Professor Ruiz Abou-Nigm invited to prestigious universities in China to present her research on Private International Law and Sustainable Development
Mon 9 December 2024

Edinburgh Law School's Professor Verónica Ruiz Abou-Nigm was invited to China by Professor Zheng Sophia Tang, from Wuhan University Law School (WHU). Together with Profs Ralf Michaels and Hans van Loon, Veronica co-organised in WHU a conference on Private International Law and Sustainable Development in Asia hosted by Prof Tang. The conference brought together world-renowned experts and rising starts in private international law to present their work in progress towards the special issue publication of the Chinese Journal of Transnational Law on the theme of the conference. Ruiz Abou-Nigm, Michaels and van Loon are the guest editors of this special issue to be published in September 2025.
During her visit to China Professor Ruiz Abou-Nigm presented her research also at seminars in Ocean University (OCU) and Peking University (PKU), and also at a separate seminar at WHU. Her journey highlighted the growing international dialogue on private international law and its critical role in addressing global challenges.
At OCU, Professor Ruiz Abou-Nigm was introduced by Assistant Professor Dr MU Ke, a recent PhD graduate from Edinburgh Law School formerly supervised by her. The lecture focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs) and the pivotal role of private international law in tackling global issues. The well-attended seminar concluded with an engaging Q&A, where Professor Ruiz Abou-Nigm engaged in in-depth discussions with students and faculty members.
At WHU Professor Ruiz Abou-Nigm delivered a lecture on 'Global Fashion, Circular Economy and Private International Law,' based on her current research project with Dr Antonia Sommerfeld and Prof Ralf Michaels from the Max Planck Institute in Hamburg. During the seminar she discussed hers and Sommerfeld award-winning paper on the relationship between private international law and circular economy in the fashion industry, previously reported here. The full paper is available here. This seminar was part of a whole week dedicated to Private International Law at WHU.
At PKU Professor Ruiz Abou-Nigm was hosted by Prof HE QiSHeng and FAN Zihao, a former visiting PhD student at Edinburgh Law School. Her seminar versed on the topic of private international law and sustainability. Brilliant discussants and engaged students made for a great opportunity to focus on sustainability issues of concern to the region.
The theme of private international law and sustainable development has gained track globally following Michaels/Ruiz Abou-Nigm/van Loon (eds.) book, The Private Side of Transforming our World - UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the Role of Private International Law’, exploring the contribution of private international law to the realisation of the UN’s Agenda 2030.
Learn more about the conference:
International Conference on Private International Law and Sustainable Development in Asia – Wuhan University Institute of International Law
Read more about Professor Veronica Ruiz Abou-Nigm work: