»The law is originally oriented towards state borders: in Germany, for example, the Civil Code (BGB) applies, France has the Code Civil and in England it is predominantly uncodified case law. In a globalised and digitally networked world, however, the reality of life does not stop at the borders of a country and its law. My research focuses on private international law, which coordinates legal systems in a cross-border context. For example, the rules that determine which law applies when a matter has points of contact with more than one country need to be clarified. Through the lens of foreign law, the strengths and weaknesses of our own law also become more apparent. It is not uncommon for foreign law to provide impetus for reform of our own law. In teaching, I consider it particularly important to raise students’ awareness of the international dimensions of law.«
