Stefan Vogenauer

Professor Stefan Vogenauer is the Managing Director and Head of the Department of European and Comparative Legal History at the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory in Frankfurt am Main. He previously held the Chair of Comparative Law at the University of Oxford (2003–15) and served as Director of the Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law and a Fellow of Brasenose College.

• Education
  • Law, University of Kiel
  • Law, University of Paris
  • Law, University of Oxford (MJur, 1995)

Vogenauer’s research focuses on European legal history, comparative law, and transnational private law, with a particular emphasis on legal transfers in the common law world, the history of EU law, and the comparative history of legal methodology. His work explores cross-border legal influences and the evolution of legal systems through historical and comparative lenses.

His recent projects include analyzing legal scholarship within the Max Planck Society, mapping Asian contract laws, and studying post-colonial legal transitions in Asia. These reflect his broader interest in transnational legal studies and historical comparative analysis.

Scientific Awards:

• Humboldt Award (2012) for lifetime achievements
• Max Weber Prize (2002)
• Otto Hahn Medal (2002)
• Prize of the German Legal History Conference (2008)

Vogenauer chairs Max Planck Law, a network of nine Max Planck Institutes focused on legal studies. He has held visiting positions at institutions such as New York University, University of Texas at Austin, and National Law University Delhi, and his work has been recognized internationally.