Prof. Ayelet Blecher-Prigat is the Dean of the Law School at the Academic College of Law & Science. Her academic career spans roles as co-director of the Center for the Rights of the Child and the Family, and co-editor of The Family in Law Journal , an interdisciplinary Hebrew-language publication. Education: LL.B. (magna cum laude) from Tel-Aviv University (1997); LL.M. (Kent Scholar) and JSD from Columbia Law School (1999, 2005). Prior Role: Clerked for Israeli Supreme Court Justice Strasberg-Cohen. Research Focus: Family law, children's rights, inheritance law, and law-religion intersections in Israel. Her work explores same-sex marriage, co-parenting, wills interpretation, and privacy rights within familial contexts. Key Themes: Legal recognition of non-traditional relationships, financial obligations in co-parenting, gender equality in family law, and religious-secular legal tensions. Notable Contributions: Analysis of nonmarriage frameworks, feminist reinterpretation of trusts and estates, and comparative studies of marriage and cohabitation. Academic Leadership: Co-directed the Center for the Rights of the Child and the Family; instrumental in advancing interdisciplinary family law scholarship in Israel.
Helen Y. Chang serves as Professor of Law at Golden Gate University's School of Law, teaching core curriculum including Civil Procedure I & II (LAW 700A/B), Community Property (LAW 808A), Criminal Law (LAW 710), International Criminal Law (LLM 373), and Property (LAW 715). Her administrative leadership includes serving as Interim Dean of Law Student Services and Interim Director of the LLM in Taxation Program. Specializing in Family Law, Community Property, and Criminal Law, Professor Chang's research critically examines legal frameworks through historical and social justice lenses. Her work interrogates doctrines affecting marginalized groups—from transgender parents' rights to putative spouses' claims—while analyzing legislative failures in property classification and constitutional protections. Publications spanning 2003-2018 reveal consistent focus on doctrinal evolution in family and criminal law. Early work challenged custody standards for transgender parents (2003), progressed to community property classifications (2008, 2015), and expanded to constitutional history of suicide rights (2018). Key trends include California-specific statutory analysis, dissenting judicial opinions as catalysts for change, and critiques of 'best interests' standards. Professor Chang has held significant administrative roles including Interim Dean of Law Student Services and Interim Director of the LLM in Taxation Program, demonstrating institutional leadership beyond classroom instruction. Her scholarly contributions directly inform curriculum development in civil procedure, property law, and criminal justice courses.
Martín García, Juan Alfonso serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Basic Legal Sciences at University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, specializing in Civil Law within the Branch of Social and Legal Sciences. His academic profile centers on Spanish civil jurisprudence with significant contributions to consumer protection frameworks. Research interests demonstrate deep engagement with practical legal applications across multiple subdomains: Consumer Law (loan contract clauses, floor clauses, early termination provisions) Contract Law (vehicle dealer liability, air navigation responsibility) Family Law (adoption requirements, psychological abuse in inheritance disputes) Privacy Law (European Convention on Human Rights applications) Recent work shows particular focus on how Spanish courts reconcile national legislation with evolving European Union consumer protection standards. Professor Martín García maintains active student supervision as evidenced by 10 final degree projects from 2016-2020 covering contemporary civil law challenges. His advisees have produced work on topics including minors in sports contracts, adoption eligibility, and banking clause validity. Contact is available via email juanalfonso.martin@ulpgc.es or phone 928457144 for academic inquiries.
Carolina Mesa Marrero serves as a Professor in the Department of Basic Legal Sciences at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's School of Law. Her academic work focuses on Civil Law within the Branch of Knowledge of Social and Legal Sciences. She maintains an active research and teaching profile, supervising numerous undergraduate and master's students through their thesis work. Professor Mesa Marrero's research spans multiple critical areas within civil law, with particular expertise in family law, inheritance law, legal capacity, and guardianship. Her work addresses contemporary legal challenges including digital assets in inheritance, protection of minors, rights of persons with disabilities, and personality rights in the digital age. She has demonstrated consistent scholarly activity through her supervision of student research projects across these domains. Her recent publications and supervised theses reveal a strong trend toward examining how traditional civil law frameworks adapt to modern societal challenges. Her work connects historical legal concepts with contemporary issues like digital inheritance, assisted reproduction law, and the impact of international conventions on domestic guardianship systems. This interdisciplinary approach bridges civil law with technology, human rights, and social welfare considerations. Professor Mesa Marrero has been instrumental in guiding the next generation of legal scholars and practitioners. She has supervised twenty doctoral theses from 2018-2023, working with students on topics ranging from domestic violence in inheritance contexts to digital personality rights. Her mentorship extends across both undergraduate and master's level programs at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Merita Zulfiu is a Full-time Associate Professor at the Faculty of Contemporary Social Sciences , South East European University (SEEU), Tetovo, Republic of North Macedonia. Her work focuses on the intersection of foreign direct investment (FDI), labor market dynamics, migration studies, and public policy in transition economies, particularly in the Western Balkans. PhD in Economics , Staffordshire University, UK (2014) MSc in Economics , Staffordshire University, UK (2007) Diploma in Marketing , SEEU (2004) Her research explores wage inequality, skill intensity, and brain drain in Macedonia, with recent publications addressing FDI impacts , public sector governance , and gender perspectives in energy efficiency . She contributes to regional conferences on migration, governance, and integration. Key trends in her 15 most recent articles include economic policy in transition economies , academic migration patterns , public administration reforms , and gender equity in policy design . While no explicit awards are listed, her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations with institutions like the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Transnational Press London.
Nuno Sousa e Silva is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and a Partner at PTCS. He graduated (2011), earned his Master’s (2013), and completed his PhD (2019) at the Porto School of Law. He holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Competition Law from the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (2013). His work spans Intellectual Property, IT Law, EU Law, and Private Law, with 144 research outputs and active involvement in the Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law (CEID-CRCFL) since 2020. PhD in Law, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2019) LL.M. in Intellectual Property, MIPLC (2013) Master’s in Law, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2013) Licenciatura (LL.B.) in Law, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (2011) His research focuses on Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, EU Law, and LegalTech, contributing to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals via education and legal innovation. He has published 4 books, over 50 articles, and supervised 23 research works. His 2025 articles address AI regulation and digital inheritance, while 2023-2024 outputs explore copyright adaptation and AI-robotics liability. He received the Prémio Abreu Advogados (2020), acted as legal expert for international institutions, and taught in Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, and the UK. Recent supervisions include Valente, C.D.P.D.O. (2023) on GDPR-related civil liability. His 2022-2025 projects emphasize CEID-CRCFL, AI-legality intersections, and EU legal harmonization.
Professor Dr. Thomas Rüfner holds the Chair of Civil Law, Roman Law, Modern Private Law History, and German and International Civil Procedure Law at the University of Trier (School of Law, Department of Law). His research bridges ancient Roman law with contemporary German civil law, emphasizing the legacy of Ius Commune and its influence on European private legal systems. Research Interests span Roman law, German civil law, comparative legal history, inheritance law, and civil procedural law. He explores the historical roots of modern legal concepts like authorship attribution in Roman texts using AI, medieval legal discourse, and private law evolution. His courses include lectures on Roman Legal History, Civil Law fundamentals, and European legal traditions. In 2014, he was on sabbatical but continues active teaching and research.
Geert Pesselse is an Assistant Professor at the Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology, Utrecht University , affiliated with the Montaigne Centre for the Rule of Law and Administration of Justice . His work spans Criminal Procedure, Penal Law , and the application of Human Rights in criminal proceedings. His research focuses on Ordinary and extraordinary legal remedies in criminal law Penitentiary law and sentencing Jurisprudence under the European Convention on Human Rights with particular alignment to IOS - Contesting Governance and IOS - Security in Open Societies themes. Recent publications in Sancties journal highlight trends in RSJ Appeals Committee decisions Procedural fairness in Caribbean jurisdictions Implementation of minimal restriction principles across criminal law contexts. As a deputy judge at the Gelderland District Court and former Research Fellow at Radboud University's SteR, Pesselse combines academic rigor with practical legal experience. He supervises Bachelor's and Master's theses in criminal law and leads specialized courses like Caput Legal Remedies .
Emma von Essen is an Associate Professor at Stockholm University, affiliated with the Swedish Institute for Social Research and the GAINS (Gender Analysis and Interdisciplinary Research Network, Stockholm) group. She also holds positions at Aarhus University (Department of Economics and Business) and Uppsala University (Department of Sociology). Research Focus: Experimental economics, labor economics, gender economics, and socioeconomic status Teaching: Labor economics, gender economics, quantitative methods, and behavioral economics Key Collaborators: Mahmood Arai, Anne Boschini, Gustaf Bruze, Anna Dreber, Lina Eklund Her research explores gender disparities in corporate governance, labor markets, and health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on transgender populations and socioeconomic factors. She investigates how anonymity affects online behavior and the interplay between professional networks and gender in leadership roles. Her publications examine topics such as labor market discrimination, gender dynamics in corporate board appointments, and the impact of inheritance reforms on family dynamics. She has conducted field experiments on online marketplaces and behavioral studies on children's risk preferences across cultures.
Marie GORÉ serves as Professor of Private Law at the University of Paris-Panthéon-Assas, directing both the Institute of Comparative Law and the Master (1-2) Franco-Asian Business Law program (Vietnam-Cambodia). Her academic profile integrates teaching across Comparative Law, Asian Law, and International Contract Law with research focused on private international law frameworks. Education Associate of the faculties of law Her research bridges European and Asian legal traditions through analysis of Chinese civil law, trust law, and cross-border litigation mechanisms. Recent work examines regional harmonization challenges in Caribbean private international law codification and OHADA's judgment circulation systems, reflecting her commitment to practical comparative legal solutions for global business contexts. Publications from 2016-2024 reveal evolving expertise from foundational comparative legal systems analysis toward specialized Chinese civil code implementation studies and contemporary private international law dilemmas. Key thematic trajectories include trust law integration in French draft legislation, quasi-contract mechanisms in Chinese law, and succession regulation conflicts within EU jurisprudence. Scientific Awards No awards mentioned in source text As Director of the Franco-Asian Business Law Master program, she oversees student training in Vietnam-Cambodia contexts while co-directing Essential African Business Rights initiatives. No specific research grants are documented in the provided materials. Institutional leadership includes directing the Institute of Comparative Law of Paris (IDC) and contributing to the Henri Capitant Vocabulary editorial board, maintaining active collaboration with the International Academy of Comparative Law and Monaco's Higher Committee for Legal Studies.
Prof. Dr. Susanne Lilian Gössl, LL.M. (Tulane) serves as Director of the Institute for International Private Law and Comparative Law at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, where she holds the Chair for German, Foreign and International Private Law and the Law of Digitalization. Her extensive professional affiliations include membership in the Scientific Council of the European Association of Private International Law (EAPIL), the German Council for International Private Law, and the Commission on Reproductive Self-Determination and Reproductive Medicine of multiple German federal ministries. She also serves as an expert for the European Commission's Expert Group on Recognition of Parenthood between Member States and is a member of the KI Expert Council of Schleswig-Holstein. Prof. Gössl's academic journey includes law studies at Universität zu Köln and Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (2003-2008), an LL.M. from Tulane University Law School (2009/2010), doctoral studies at Universität zu Köln (2013), and habilitation at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (2020). She completed her legal clerkship in Hamburg (2011-2014) and served as a guest professor at Ghent University during the 2018/2019 academic year as holder of the Marcel Storme Chair. Her research focuses on the intersection of traditional legal frameworks with contemporary challenges, particularly in international private law and the law of digitalization. Prof. Gössl has made groundbreaking contributions to gender recognition law, notably through her influential analysis of the German Federal Constitutional Court's decision on non-binary gender registration. Her work consistently addresses how legal systems navigate digital transformation, cross-border family relations, and evolving concepts of identity. She examines the legal implications of virtual assets, digital inheritance, and online dispute resolution within international legal frameworks, bridging theoretical analysis with practical implications for international legal cooperation. Prof. Gössl's publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory toward addressing emerging legal challenges at the intersection of technology, human rights, and international legal cooperation. Her recent scholarship shows increasing focus on digital legal issues, gender recognition across borders, and the adaptation of private international law to contemporary social realities. She publishes in leading journals across multiple languages, reflecting the international nature of her research and influence. Member of the Scientific Council of EAPIL Member of the German Council for International Private Law Member of the Commission on Reproductive Self-Determination and Reproductive Medicine Expert for the European Commission's Expert Group on Recognition of Parenthood Editor of IPR-Blog Conflictoflaws.net Member of the KI Expert Council Schleswig-Holstein Prof. Gössl actively contributes to legal policy development through expert testimony before the German Bundestag and government-commissioned research. She has provided expert opinions on legislative proposals concerning out-of-court dispute resolution in consumer matters and contributed to a report for the Dutch government on non-binary gender options. Her leadership extends to directing the Institute for International Private Law and Comparative Law at Kiel University, where she fosters interdisciplinary research connecting legal scholarship with technological innovation and social change. As Director of the Institute for International Private Law and Comparative Law, Prof. Gössl leads a research team focused on contemporary challenges in cross-border legal relations. Her institute serves as a hub for international collaboration, connecting scholars from across Europe and beyond. The institute's work particularly emphasizes the intersection of traditional legal frameworks with digital transformation and evolving concepts of identity, positioning it at the forefront of legal scholarship in the digital age.
Dr. Erhan Kanışlı is a Lecturer at Yeditepe University's Faculty of Law, Department of Private Law, specializing in Civil Law. He also holds a position at Altınbaş University's Faculty of Law. With expertise in contract law, product liability, and international commercial transactions, Dr. Kanışlı contributes significantly to legal education and scholarship in Turkey. Dr. Kanışlı's educational background includes: PhD in Private Law from Galatasaray University (2013-2018), with a dissertation on "Mistakes in the formation of a contract according to the Swiss-Turkish Law of Obligations" Master's Degree in Law from Istanbul Bilgi University (2009-2012) Undergraduate degree in Law from Istanbul Bilgi University (2004-2009) Dr. Kanışlı's research focuses on Civil Law, particularly in the areas of Contract Law, Product Liability, and International Commercial Law. His work examines the intricate relationships between Turkish law and international legal frameworks, with special attention to consumer protection, rental agreements, and third-party beneficiary contracts. He has made significant contributions to understanding the application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) within the Turkish legal context, as well as analyzing contemporary issues in product safety and manufacturer responsibility. His comparative approach, particularly regarding Swiss and Turkish Law of Obligations, provides valuable insights for legal practitioners and scholars alike. Dr. Kanışlı's recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward addressing practical legal challenges in contemporary Turkish society, particularly in consumer protection, rental law, and product liability. His work bridges theoretical legal concepts with real-world applications, showing particular interest in how international legal frameworks interact with domestic Turkish law. The consistent focus on CISG (United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) across multiple publications highlights his expertise in international commercial transactions, while his more recent work on rental law and third-party beneficiary contracts indicates expanding research interests in domestic civil law applications. Among his notable achievements: Tübitak Doktora Sırası Araştırma Bursu 2214-A Dr. Kanışlı actively supervises graduate students, currently guiding research on topics such as "Social Media Journalism and Personality Rights Violation" and "Extraordinary Damage and its Application in Turkish Law of Obligations." His teaching portfolio spans undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, covering essential legal subjects including Contract Law, Consumer Law, Inheritance Law, and Responsibility Law. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Dr. Kanışlı serves as the Disabled Unit Coordinator at Yeditepe University (2024), demonstrating commitment to inclusive education practices.
Judith Daar is the Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold Dean and Professor of Law at Northern Kentucky University's Salmon P. Chase College of Law. With expertise at the intersection of law, medicine, and ethics, she specializes in bioethics, reproductive medicine, and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Her scholarly work examines germline genome editing, surrogate parent arrangements, and stem cell research. Education: Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan Research Focus: Daar’s scholarship addresses legal-ethical dilemmas in ART, including embryo transfer policies, genetic screening, provider autonomy, and postmortem reproduction. Her recent work analyzes socially responsible medicine and the person/property divide in reproductive healthcare. Scientific Recognition: She has received multiple teaching awards and the Suheil J. Muasher Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to reproductive medicine ethics. Her publications span bioethics, law, and reproductive healthcare policy.
Fausto Panunzi is a Full Professor in the Department of Economics at Bocconi University. His work bridges theoretical and applied research, focusing on interdisciplinary intersections of economics, law, finance, and political economy. University: Bocconi University (Milan, Italy) Department: Economics Research Interests: Panunzi's scholarship addresses corporate governance, financial market regulation, and political economy. Key areas include investor protection mechanisms, ownership structures in financial crises, and the economic roots of populist movements. His research also examines family business dynamics and strategic management in corporate settings. Publications Overview: Recent works analyze systemic risks in corporate ownership (2025), economic drivers of populism (2024), and compensation structures in multi-task firms (2020). Earlier studies (2014-2010) investigate legal frameworks for takeovers, inheritance law impacts on family firms, and comparative crisis analysis (subprime vs. BP oil spill).
Angus Gowland is Professor of Intellectual History in the Department of History at University College London. Since arriving at UCL in 2003 he has advanced from Lecturer to Reader and, in 2022, to full Professor, shaping the university’s taught and research programmes in early-modern European thought. Education BA (Hons) History, Queens’ College, University of Cambridge (1993–1996) MPhil Political Thought and Intellectual History, King’s College, University of Cambridge (1997–1998) PhD, King’s College, University of Cambridge (awarded 2001) Certificate in Learning and Teaching in HE Part 1, UCL Research Interests Professor Gowland’s work sits at the intersection of early-modern intellectual history, the history of medicine and psychology, moral philosophy, theology and political thought. His flagship project traces evolving medical and psychological theories of melancholy and dreaming from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, scrutinising their moral, political and cultural stakes. This has produced a major monograph, a Penguin Classics scholarly edition of Robert Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy , and numerous articles that together remap the intellectual landscape of early-modern Europe. Publication Trajectory Across more than twenty publications since 2006, Gowland has moved from foundational studies of Renaissance melancholy—establishing the conceptual frameworks and textual genealogies—to increasingly synthetic analyses of mind, body, passion and politics. Recent essays explore Shakespearean melancholy, the rights of the insane, and the epistemic practices underpinning Burton’s encyclopedic project, showing a scholar continuously enlarging the cultural and philosophical contexts of his subject. Scientific Awards Philip Leverhulme Prize in Early Modern History (2010) Teaching & Programmes At UCL he convenes and teaches core and optional courses for both MA and BA cohorts: Method and Practice in the History of Political Thought (MA) Political Thought in Renaissance Europe (MA) The History of Political Thought (BA lectures & seminars) Affiliations & Contact Department of History, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. ORCID: 0000-0002-7373-0448.
