Vorlesung

12.0

Bachelor

deutsch

4

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Georg Bitter, Prof. Dr. Mark Makowsky

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

This course will introduce students to distinctive aspects that comprise the law and legal system of the United States. Topics will examine the interplay between state and federal court systems, as well as sources of law and lawmaking, the American legal education and becoming a lawyer. We will explore key subjects from first-year law school curriculum, including torts, contract, property, constitutional law, criminal law, and criminal and civil procedure. Other topics will include the jury trial, class actions, punitive damages, and practical aspects of the law in the United States, such as rules of discovery and the basics of legal research, writing and trial advocacy.

The course will be split into three parts: first, general aspects of U.S. laws and legal system; second, an overview of substantive topics in key subject areas of law; and, third, practicing law in the United States including commencing a lawsuit, research, and litigation.
 
Your final grade will comprise class preparedness, homework assignment (written or oral) and a written final exam. 

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor

deutsch

1

Prof. Dr. Markus Gehrlein

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz/Online live

This class makes the nature of Comparative Law as well as its functions and aims accessible to students from different legal backgrounds. As studying even one legal system fully is difficult and time-consuming, the course must necessarily take a selective approach to comparative law and to the multitude of legal systems in the world. The class Comparative Law I therefore will focus on European Legal Traditions, whose similarities and differences are an important driver of European harmonization. Matching the overall aim of this module the course will focus on private law and business law aspects of comparative law.

The course has three main components. The first part will cover the origins and utility of comparative law, its aims, tools and methods. This part will particularly focus on the legal orders, which the participants of the class are most familiar with.

The main second part of the course will look at common features of generally accepted concepts of both contract law and of building bricks necessary for any business law, such as division of work, liability, tort law and insurance. The different possible solutions for these problems, which appear in different forms in many jurisdictions, will be presented, followed by an analysis of how they are governed by legal orders belonging to different legal families. Lines of influence and hybrids will similarly be covered.

Furthermore, the course will give comparative legal insights to laws in trans­ition as well as legal trans­plants. Whereas former socialist European countries may serve as an example for the first, the adoption of economic concepts in contract law (such as merchandising and franchising from the US in Europe and the respective related problems of integration into European Union law) are paradigmatic for the second. The third part of the course will cover a comparison of legal education and profession (e.g. role of the judiciary), a critical matter for proper delivery of legal services to foreign clients and working effectively with international law partners.
 

Written examination

Prof. Dr. Oliver Brand

Kurs

6.0

Bachelor, Master

französisch

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Rupert Vogel

Kurs

6.0

Bachelor, Master

deutsch

Präsenz live

F. E. Schnapp, „Stilfibel für Juristen“, Münster 2004.
M. Schmuck, „Klare Sprache für Juristen“, in: Römermann/Paulus: „Schlüsselqu. für Jurastud., Examen und Beruf“, München 2003
oder M. Schmuck, „Deutsch für Juristen“, 3. Aufl. Köln 2010/11.
T. Walter, „Kleine Stilkunde für Juristen“, 2. Aufl. München 2009.
W. Schneider, „Deutsch für Profis“, seit 1984 immer wieder...

Vorlesung

10.0

Bachelor, Master

deutsch

The course gives an introduction to German private law especially for foreign law students. The course begins with an overview of the legal sources of German law. In particular, the special position of the Civil Code and its historical development will be discussed.

Then the most important legal areas of the Civil Code will be worked out on the basis of systematic descriptions and case solutions. By focusing on the law of torts, the law of obligations and the law of property, the working method in German civil law is clarified. Short introductions to inheritance and family law, company law and civil procedural law round off the course through private law.

 

Structure

- Definition of private law, historical development

- Structure of the BGB

- tort law

- law of obligations

- property law

- Inheritance and Family Law, Company Law and Civil Procedure Law at a Glance

 

The aim of the course is to ensure that students are familiar with the structures of German civil law by the end of the course and that they are able to handle smaller cases with the knowledge they have acquired.

Hagen Billotet

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Carsten Schäfer

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

Contents:
The course will provide a framework for an advanced comprehension of European private law in comparative perspective, with an eye on the impact of Community legislation and adjudication on national legal systems.
The focus of the first part is on the core aspect of European private law, namely contract law. It will cover both uniform rules, such as the uniform sales law (but also their predecessors PECL and UNIDROIT) on the one hand, the relevant directives harmonizing national private laws on the other. Further soft law as a driver for European Harmonization and national modernization will be covered.

In a second part general structures and core concepts of European private law will be covered. This will in particular relate to contracts as the most important means to create and organize legal environments on the one hand and the restraints on party autonomy in favour of the weaker party and the means for its protection (i.e. consumer law) on the other.

Throughout the course there will be a strong focus on cases and the differences the application of the mentioned legal sources to identical facts will result in.

• Development of European private law
• The different layers of legal sources
• Uniform sales law
• UNIDROIT and PECL
• Excessive harmonization
• The function of soft law
• Freedom of contracts as corner stone of European private law
• Restraints of party autonomy: the concept of the weaker party

Learning outcomes and qualification goals:
The course encourages close and interactive reading of key legislative and judicial texts, at both national and European levels (including decisions of the German Supreme Court (in English trans­lation) and of the European Court of Justice). The objective is to introduce students to a major range of European contract law disputes (formation of contract, unfair terms etc.) that require the handling of domestic, comparative and European Union private law materials and techniques at once. Further the course intends to foster critical awareness of the complex ways in which domestic private laws are subject to Europeanization, and how European laws re-arrange domestic private laws

Written examination

Prof. Dr. Andreas Maurer

Übung

6.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Achim Schunder, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Tödtmann, Dr. Sonja Schwald

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Philipp Fischinger

Vorlesung

10.0

Bachelor

deutsch

3

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Carsten Schäfer

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Vorlesung

4.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

1

Präsenz live

Corporate governance is a crucial topic with growing importance particularly in an era of increasing debate over corporate purpose and economic nationalism. The course will explore several contemporary and emerging governance issues including director obligations in the contexts of ESG, product safety, national security; why some financial institutions repeatedly engage in misconduct; moral hazard, market capitalism compared to state-centric capitalism; and potential explanations for repeated corporate scandals in Japan. The class will examine these issues in the contexts of several governance models shareholder, stakeholder, and enhanced stakeholder, as well as national models such as the U.S., German, Japanese, and Chinese governance systems thereby providing students with an understanding and knowledge of governance in different jurisdictions.

The course should be of interest to students focusing on corporate law, economics, and corporate governance models.

Students will have a choice of answering one essay out of potential four essays (students can pick any one of the four essays to answer) to be answered on the last day of class. The essay questions will be provided to the students on the first day of class.

About the lecturer: Joel Slawotsky is a former law clerk to the Hon. Charles H. Tenney, (U.S.D.J., S.D.N.Y.) and AV peer-review rated attorney at Dentons. In practice, he represented large corporations litigating in U.S. Federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He has taught, lectured and presented at conferences in Asia, Europe, and both North and South America. Joel has published over 70 journal articles and book chapters. His latest publication is an edited volume titled “Global Power Shifts and International Economic Law” (Elgar, June 2025). Journal article venues include: Asia Pacific Law Review; Chinese Journal of International Law; Hong Kong Law Journal; Journal of World Trade; Law Science; Journal of Corporation Law; Review of Banking and Financial Law; Virginia Law and Business Review; Business Human Rights Journal; Chinese Journal of Comparative Law; Capital Markets Law Journal; and the international law journals of Virginia, Georgetown, Duke, and Fordham.

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Oliver Brand

Vorlesung

10.0

Bachelor

deutsch

3

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Andreas Maurer

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz/Online live

This course examines the legal framework that applies to companies as key actors on the international plane in the 21st century.

In its first part, the course will introduce the company as a legal institution and will analyze the stark contrast between the often multinational nature of company activities and the lack of unified international rules on company law. In its second part, the course will focus on the private international law of companies, explaining how to determine the domestic legal rules that apply to companies engaged in cross-border activities. The third and final part of the course will compare how core questions of substantive company law are treated in different jurisdictions (including, but not restricted to, Germany and the U.S.).

Students who have completed the course will have developed a sound understanding of the international and comparative dimensions of company law, enabling them to work successfully in an international business environment, whether in a law firm, a multinational company, or a regulatory agency. The course is suitable for exchange and graduate students (LL.M., M.C.B.L.) of law and related fields, as well as for LL.B. students.

The course will cover the following subjects:

• Concept and different forms of companies
• Public international law of companies
• Private international law of companies
• Comparative company law
• Companies in international dispute resolution

Course materials: Required reading materials will be provided or made available electronically via the university library. For introductory and further readings (optional):

• Cahn, Andreas/Donald, David C.: Comparative Company Law, 2nd edition, Cambridge 2020, Cambridge University Press
• Gerner-Beuerle, Carsten/Anderson Schillig, Michael: Comparative Company Law, Oxford 2018, Oxford University Press
• Kraakman, Reinier et al.: The Anatomy of Corporate Law, 3rd edition, Oxford 2017, Oxford University Press

Assessment: Class participation and final written exam


Lecturer: Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford)
      
Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford), is a senior research associate at the Chair of Civil Law, International and European Commercial Law at the University of Mannheim. He has studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg (First State Exam) and Cambridge. During his practical legal training, he clerked inter alia at the dispute resolution department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Frankfurt office and at the German Federal Constitutional Court. After his Second State Exam at the Higher Regional Court Stuttgart, he completed an LL.M.-program at Stanford Law School and obtained a doctorate at the University of Mannheim with the thesis ‘Trans­nationale Verträge im nationalen Recht’ (‘Trans­national Contracts in National Law’). His research focuses on conflict-of-laws, international commercial, company and financial law, procedural law and private law theory.

Dr. Torsten Andreas Kindt

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz/Online live

This course examines all major aspects of cross-border litigation as the conventional and most important method of international dispute resolution between private parties. The primary emphasis is on the conduct of international litigation in EU Member States, but there will also be comparative treatment of other major jurisdictions (notably the UK and the U.S.).

After introducing the concept of international litigation and the main policy issues at stake, the course will comprehensively address the crucial procedural questions lawyers must consider when bringing a cross-border civil or commercial dispute to a national court. These include: international jurisdiction (Which court is competent?), coordination between different jurisdictions (lis pendens, provisional measures), conduct of proceedings (service of documents, taking evidence abroad), as well as recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.

Students who have completed the course will have developed a sound understanding of international procedural law that will enable them to work successfully in a litigation context, be it in the judiciary, a law firm or a legal department. The course is suitable for exchange and graduate students (LL.M., M.C.B.L.) of law and related fields, as well as for LL.B. students aiming to cover the relevant aspects of international procedural law required for taking the First German State Exam according to § 8 Abs. 2 Nr. 5 JAPrO.

The course will cover the following subjects:

• Concept and practical relevance of international litigation
• Advantages and disadvantages of international litigation
• Sources of international procedural law
• International jurisdiction
• Coordination between different jurisdictions
• Conduct of proceedings
• Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments

Course materials: Required reading materials will be provided or made available electronically via the university library. Introductory and further readings (optional):

• Fentiman, Richard: International Commercial Litigation, 2nd edition, Oxford 2015, Oxford University Press
• Hartley, Trevor C.: International Commercial Litigation, 3rd edition, Cambridge 2020, Cambridge University Press
• Junker, Abbo: Internationales Zivilprozess­recht, 6th edition, München 2023, C. H. Beck

Assessment: Class participation and final written exam


Lecturer: Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford)
      
Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford), is a senior research associate at the Chair of Civil Law, International and European Commercial Law at the University of Mannheim. He has studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg (First State Exam) and Cambridge. During his practical legal training, he clerked inter alia at the dispute resolution department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Frankfurt office and at the German Federal Constitutional Court. After his Second State Exam at the Higher Regional Court Stuttgart, he completed an LL.M.-program at Stanford Law School and obtained a doctorate at the University of Mannheim with the thesis ‘Trans­nationale Verträge im nationalen Recht’ (‘Trans­national Contracts in National Law’). His research focuses on conflict-of-laws, international commercial, company and financial law, procedural law and private law theory.

Dr. Torsten Andreas Kindt

Vorlesung

8

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Online live

Required reading materials will be provided electronically.

Introductory Readings (optional):

• Cassese, Antonio, ‘International Criminal Law’ (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008)
• Cryer, Robert, ‘An Introduction to International Criminal Law and Procedure’ (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010)
• Schabas, William A., ‘The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute’ (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010)
• Werle, Gerhard, ‘Principles of International Criminal Law’ (The Hague, Asser, 2005)

You don’t need to buy one of these textbooks since they are only intended to provide you with a first insight into the subject matter. Besides, all are available at Mannheim University Library.

Raphael Oidtmann

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a body of rules that seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict. IHL protects those who are not participating in hostilities, and those who are no longer participating in hostilities. This body of law imposes limits on the methods and means of warfare. IHL forms part of public international law and is largely based on treaties and rules of customary international law. 
In this course the development as well as the basic concepts of IHL will be explored. Students will be introduced to the most important documents governing armed conflict, learn how to apply these and will consider the challenges posed to the application of IHL in armed conflicts. A large part of the course will focus on the new developments in IHL including the emergence of new forms of armed conflicts and the development and use of new technologies in armed conflict.

Assessment
Assessment for this course will consist of one presentation and one take-home exam.

Marelie Manders

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Moritz Renner

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

The course is designed to give a comprehensive survey of German private law, i.e. general rules of private law, commercial law, and civil procedure.

An important structural decision of German private law (sic!) is already displayed by the fact that the Civil Code is the ‘law book for citizens’ – today including consumers – whereas particular rules for businesses are comprised in the commercial code, corporate law, and various other codifications.

However, both general private law, and commercial law are enforced by the same rules of civil procedure. The German Civil Code is of paramount importance for understanding German law as its concept and system has impressed the legal thinking of generations of German lawyers. Students will be acquainted with both its sources, and its general principles. In the course of the class students will learn to work with the German civil code, understand the underlying system, influences on the Civil Code from the European Union (EU), and the accepted methods of interpretation.

• Introduction to German Private Law
•  The division between public law, general private law and commercial law
•  The German Civil Code
•  Influence from the EU
•  Basic concepts and means of interpretation
•  Function and Content of the General Part
•  Law of obligations (contracts, torts, and unjust enrichment)
•  Property Law
•  Law of succession and company law (including partner­ships and corporations)
• The system of law enforcement

Oral examination

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Moritz Renner

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Franck

Vorlesung mit Übung

10.0

Bachelor

deutsch

4

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Georg Bitter

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Erik Röder

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Mark Makowsky

Vorlesung

10.0

Bachelor

deutsch

3

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Friedemann Kainer

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Dr. Manfred Muhler

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

This course is an introduction to certain fundamental rights of the American legal system through the Bill of Rights and the adjudication of the United States Supreme Court. Students will be taught how to read and brief cases through selected excerpts of landmark decisions. Issues include judicial review, the right to privacy, the right to freedom of expression, the death penalty, the right to choose, as well as same-sex marriage. Though this course is a lecture, some participation is expected.

Required reading: Will be made available electronically.

Exam: Timed essay exam.

Dr. Judit Beke-Martos

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor

deutsch

2

Sonder­veranstaltung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

At the heart of European species protection law is a radical ban on killing individuals of endangered species. This raises numerous questions, particularly with regard to the expansion of onshore wind power. While the European Union itself is trying to rebalance the relations­hip between the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive, the member states are also developing different implementation strategies. The aim of the conference is to shed light on these strategies and examine their conformity with European law.

Students interested in participating are required to attend preparatory and follow-up meetings with the professor and to fully participate in the conference.

In order to obtain a certificate and the ECTS credits, students are further required to write a seminar paper (~ 10 pages) and to hold a presentation during the follow up meetings.

Open to exchange law Students.

Vorlesung

10.0

Bachelor

deutsch

3

Präsenz live

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

This course will introduce students to distinctive aspects that comprise the law and legal system of the United States. Topics will examine the interplay between state and federal court systems, as well as sources of law and lawmaking, the American legal education and becoming a lawyer. We will explore key subjects from first-year law school curriculum, including torts, contract, property, constitutional law, criminal law, and criminal and civil procedure. Other topics will include the jury trial, class actions, punitive damages, and practical aspects of the law in the United States, such as rules of discovery and the basics of legal research, writing and trial advocacy.

The course will be split into three parts: first, general aspects of U.S. laws and legal system; second, an overview of substantive topics in key subject areas of law; and, third, practicing law in the United States including commencing a lawsuit, research, and litigation.
 
Your final grade will comprise class preparedness, homework assignment (written or oral) and a written final exam. 

Vorlesung

6.0

Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Silas Hengstberger

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz/Online live

This class makes the nature of Comparative Law as well as its functions and aims accessible to students from different legal backgrounds. As studying even one legal system fully is difficult and time-consuming, the course must necessarily take a selective approach to comparative law and to the multitude of legal systems in the world. The class Comparative Law I therefore will focus on European Legal Traditions, whose similarities and differences are an important driver of European harmonization. Matching the overall aim of this module the course will focus on private law and business law aspects of comparative law.

The course has three main components. The first part will cover the origins and utility of comparative law, its aims, tools and methods. This part will particularly focus on the legal orders, which the participants of the class are most familiar with.

The main second part of the course will look at common features of generally accepted concepts of both contract law and of building bricks necessary for any business law, such as division of work, liability, tort law and insurance. The different possible solutions for these problems, which appear in different forms in many jurisdictions, will be presented, followed by an analysis of how they are governed by legal orders belonging to different legal families. Lines of influence and hybrids will similarly be covered.

Furthermore, the course will give comparative legal insights to laws in trans­ition as well as legal trans­plants. Whereas former socialist European countries may serve as an example for the first, the adoption of economic concepts in contract law (such as merchandising and franchising from the US in Europe and the respective related problems of integration into European Union law) are paradigmatic for the second. The third part of the course will cover a comparison of legal education and profession (e.g. role of the judiciary), a critical matter for proper delivery of legal services to foreign clients and working effectively with international law partners.
 

Written examination

Prof. Dr. Oliver Brand

Vorlesung

6.0

Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Christian Arnold

Kurs

6.0

Bachelor, Master

französisch

Präsenz live

Prof. Dr. Rupert Vogel

Kurs

6.0

Bachelor, Master

deutsch

Präsenz live

F. E. Schnapp, „Stilfibel für Juristen“, Münster 2004.
M. Schmuck, „Klare Sprache für Juristen“, in: Römermann/Paulus: „Schlüsselqu. für Jurastud., Examen und Beruf“, München 2003
oder M. Schmuck, „Deutsch für Juristen“, 3. Aufl. Köln 2010/11.
T. Walter, „Kleine Stilkunde für Juristen“, 2. Aufl. München 2009.
W. Schneider, „Deutsch für Profis“, seit 1984 immer wieder...

Vorlesung

8.0

Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

The course gives a thorough introduction to the legal problems, which may occur in the course of the use of the internet in general and e-commerce in particular. It is focused on the view of business related activities. Based on an introduction to the infrastructure of the internet the course will analyse the major legal issues of five economically relevant sections :

• E-Commerce & Private Law
• Advertising for e-commerce
• Online shops and copyright law
• Domains
• Cross border e-commerce

The chapter on E-Commerce & Private Law will inter alia cover formation of contract, standard terms and conditions, consumer protection and specific problems connected to internet auctions and mobile commerce.

Advertising for e-commerce will take a look at rules of unfair competition, required imprint information, the ban on spamming, specific requirements for sales of pharmaceutical products via the internet and, of course, on ad-words. Further the liability under tele media law, for hyperlinks, hotspot operators and for user generated content will be an important issue.

The section on copyright law and online shops will focus on copyright restrictions for the presentation of content (including file sharing and streaming) and will take a look on the protection of content and websites.

The section on domains will explain the domain name system and its implications on trademark law and unfair competition law. It will also look at the possibilities to protect a domain as trademark. Finally and the legal consequences of infringement will be covered.

Written examination

Vorlesung

10.0

Bachelor, Master

deutsch

The course gives an introduction to German private law especially for foreign law students. The course begins with an overview of the legal sources of German law. In particular, the special position of the Civil Code and its historical development will be discussed.

Then the most important legal areas of the Civil Code will be worked out on the basis of systematic descriptions and case solutions. By focusing on the law of torts, the law of obligations and the law of property, the working method in German civil law is clarified. Short introductions to inheritance and family law, company law and civil procedural law round off the course through private law.

 

Structure

- Definition of private law, historical development

- Structure of the BGB

- tort law

- law of obligations

- property law

- Inheritance and Family Law, Company Law and Civil Procedure Law at a Glance

 

The aim of the course is to ensure that students are familiar with the structures of German civil law by the end of the course and that they are able to handle smaller cases with the knowledge they have acquired.

Hagen Billotet

Vorlesung

6.0

Master

englisch

2

Over the past 40 years, the rules on Competition Law (Anti­trust) in the EU have developed into a substantial body of law. They constitute directly applicable rules for enterprises, and as such they are of immediate concern to them. Contracts in violation of the rules are unenforceable and huge fines are imposed in case of infringements while parties that suffered damages may litigate before a national civil court.

This course offers an introduction to main areas of EU competition law illustrated by practical examples which in part reflect the lecturer’s own experience as an eminent German anti­trust practitioner. Core elements of EU competition law treated include the concepts of horizontal and vertical restraints of competition, the importance of market definitions and the various techniques used therefore, the role of market power for Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (and implementing regulations and guidelines) and the basic outlines of European merger control.

It is the aim of the course to provide the participants with a solid basis for the practice of competition law. The course will cover the main features of the EU rules both from a substantive and a procedural perspective, including the relations­hip between EU and national competition law as well as the economic principles and procedures concerning merger control.

Written examination

Johannes Persch

Vorlesung

6.0

Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

All private persons or companies upon entering one of the EU Member States not only come under this single State’s national legal order. They are immediately affected by “European Law”, the law of the European Union granting them certain rights and privileges but also requiring them to comply with certain duties and obligations.

The internal market is one of the essential cornerstones of the European Union. The Market Freedoms lie at its heart. The free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is essential for unifying the markets while ensuring competition and trade within Europe. The freedoms grant direct effective rights to private persons and legal persons, which can be enforced before national courts, and guarantee the freedom of contract in a trans­national perspective.

The course will focus on a systematic survey of the market freedoms by the means of studying the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

 

• General concept of the market freedoms
• Development and aim of market freedoms
• Leading cases of the European Court of Justice
• Function of market freedom fostering integration
• Further development of market freedoms
• Impact of market freedoms (compliance)

Written examination

Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Franck

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

Contents:
The course will provide a framework for an advanced comprehension of European private law in comparative perspective, with an eye on the impact of Community legislation and adjudication on national legal systems.
The focus of the first part is on the core aspect of European private law, namely contract law. It will cover both uniform rules, such as the uniform sales law (but also their predecessors PECL and UNIDROIT) on the one hand, the relevant directives harmonizing national private laws on the other. Further soft law as a driver for European Harmonization and national modernization will be covered.

In a second part general structures and core concepts of European private law will be covered. This will in particular relate to contracts as the most important means to create and organize legal environments on the one hand and the restraints on party autonomy in favour of the weaker party and the means for its protection (i.e. consumer law) on the other.

Throughout the course there will be a strong focus on cases and the differences the application of the mentioned legal sources to identical facts will result in.

• Development of European private law
• The different layers of legal sources
• Uniform sales law
• UNIDROIT and PECL
• Excessive harmonization
• The function of soft law
• Freedom of contracts as corner stone of European private law
• Restraints of party autonomy: the concept of the weaker party

Learning outcomes and qualification goals:
The course encourages close and interactive reading of key legislative and judicial texts, at both national and European levels (including decisions of the German Supreme Court (in English trans­lation) and of the European Court of Justice). The objective is to introduce students to a major range of European contract law disputes (formation of contract, unfair terms etc.) that require the handling of domestic, comparative and European Union private law materials and techniques at once. Further the course intends to foster critical awareness of the complex ways in which domestic private laws are subject to Europeanization, and how European laws re-arrange domestic private laws

Written examination

Prof. Dr. Andreas Maurer

Vorlesung

4.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

1

Präsenz live

Corporate governance is a crucial topic with growing importance particularly in an era of increasing debate over corporate purpose and economic nationalism. The course will explore several contemporary and emerging governance issues including director obligations in the contexts of ESG, product safety, national security; why some financial institutions repeatedly engage in misconduct; moral hazard, market capitalism compared to state-centric capitalism; and potential explanations for repeated corporate scandals in Japan. The class will examine these issues in the contexts of several governance models shareholder, stakeholder, and enhanced stakeholder, as well as national models such as the U.S., German, Japanese, and Chinese governance systems thereby providing students with an understanding and knowledge of governance in different jurisdictions.

The course should be of interest to students focusing on corporate law, economics, and corporate governance models.

Students will have a choice of answering one essay out of potential four essays (students can pick any one of the four essays to answer) to be answered on the last day of class. The essay questions will be provided to the students on the first day of class.

About the lecturer: Joel Slawotsky is a former law clerk to the Hon. Charles H. Tenney, (U.S.D.J., S.D.N.Y.) and AV peer-review rated attorney at Dentons. In practice, he represented large corporations litigating in U.S. Federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He has taught, lectured and presented at conferences in Asia, Europe, and both North and South America. Joel has published over 70 journal articles and book chapters. His latest publication is an edited volume titled “Global Power Shifts and International Economic Law” (Elgar, June 2025). Journal article venues include: Asia Pacific Law Review; Chinese Journal of International Law; Hong Kong Law Journal; Journal of World Trade; Law Science; Journal of Corporation Law; Review of Banking and Financial Law; Virginia Law and Business Review; Business Human Rights Journal; Chinese Journal of Comparative Law; Capital Markets Law Journal; and the international law journals of Virginia, Georgetown, Duke, and Fordham.

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz/Online live

This course examines the legal framework that applies to companies as key actors on the international plane in the 21st century.

In its first part, the course will introduce the company as a legal institution and will analyze the stark contrast between the often multinational nature of company activities and the lack of unified international rules on company law. In its second part, the course will focus on the private international law of companies, explaining how to determine the domestic legal rules that apply to companies engaged in cross-border activities. The third and final part of the course will compare how core questions of substantive company law are treated in different jurisdictions (including, but not restricted to, Germany and the U.S.).

Students who have completed the course will have developed a sound understanding of the international and comparative dimensions of company law, enabling them to work successfully in an international business environment, whether in a law firm, a multinational company, or a regulatory agency. The course is suitable for exchange and graduate students (LL.M., M.C.B.L.) of law and related fields, as well as for LL.B. students.

The course will cover the following subjects:

• Concept and different forms of companies
• Public international law of companies
• Private international law of companies
• Comparative company law
• Companies in international dispute resolution

Course materials: Required reading materials will be provided or made available electronically via the university library. For introductory and further readings (optional):

• Cahn, Andreas/Donald, David C.: Comparative Company Law, 2nd edition, Cambridge 2020, Cambridge University Press
• Gerner-Beuerle, Carsten/Anderson Schillig, Michael: Comparative Company Law, Oxford 2018, Oxford University Press
• Kraakman, Reinier et al.: The Anatomy of Corporate Law, 3rd edition, Oxford 2017, Oxford University Press

Assessment: Class participation and final written exam


Lecturer: Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford)
      
Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford), is a senior research associate at the Chair of Civil Law, International and European Commercial Law at the University of Mannheim. He has studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg (First State Exam) and Cambridge. During his practical legal training, he clerked inter alia at the dispute resolution department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Frankfurt office and at the German Federal Constitutional Court. After his Second State Exam at the Higher Regional Court Stuttgart, he completed an LL.M.-program at Stanford Law School and obtained a doctorate at the University of Mannheim with the thesis ‘Trans­nationale Verträge im nationalen Recht’ (‘Trans­national Contracts in National Law’). His research focuses on conflict-of-laws, international commercial, company and financial law, procedural law and private law theory.

Dr. Torsten Andreas Kindt

Vorlesung

6.0

Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

Parties to international disputes tend to strive for litigation in their home countries. This is primarily attributable to the parties’ and their representatives’ familiarity with the system and language. This tendency can even be observed in cases where an informed choice would prove a foreign venue to be more favourable, be it for procedural reasons (e.g. evidence, costs of litigation) or matters of substance (applicable law, ordre public, mandatory rules of the forum, scope of private autonomy).

The opposite effect can be observed with regard to arbitration. Arbitration often is chosen by parties in the belief that it is a superior means of dispute resolution, e.g. because it is said to be time- and cost-efficient, neutral, arbitrators ensure high legal quality and superior understanding of business contexts. In fact arbitration can be a very reasonable means of solving legal disputes. But whether state courts must be shy of the comparison will depend on the arbitration rules and venue chosen and the subject matter or the dispute.

The course consists of two parts: The first focuses on cross border litigation before state courts, the second will provide an overview on arbitration law.

• Introduction: Impact of the forum on the dispute (lex fori and lex causae)
• International Jurisdiction of state courts (Brussels I Regulation)
• Provisional measures and procedural strategy
• Access to evidence in cross-border litigation
• Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments (Brussels I Regulation)
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Arbitration
• Drafting arbitration agreements
• Introduction of common arbitration rules (ICC, LCIA, Swiss Rules, DIS)
• Conduct of arbitration proceedings
• Enforcing arbitration awards and the New York Convention

Written examination

Prof. Dr. Lea Tochtermann

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz/Online live

This course examines all major aspects of cross-border litigation as the conventional and most important method of international dispute resolution between private parties. The primary emphasis is on the conduct of international litigation in EU Member States, but there will also be comparative treatment of other major jurisdictions (notably the UK and the U.S.).

After introducing the concept of international litigation and the main policy issues at stake, the course will comprehensively address the crucial procedural questions lawyers must consider when bringing a cross-border civil or commercial dispute to a national court. These include: international jurisdiction (Which court is competent?), coordination between different jurisdictions (lis pendens, provisional measures), conduct of proceedings (service of documents, taking evidence abroad), as well as recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.

Students who have completed the course will have developed a sound understanding of international procedural law that will enable them to work successfully in a litigation context, be it in the judiciary, a law firm or a legal department. The course is suitable for exchange and graduate students (LL.M., M.C.B.L.) of law and related fields, as well as for LL.B. students aiming to cover the relevant aspects of international procedural law required for taking the First German State Exam according to § 8 Abs. 2 Nr. 5 JAPrO.

The course will cover the following subjects:

• Concept and practical relevance of international litigation
• Advantages and disadvantages of international litigation
• Sources of international procedural law
• International jurisdiction
• Coordination between different jurisdictions
• Conduct of proceedings
• Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments

Course materials: Required reading materials will be provided or made available electronically via the university library. Introductory and further readings (optional):

• Fentiman, Richard: International Commercial Litigation, 2nd edition, Oxford 2015, Oxford University Press
• Hartley, Trevor C.: International Commercial Litigation, 3rd edition, Cambridge 2020, Cambridge University Press
• Junker, Abbo: Internationales Zivilprozess­recht, 6th edition, München 2023, C. H. Beck

Assessment: Class participation and final written exam


Lecturer: Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford)
      
Dr. Torsten Kindt, LL.M. (Stanford), is a senior research associate at the Chair of Civil Law, International and European Commercial Law at the University of Mannheim. He has studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg (First State Exam) and Cambridge. During his practical legal training, he clerked inter alia at the dispute resolution department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Frankfurt office and at the German Federal Constitutional Court. After his Second State Exam at the Higher Regional Court Stuttgart, he completed an LL.M.-program at Stanford Law School and obtained a doctorate at the University of Mannheim with the thesis ‘Trans­nationale Verträge im nationalen Recht’ (‘Trans­national Contracts in National Law’). His research focuses on conflict-of-laws, international commercial, company and financial law, procedural law and private law theory.

Dr. Torsten Andreas Kindt

Vorlesung

8

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Online live

Required reading materials will be provided electronically.

Introductory Readings (optional):

• Cassese, Antonio, ‘International Criminal Law’ (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008)
• Cryer, Robert, ‘An Introduction to International Criminal Law and Procedure’ (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010)
• Schabas, William A., ‘The International Criminal Court: A Commentary on the Rome Statute’ (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010)
• Werle, Gerhard, ‘Principles of International Criminal Law’ (The Hague, Asser, 2005)

You don’t need to buy one of these textbooks since they are only intended to provide you with a first insight into the subject matter. Besides, all are available at Mannheim University Library.

Raphael Oidtmann

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a body of rules that seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict. IHL protects those who are not participating in hostilities, and those who are no longer participating in hostilities. This body of law imposes limits on the methods and means of warfare. IHL forms part of public international law and is largely based on treaties and rules of customary international law. 
In this course the development as well as the basic concepts of IHL will be explored. Students will be introduced to the most important documents governing armed conflict, learn how to apply these and will consider the challenges posed to the application of IHL in armed conflicts. A large part of the course will focus on the new developments in IHL including the emergence of new forms of armed conflicts and the development and use of new technologies in armed conflict.

Assessment
Assessment for this course will consist of one presentation and one take-home exam.

Marelie Manders

Vorlesung

6.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

The course is designed to give a comprehensive survey of German private law, i.e. general rules of private law, commercial law, and civil procedure.

An important structural decision of German private law (sic!) is already displayed by the fact that the Civil Code is the ‘law book for citizens’ – today including consumers – whereas particular rules for businesses are comprised in the commercial code, corporate law, and various other codifications.

However, both general private law, and commercial law are enforced by the same rules of civil procedure. The German Civil Code is of paramount importance for understanding German law as its concept and system has impressed the legal thinking of generations of German lawyers. Students will be acquainted with both its sources, and its general principles. In the course of the class students will learn to work with the German civil code, understand the underlying system, influences on the Civil Code from the European Union (EU), and the accepted methods of interpretation.

• Introduction to German Private Law
•  The division between public law, general private law and commercial law
•  The German Civil Code
•  Influence from the EU
•  Basic concepts and means of interpretation
•  Function and Content of the General Part
•  Law of obligations (contracts, torts, and unjust enrichment)
•  Property Law
•  Law of succession and company law (including partner­ships and corporations)
• The system of law enforcement

Oral examination

Vorlesung

8.0

Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Vorlesung

8.0

Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Jonas Hofer

Vorlesung

8.0

Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Dr. Manfred Muhler

Vorlesung

8.0

Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

Dr. Nils Häck

Vorlesung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

deutsch

2

Präsenz live

This course is an introduction to certain fundamental rights of the American legal system through the Bill of Rights and the adjudication of the United States Supreme Court. Students will be taught how to read and brief cases through selected excerpts of landmark decisions. Issues include judicial review, the right to privacy, the right to freedom of expression, the death penalty, the right to choose, as well as same-sex marriage. Though this course is a lecture, some participation is expected.

Required reading: Will be made available electronically.

Exam: Timed essay exam.

Dr. Judit Beke-Martos

Sonder­veranstaltung

8.0

Bachelor, Master

englisch

2

Präsenz live

At the heart of European species protection law is a radical ban on killing individuals of endangered species. This raises numerous questions, particularly with regard to the expansion of onshore wind power. While the European Union itself is trying to rebalance the relations­hip between the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive, the member states are also developing different implementation strategies. The aim of the conference is to shed light on these strategies and examine their conformity with European law.

Students interested in participating are required to attend preparatory and follow-up meetings with the professor and to fully participate in the conference.

In order to obtain a certificate and the ECTS credits, students are further required to write a seminar paper (~ 10 pages) and to hold a presentation during the follow up meetings.

Open to exchange law Students.