Prof. Dr. Christiana Fountoulakis has been a full professor of private law with a focus on the Law of Obligations at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) since August 1, 2025.
Research in Swiss and European contract law, international private and procedural law, and comparative private law
Prof. Dr. Christiana Fountoulakis' research focuses on the Swiss Code of Obligations (including contract and liability law). She is the co-author of two leading textbooks in this field. Her other research interests include commercial law, international and European sales law, international private and procedural law, international arbitration law, and comparative law. Prof. Fountoulakis has over 200 publications to her name. She is the author or editor of numerous leading textbooks and commentaries on Swiss contract and civil law.
In 2010, she was awarded the Sofja Kovalevskaja Prize by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for her research in the field of international trade law. In the same year, she was named one of the “40 top talents under 40” by Capital magazine.
From 2021 to 2025, she was a member of the Council of the European Law Institute. From 2015 to 2025, she was a member of the Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation. Professor Fountoulakis is co-editor of several international journals.
In addition to her work at the university, she acts as an arbitrator, counsel and expert witness.
Professor Fountoulakis teaches contract law, liability law and other aspects of the law of obligations, international sales law, and international arbitration law.
She has many years of experience in university continuing education.
Courses HS 2025
1,170,1.01 Introduction to Private Law, Group 1
1,170,1.02 Introduction to Private Law, Group 2
7,496,1.00 Law: Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot - Part I
Christiana Fountoulakis studied law in Basel, alongside studying music (1995-2000). After working as a research assistant and completing her doctorate, also in Basel (2004), she was appointed Max Geldner Assistant Professor, and wrote her habilitation thesis during this time (2004-2009). In 2010, she was appointed full professor at the University of Fribourg, where she held the Chair of Civil Law in French. She was also President of the Institute of Business Law (2023-2025) and Academic Director of a CAS, a CAS+ and two DAS in Mediation in French (2015-2025). Since August 1, she has been a full professor at the University of St. Gallen.
Professor of Private Law