Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Dieter Henrich

Prof. Henrich, born on the 1st of December, 1930 in Düsseldorf, studied law at the University of Munich from 1949 to 1953. He passed both, the First and Second State Examinations in Munich. In 1956 he received a Dr. iur. at the University of Munich. In 1962, after his activities as assistant professor in Munich as well as research assistant at the Max-Planck-Institute of Foreign and Private International Law in Hamburg, Prof. Hess received the venia legendi in civil law, private international law, and comparative law at the University of Munich.

Prof. Hess was appointed professor by proxy at the University of Münster (1962/63). In 1963, he became a professor ordinarius at the University of Marburg. After he declined an appointment at the University of Frankfurt/Main, he accepted the offer of a professorship at the department “Civil Law, Private International Law, and Comparative Law“ at the University of Regensburg in 1967, where he taught until his retirement in 1999. He declined an appointment at the University of Freiburg. From 1973 through 1981 he was at first vice chancellor and then president of the University of Regensburg.

Prof. Henrich was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, the Order of Merit of Bavaria, and the Albertus-Magnus-Medal for the Arts and Sciences of the city of Regensburg. He is an honorary doctor of the universities of Triest and Verona, senator honoris causa of the University of Ljubljana, and from 1997 through 2010 he was president of the German Council of Private International Law.

His main areas of research are private international law and comparative law, especially German, foreign and international family law.