Professor Matthias Lehmann, Director of the Institute for Private International and Comparative Law, University of Bonn, University of Bonn, Germany, is looking for one highly skilled and motivated PhD candidate and fellow (Wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in) on a part-time basis (50%). The earliest starting date is 1 October 2019.

The successful candidate holds a first law degree, preferably from a jurisdiction outside of Germany. She or he is acquainted in the comparative and international dimensions of private law, and ideally also interested in questions of financial law, in particular the new problems raised by cryptocurrencies. An excellent command of English and a basic knowledge of German are required. Knowledge of another language as well as good IT skills are additional factors that may be taken into consideration.

The fellow will be given the opportunity to conduct his/her PhD project or post-doc project according to the Faculty’s regulations. The position is paid according to the German public salary scale E-13 TV-L, 50% (about 1300 Euro net per month). There will be an opportunity to increase the position and salary to 75% as of April 1, 2020 should the candidate wish to do so. The initial contract period is up to three years, with the option to have a shorter period or to renew it, according to the wishes of the candidate. Responsibilities include independent teaching obligations (2 hours per week during the semester in a subject of choice of the candidate) as supporting Professor Lehmann in his research and teaching.

If you are interested in this position, please send your application (cover letter in English; CV; and relevant documents and certificates, notably university transcripts and a copy of law degree) to lehrstuhl.lehmann@jura.uni-bonn.de by July 22, 2019. The University of Bonn is an equal opportunity employer.

The Faculty of Law at the University of Trier is looking for a research assistant (Wissenschaftliche(r) Mitarbeiter(in) (m/w/d)) at the Chair for Private Law, Private International Law and Comparative Law (Prof. Dr. Jens Kleinschmidt, LL.M. (Berkeley)) on a part-time basis (50 %).

The position will be paid according to the salary scale E 13 TV-L, and the contract will be for an initial period until 30 June 2022.

The research fellow will be given the opportunity to conduct a Ph.D. project under the chairholder’s supervision (according to the applicable regulations of the Law Faculty). His/her tasks will include supporting the chairholder in research, teaching and administrative matters, an independent teaching obligation of 2 hours/week (in German) and pursuing his/her own Ph.D. project.

The successful candidate holds a first law degree (Erste juristische Prüfung) above average and has a particular interest in private law and the willingness to work in the research areas of the chair. A very good command of German and, in addition, English or French is required. Knowledge of another language or a stay abroad will be an asset.

Candidates with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification. Applications by qualified women are particularly welcome.

If you are interested, please send your application (cover letter in German, CV, all relevant documents including transcripts and copy of law degree) by 31 July 2019 to

Professor Dr. Jens Kleinschmidt
Universität Trier
FB V – Rechtswissenschaft
54286 Trier
Germany

As the application documents will not be returned, applicants are kindly requested to submit only unauthenticated copies.

The full job advert in German is available here.

This spring, the first meeting of the newly established Young EU Private International Law Research Network  was held at the University of Würzburg (please find more information about this event here). The first research project and meeting in Würzburg dealt with the “Recognition/Acceptance of Legal Situations” in the EU.

The cooperation involving the young generation of private international lawyers is intended to be continued with annual conferences. The next meeting of the network will take place at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University,Budapest on  20 March 2020. The conference will focus on overriding mandatory provisionswith particular regard to national legislation and court practice outside the scope of application of the EU private international law regulations. The provisions of the EU private international law regulations, and in particular the Rome I and II Regulations, on overriding mandatory provisions and the related case law received considerable attention among commentators. However, less attention has been devoted to the treatment of overriding mandatory provisions in the law of the Member States outside the scope of application of the EU private international law regulations. The areas concerned may include property law, family law, company law, etc. A comprehensive comparative study is missing in this field. In order to map the similarities and differences of the approaches of the private international law of the Member States, national reports will be prepared. Based on these national reports, a general report will be produced.

The conference will consist of a morning session where overriding mandatory rules will be discussed in a general way (e.g., the appearance of overriding mandatory provisions in property law, family law, arbitration, their interconnection with human rights, etc.) and an afternoon workshop where participants will discuss the outcome of the national reports and the conclusions of the general report.

If you are interested in the research project or the activity of the Young EU Private International Law Research Network, please do not hesitate to contact us (youngeupil@gmail.com).

An ordinary case for the recognition of a German order appointing a legal guardian became a sheer nightmare for the applicant. It took her twelve years in total, three decisions in Germany and another six in Greece, for finally being recognized as an appointed legal guardian of her husband…

The case is primarily interesting for German colleagues, given that it concerns the 1961 bilateral treaty on the recognition and enforcement of judgments between the two states; however, it serves as a general pattern for the selection of the proper applicable law in similar cases, irrespective of the nationality of the foreign judgment. More here.