Joint inaugural lecture by Prof. Dr. Johanna Croon-Gestefeld and Prof. Dr. Stefan Klingbeil
Two Distinguished Professorships at Leuphana Law School Introduce Themselves
11. Jun
New Perspectives on Modern Private Law: In their joint inaugural lecture, Prof. Dr. Johanna Croon-Gestefeld and Prof. Dr. Stefan Klingbeil demonstrate how state objectives influence private law—and how the law creates reality through its own concepts, imaginations, and procedures.
With Prof. Dr. Johanna Croon-Gestefeld, LL.M. (EUI), and Prof. Dr. Stefan Klingbeil, LL.M. (Yale), two key professorships at Leuphana Law School have begun their work. Both private-law professorships embody the reform model of Leuphana Law School in a unique way: here, legal science is not understood solely as classical dogmatics, but is also explored within its social, European, international, and theoretical contexts.
In their joint inaugural lecture on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Lecture Hall 3 at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Johanna Croon-Gestefeld and Stefan Klingbeil will present their research perspectives on private law. The event will open with welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Jelena Bäumler, LL.M. (UWC), on behalf of the University Executive Board, and Prof. Dr. Axel Halfmeier, LL.M. (Michigan), on behalf of the Leuphana Law School.
Johanna Croon-Gestefeld: State Objectives and Private Law
Johanna Croon-Gestefeld is a professor of civil law, specializing in transnational private law. Her professorship is dedicated to researching private law with its EU law implications as well as law created by private parties. In her research, Johanna Croon-Gestefeld examines the functions of private law as well as the effects of societal developments—such as European integration, sustainability, and self-determination—on civil law.
In her inaugural lecture, “State Objectives and Private Law,” Johanna Croon-Gestefeld explores how constitutional objectives influence private law. In what ways are the Constitution and private law intertwined? What does the influence of state objectives on private law mean for the shaping of this area of law? And can we observe a shift away from the state toward the private sector in order to evade this influence?
Stefan Klingbeil: The Magic of the Legal World
Stefan Klingbeil is a professor of civil law, civil procedure, and legal theory. His professorship focuses on private and procedural law from a foundational, interdisciplinary, and international comparative law perspective. Particular attention is paid to the fundamental concepts of private law as well as to the dogmatic interconnection of substantive law and procedural law. Other research focuses include questions of legal ontology, legal imagination, and legal visualization.
In his lecture “The Magic of the Legal World,” Stefan Klingbeil explores jurisprudence’s unique perspective on reality. How does our lived world appear when viewed through the lens of law? Is it a gray realm of legal provisions—or a wondrous place full of magic? The lecture focuses on the role of legal language in the creation of legal reality, the artificial-virtual mode of existence of legal persons, and the wonder of representation.
Following the lectures, a standing reception will take place starting at 6:45 p.m. Members of the university, colleagues from research, teaching, and administration, as well as students, are cordially invited.
Program
Opening Remarks
Prof. Dr. Jelena Bäumler, LL.M. (UWC) on behalf of the Executive Board
Prof. Dr. Axel Halfmeier, LL.M. (Michigan) on behalf of Leuphana Law School
Inaugural Lectures
Prof. Dr. Johanna Croon-Gestefeld, LL.M. (EUI): State Objectives and Private Law
Prof. Dr. Stefan Klingbeil, LL.M. (Yale): The Magic of the Legal World – On the Legal Imagination of Reality
Reception starting at 6:45 p.m.