The journal Comparative Legal History, published on behalf of the European Society for Comparative Legal History (ESCLH), is organizing an online seminar entitled “Family Feud or Family Reunion? Comparative Law and Comparative Legal History as Siblings”, as part of its Comparative Legal History Dialogues series. The event will take place on 15 October 2026, from 12:00 to 13:00 (CEST), via Zoom.
The seminar will bring together three distinguished scholars:
- Prof. Thomas Duve – Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory;
- Prof. Ralf Michaels – Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law;
- Prof. Jaakko Husa – University of Helsinki.
Comparative law and comparative legal history share a close intellectual relationship. During the nineteenth century, when comparative law emerged as an autonomous discipline, comparative lawyers frequently engaged with legal history. However, following decades of increasing differentiation and specialization within legal scholarship, the relationship between these two fields invites renewed examination.
The discussion will explore whether comparative lawyers continue to engage with comparative legal history, the extent to which both disciplines share methodological approaches and theoretical assumptions, and how comparative legal historians might contribute to contemporary debates within comparative law.
Following brief contributions from the invited speakers, participants will have the opportunity to join an open discussion.
Participation is free and open to the public. Registration is required by email at: clhdialogues@gmail.com.
The organisers warmly invite scholars, researchers, and students interested in comparative law, legal history, and legal methodology to participate in this exchange.
