Latest blog articles
Overriding Mandatory Rules in International Arbitration: Balancing Business Freedom and State Interests
Imagine two companies from different countries enter a business deal. They pick a neutral country’s law to govern their contract and agree to arbitrate any disputes, thinking they can sidestep each other’s national courts. But what if one country’s law absolutely prohibits something in the deal –...
Law
What is coercion?
According to classic economic thinking—and to common sense—if two parties agree to a deal, both are made better off, otherwise they would not have agreed. This idea is also reflected in contract law, at least in its basic form, treats consent as the cornerstone of a valid contract. If both sides say...
Law
New Council year, quality agreements, DEI, alumni, internationalisation & human rights
Dear members of the UM Community,
The new academic year is in full swing, and so are UM’s representative councils. The newly elected University and Faculty Councils, as well as the Service Councils, are busy considering policy proposals and having discussions with the Executive Board, Deans, and...
University Council
Should Employees Participate in Corporations? A Law and Economics Perspective.
When we speak of corporations, we usually think of shareholders and managers: the former provide capital, the latter make decisions. Yet, without the contributions of its employees, no corporation can survive, let alone thrive. In my PhD thesis, I answered the question of how employee participation...
Law
One money security: for an Ivorian legal overhaul to withstand global illicit flows
My thesis proposes to analyse in depth the Ivorian framework for combating money laundering, suggesting solutions inspired by international best practices. It calls for action from all stakeholders: public decision-makers, financial institutions, media, civil society, and international organizations...
Law
Everyone needs a bank. Including human traffickers.
Every October 18, the EU marks its Anti-Trafficking Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for human trafficking and its impact on victims and societies. In this blog – which draws from our article recently published in the 76th special edition of Cahiers Politiestudies exploring the financial...
Law
With Little Time Left to Mitigate Climate Change: Insights from the Enforcement of China’s Emissions Trading Schemes
Due to an increasing number of climate-related events, for example more frequent floods, climate change has become a topic that almost everyone around the world cares about. To mitigate climate change, regions and countries worldwide, for example the EU, California, China, Japan, and Korea, are now...
Law
A Glimpse into My EPIP 2025 Journey: Patents, Gene Editing and Food Security
From 10–12 September, I joined the 20th Annual Conference of the European Policy for Intellectual Property Association (EPIP) in Antwerp, a lively gathering of scholars exploring the intersections of intellectual property (IP), innovation and policy. For me, it was a chance to present my paper and...
Law
Bye bye culture – enter norms and codes?
Fond of regulations as they are, jurists could nonetheless have an interest in learning about their origins and current proliferation, and Olivier Roy’s latest book addresses this question by offering a thought-provoking reflection about the path that contemporary culture has taken.
Law
Academic Etiquette and Legal Conferences
Everyone learns by attending academic events where best practices prevail. There is value in observing the work of experts and in being exposed to different ideas that can serve as models. After all, participants–both active and passive–can benefit from following an academic etiquette that helps...
Law