Wolfgang Ernst

Prof. Wolfgang Ernst is the Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford and holds a professor ad personam position at the University of Zurich (UZH). He serves as UZH’s Integrity Officer since 2020. His academic journey includes studies at Bonn, Frankfurt, and Yale (LL.M.), and professorships at Tübingen, Bonn, Cambridge, and Zurich. He specializes in Roman law, doctrinal history, monetary law, and legal aspects of social choice. His research bridges historical and contemporary private law issues, particularly contract law, property law, and monetary law.

Education:

• Bachelor’s and PhD in Law (Bonn University, 1981)
• LL.M., Yale Law School (1982)

Research Interests: Roman Law, monetary law history, legal historiography, contract law, and social choice theory. Recent work explores the legal history of money and judicial decision-making processes.

Teaching: Lectures on Roman Law, Delict Law, and Contract Law at Oxford. Supervises doctoral and master’s students across institutions.

Awards:

• Edinburgh University Honorary Doctorate (2017)
• Vienna University Honorary Doctorate (2017)

Grants and Advising: Supervises theses and chairs the International Roman Law Moot Court Competition. Active in grants related to legal history and comparative law.

Affiliations: Institute of European and Comparative Law, All Souls College (Oxford), and Center for Art and Law (UZH).