Seminar with Professor Lukas Rademacher (Kiel University, GERMANY)
On 12 June 2026, the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk hosted a research seminar delivered by Professor Lukas Rademacher from Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany. Professor Rademacher holds the Chair of Civil Law, Private International Law and Comparative Law, and serves as Co-Director of the Institute of European and International Private and Procedural Law.
The seminar focused on current issues at the intersection of environmental protection, private law, private international law and European Union law. It also formed part of the Faculty’s growing cooperation with its German academic partner within the SEA-EU alliance.
In a highly engaging and insightful presentation, Professor Rademacher discussed a range of contemporary cases concerning international law in its broad sense, both private and public. Particular attention was devoted to supply chains and the liability of parent companies for events occurring outside Europe. The speaker examined, among other issues, attempts by employees of Asian branches or subsidiaries of European companies to bring claims against parent companies, highlighting the practical significance of the tension between the law of the place where the damage occurred and the law connected with the employer’s principal seat.
The seminar also addressed environmental and climate-related questions, including the legal implications of using glacier water. On the one hand, such water may constitute a potential source of flood risk; on the other, its exploitation raises important questions concerning the protection of the natural environment. Another significant theme of the meeting was the emerging European Union institution of the so-called right to repair. The relevant European Union directive is currently being implemented in successive European countries, giving rise to numerous legislative and practical challenges, including from the perspective of the Polish legal order.
We were particularly pleased to see strong attendance from students. Their participation confirms the relevance of the topics discussed, not only from an academic perspective, but also in view of future legal and business practice.
The seminar was also attended by members of the academic and legal community, including Prof. Dr Habil. Ewa Bagińska, Assoc. Prof. Dr. habil. Arkadiusz Wowerka, Assoc. Prof. Dr. habil. Magdalena Łągiewska, Dr Izabela Adrych-Brzezińska, Dr Paulina Wyszyńska-Ślufińska - Regional Representative of the Financial Ombudsman, Dr Katarzyna Wałdoch, Dr Beata Kowalczyk and Dr Maja Maciejewska-Szałas.
The Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk extends its sincere thanks to Professor Lukas Rademacher for his exceptionally interesting lecture, to all participants for their attendance and active engagement, and to Dr. habil. Arkadiusz Wowerka, Professor of the University of Gdańsk, from the Division of Private International Law, for organising this valuable academic event.
