I am a professor of law at the University of Ghent, Belgium, where I am Director of the Institute for Private International Law. I also teach as Adjunct professor at the American University, Washington College of Law, Washington DC. In 2009 I was appointed Adjunct professor at the China University of Law and Political Science in Beijing. I have received an honorary doctorate of law of the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai (2005).

I am active as arbitrator in international commercial arbitration, am a listed arbitrator in a few arbitration institutions and I have been taken up on the list of mediators with ICSID, World Bank, Washington on proposal of the Belgian Government.

I am lawyer at the Ghent Bar. My focus and special personal interests are commercial arbitration, private international law and art law.

I practiced business law as corporate legal counsel for seven years (1987 – 1995) and have been active in international licensing of technology for the Ghent University and have acquired 29 years of experience in exploitation of inventions through licensing and assignment.

I was advisor to the Belgian Ministry of Justice for the drafting of a code of private international law and was legal counsel to the International Trade Centre of Geneva (of WTO and UNCTAD) on licensing contracts for developing countries.

At Ghent University I was a member of the Board of Trustees and of the Board of Managers from October 2004 till October 2008).

I provide legal advice on international matters on a regular basis to Belgian authorities (e.g. Ministry of Justice), to lawyers, to private parties and corporations.

I have published 150 scientific articles and 20 books – see the list of my publications.

I am a Member of the Institut de Droit International, foreign member of the Amercian Law Institute and member or officer of several other scientific or law-related organizations.