities Trading and Compliance

Professor Sethe has authored and co-edited numerous foundational texts, including the Handbook of Asset Management, Swiss Corporate Law, and commentaries on the German Stock Corporation Act and Securities Trading Act. His work spans theoretical analysis, regulatory reform, and practical legal guidance, making him a central figure in shaping Swiss and European financial law.

Doctoral Supervision:

He has supervised over 25 doctoral theses, covering topics such as insider trading, corporate governance, financial market regulation, and investor protection. The supervised dissertations often result in published monographs contributing to the Studies on Banking and Capital Markets Law series, which he co-edits.

Scientific Contributions:

• Co-editor of the Journal of Banking Law and Banking Economics (ZBB) since 2006
• Co-editor of the Swiss Journal of Business and Financial Market Law (SZW) (2012–2020)
• Member of editorial boards and contributor to major legal commentaries and handbooks
• Frequent speaker at international conferences and contributor to policy debates

Contact:
Email: rolf.sethe@rwi.uzh.ch
Phone: +41 44 634 30 80
Office: RAI-G-081, University of Zurich