A warm welcome to the website of the Chair of Civil Law, Commercial and Economic Law, and Comparative Law. On our website, you will find information about the Chair and the activities carried out there. In the ‘News’ section, you can find out about the latest developments and current projects at the Chair, whilst the ‘Research Activities Archive’ provides information on past projects. Under ‘Teaching’, you can find details of the courses on offer in the current and forthcoming semesters. You will also find information here regarding PhD studies, as well as details about my team and myself.
The Chair of Civil Law, Commercial and Economic Law, and Comparative Law offers lectures, seminars, exam preparation courses and study groups as part of the Law degree programme (State Examination), the Bachelor’s minor (Civil Law) and the Magister Legum (LL.M.) programme for international lawyers.
Lectures and seminars (Prof. Dr Schmolke)
- BGB Allgemeiner Teil (AT) (introductory lecture)
- Konzern- und Umwandlungsrecht (specialisation / advanced module)
- Kapitalmarkt- und Übernahmerecht
- Einführung in die Rechtsökonomik (Introductory lecture)
- Übung zum Gesellschafts- und Kapitalmarktrecht
Accompanying study groups (Research Team)
- AG Gesetzliche Schuldverhältnisse
- AG BGB Allgemeiner Teil (for first-year students)
In the winter semester 26/27, the following courses will be offered by Prof. Schmolke:
In the winter semester 2026/27, Prof. Dr Schmolke will be on a research leave of absence.
Topics
I supervise PhD theses in the fields of German, European and international company law, capital markets and banking law, and (European) private law. I have a particular interest in methodological approaches that lie at the intersection of law and economics.
Entry Requirements
As a general rule, I require applicants to have achieved an excellent grade in either the First or Second State Examination in Law. The examination mark should therefore be in the double-digit range. Applicants should also already have a clear idea of potential doctoral thesis topics that interest them. Applicants from other universities must also meet the doctoral admission requirements of their home university. Information on the general requirements for admission to doctoral studies at the Faculty of Law and Economics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz can be found here.
It should also be noted that, in the view of the professors teaching commercial and economic law in Mainz, admission to doctoral studies in these subjects generally requires a corresponding specialisation, including successful participation in a seminar in this field.
Application and Acceptance
If you wish to write a doctoral thesis under my supervision and meet the aforementioned requirements, please send me a letter to that effect, to which you should attach the following:
- Area of interest and specific topic proposals, including a fully-fledged abstract of the proposed research
- Overview of academic achievements
- Exam marks
- Curriculum vitae
- Copies of your own publications (if available)
Final acceptance as a doctoral candidate will only take place once an exposé on the jointly selected doctoral topic has been completed. Where appropriate, the exposé may also serve as the basis for an application for a doctoral scholarship. It should be completed within three months.
