Christian Twigg-Flesner
Professor of Contract and Consumer Law
Deputy Head of School
Director of Teaching and Learning
Digital Technology and Commercial/Consumer; Contract Law; International and English Commercial Law; Consumer Law
School of Law
S2.15, Social Sciences Building
University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
024 761 51040
My research interests lie broadly in the fields of Transnational/International and English Commercial Law, Consumer Law, and Contract Law.
I have published widely on European Consumer and Contract law, including Rethinking EU Consumer Law (with Geraint Howells and Thomas Wilhelmsson) and The Europeanisation of Contract Law (2nd ed, 2013), as well as editing the Cambridge Companion to European Union Private Law and the Research Handbook on EU Consumer and Contract Law.
The current focus of my research is on the implications of the digital economy for contract, commercial and consumer law, and the notion of harmonisation, both in the context of Transnational/International Commercial Law and European Consumer & Contract Law.
Christian joined Warwick Law School in September 2017 as Professor of Contract and Consumer Law.
He read law at the University of Sheffield (LLB in 1997 and PhD in 2002). He started his full-time academic career at Nottingham Trent University (1999-2002) before returning to Sheffield as Lecturer (2002-4). He joined the University of Hull in 2004 as Lecturer and was Professor of Commercial Law there from 2010 to 2017.
External roles:
- Co-editor (Law) for the Journal of Consumer Policy
- Fellow of the European Law Institute (also served as elected Council Member from 2019 to 2023)
- Associate Academic Fellow of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- Member of the Innovation and Technology Law Laboratory
He was also a Senior International Fellow at the University of Bayreuth (Germany) from 2016 to 2018.
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian. Bad hand? The 'new deal' for EU consumers. Zeitschrift für das Privatrecht der Europäischen Union European Union Private Law Rewiev / Revue de droit privé de l?Union européenne
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2023. The obsolescence of consumer law : a UK perspective. Revue européenne de droit de la consommation ; European Consumer Law Review, 2023 (2), pp. 347-367
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2022. Who knows what the future holds? The fate of the EU?s acquis in English Contract Law. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Burgerlijk Recht, 21 (5), pp. 160-168
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2019. Consolidation rather than codification ? or just complication? the UK's Consumer Rights Act 2015. Zeitschrift für Europäisches Privatecht, pp. 170-201
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2018. Bad hand? The ?new deal? for EU consumers. Zeitschrift für das Privatrecht der Europäischen Union European Union Private Law Rewiev / Revue de droit privé de l?Union européenne, 15 (4), pp. 166-175
- Mathios, Alan, Micklitz, Hans, Reisch, Lucia, Thøgersen, John, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2018. Gerhard Scherhorn, 21 February 1930?28 February 2018. Journal of Consumer Policy, 41 (2), pp. 99-101
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2018. The EU's proposals for regulating B2B relationships on online platforms ? transparency, fairness and beyond. Journal of European Consumer and Market Law, 6, pp. 222-233
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2015. CESL, cross-border transactions and Domestic Law : why a dual approach could work (although CESL might not). European Review of Private Law, 23 (2), pp. 231-249
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Dimatteo, Larry A., 2012. Dealing with informational asymmetries under the proposed CESL and CISG. Journal of International Trade Law and Policy, 11 (3), pp. 281-299
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2012. The (non-)impact of harmonizing measures on English legal terminology. European Review of Private Law, 20 (5/6), pp. 1369-1378
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2011. ?Good-bye harmonisation by directives, hello cross-border only regulation?' ? a way forward for EU Consumer Contract Law. European Review of Contract Law, 7, pp. 235-256
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Micklitz, Hans, 2010. Think Global - towards International Consumer Law. Journal of Consumer Policy, 33 (3), pp. 201-207
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2010. Time to do the job properly - the case for a new approach to EU Consumer Legislation. Journal of Consumer Policy, 33 (4), pp. 355-375
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2009. Consumer goods guarantees in the DCFR ? ?best solution? or grasping the wrong nettle?. European Review of Private Law, 17 (4), pp. 641-657
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2005. Innovation and EU Consumer Law. Journal of Consumer Policy, 28 (4), pp. 409-432
- Bradgate, Robert, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2002. Expanding the boundaries of liability for quality defects. Journal of Consumer Policy, 25 (3-4), pp. 345-377
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2024. Consumers, digital delegates, contract formation and consumer law. DiMatteo, Larry; Poncibò, Cristina; Howells, Geraint (eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of AI and Consumer Law : Comparative Perspectives, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2023. United Kingdom consumer law : incomplete transformation. Micklitz, Hans-W.; Twigg-Flesner, Christian (eds.), The transformation of consumer law and policy in Europe, London, Bloomsbury Press
- 'Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2022. 'Online intermediary platforms and English Contract Law. Davies, Paul S; Cheng-Han, Tan (eds.), Intermediaries in Commercial Law, Bloomsbury Publishing
- 'Howells, Geraint, 'Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2022. 'Interconnectivity and liability : AI and the Internet of Things. In DiMatteo, Larry A.; Poncibò, Cristina; Cannarsa, Michel (eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 179-199
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2021. Foundations of international commercial law. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY, Routledge
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Canavan, Rick, 2021. Atiyah and Adams' sale of goods. Harlow, England ; New York, Pearson
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2021. The potential of the COVID-19 crisis to cause legal ?disruption? to contracts and contract law. Hondius, Ewoud; Santos Silva, Marta; Nicolussi, Andrea; Salvador Coderch, Pablo; Wendehorst, Christiane; Zoll, Fryderyk (eds.), Coronavirus and the Law in Europe, Cambridge, Intersentia
- Beale, Hugh, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2021. COVID-19 and English contract law. Hondius, Ewoud; Santos Silva, Marta; Nicolussi, Andrea; Salvador Coderch, Pablo; Wendehorst, Christiane; Zoll, Fryderyk (eds.), Coronavirus and the Law in Europe, Cambridge, Intersentia
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2020. Conformity of goods and digital content/digital services. Amayuelas, Esther Arroyo; Lapuente, Sergio Cámara (eds.), El Derecho privado en el nuevo paradigma digital, Madrid, España, Marcial Pons
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2020. Commentary on arts : 15-18 of the digital content and digital services directive. Schulze, Reiner; Staudenmeyer, Dirk (eds.), EU Digital Law: Article-by-Article Commentary, Nomos/Hart
- Beale, Hugh, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2020. Covid-19 and frustration in English law. In Garcia Long, Sergio (ed.), Derecho de los Desastres : Covid-19, Peru, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, pp. 1185-1200
- Bisping, Christopher, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2020. Preparing for withdrawal from the European Union in the United Kingdom. Kramme, Malte; Baldus, Christian; Schmidt-Kessels, Martin (eds.), Brexit: Privat- und wirtschaftsrechtliche Folgen, Baden-Baden, Nomos
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2020. A comparative perspective on commercial contracts and the impact of COVID-19 : change of circumstances, Force Majeure, or what?. Pistor, Katharina (ed.), Law in the Time of COVID-19, Columbia Law School
- Howells, Geraint, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Willett, Chris, 2019. Protecting the values of consumer law in the digital economy : the case of 3D-printing. In De Franceschi, Alberto; Schulze, Reiner (eds.), Digital Revolution - New Challenges for Law, Mu¨nchen, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, pp. 214-243
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2019. Remedies in European contract law : themes and controversies. Hofmann, Franz; Kurz, Franziska (eds.), Law of Remedies: A European Perspective, Intersentia
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2018. Legal and policy responses to online platforms - a UK perspectives. In Blaurock, Uwe; Schmidt-Kessel, Martin; Erler, Katharina (eds.), Plattformen, Baden-Baden, Nomos, pp. 139-164
- Howells, Geraint, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Willett, Chris, 2017. Product liability and digital products. In Synodinou, T. E.; Jougleux, P.; Markou, C.; Prastitou, T. (eds.), EU Internet Law, Springer, Cham, pp. 183-195
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2017. Some thoughts on consumer law reform ? consolidation, codification, or a restatement?. Gullifer, Louise; Vogenauer, Stefan (eds.), English and European Perspectives on Contract and Commercial Law., Oxford UK;Portland, Oregon, US, Bloomsbury Publishing
- Howells, Geraint, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Wilhelmsson, Thomas, 2017. Rethinking EU consumer law.
- 'Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2017. 'The general principles of the Chinese contract law from the perspective of an (English) Common lawyer. In DiMatteo, Larry A.; Lei, Chen (eds.), Chinese Contract Law : Civil and Common Law Perspectives, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 29-43
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2016. Conformity of 3D prints ? can current sales law cope?. Shulze, Reiner; Staudenmayer, Dirk (eds.), Digital Revolution : challenges for contract law in practice, Baden-Baden, Nomos; Hart Publishing
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2016. Disruptive technology - disrupted Law? How the digital revolution affects (Contract) Law. De Franceschi, Alberto (ed.), European Contract Law and the Digital Single Market, Intersentia
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2016. The importance of law and harmonisation for the EU's confident consumer. Leczykiewicz, Dorota; Weatherill, Stephen (eds.), The images of the consumer in EU law : legislation, free movement and competition law, Portland, Oregon, Hart Publishing
- Atiyah, P. S., Adams, John, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Canavan, Rick, MacQueen, Hector L., 2016. Atiyah's and Adams' sale of goods. Harlow, UK; New York, Pearson Education
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2016. Does the codification of consumer law improve the ability of consumers to enforce their rights? - a UK-perspective. Heiderhoff, Bettina; Schulze, Reiner (eds.), Verbraucherrecht und Verbraucherverhalten: Consumer law and consumer behaviour, Baden-Baden, Nomos
- Woodroffe, Geoffrey, Lowe, Robert, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Willett, Chris, 2016. Woodroffe & Lowe's consumer law and practice. London, UK, Sweet and Maxwell
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2015. Standard terms in consumer contracts ? the challenges of law reform in English law. DiMatteo, Larry A.; Hogg, Martin (eds.), Comparative contract law : British and American perspectives, Oxford, UK, Oxford University Press
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2013. The Europeanisation of Contract Law [2nd Edition]. Abingdon, Oxford, Taylor and Francis
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2012. A cross-border-only regulation for consumer transactions in the EU. In A Cross-Border-Only Regulation for Consumer Transactions in the EU, Springer, New York, NY, Springer, pp. 1-76
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Devenney, James, Kenny, Mel, 2012. Comment : the future of EU consumer law ? the end of harmonisation?. In Devenney, James; Kenny, Mel (eds.), European Consumer Protection, Cambridge University Press, pp. 6-20
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2012. The Acquis principles : an insider's critical reflections on the drafting process. Andenas , Mads; Baasch Andersen, Camilla (eds.), Theory and Practice of Harmonisation, Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2011. Boundaries of commercial and trade law. Mu¨nchen, De Gruyter
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Villalta Puig, Gonzalo, 2011. Introduction : the boundaries of Commercial Law. In Villalta Puig, Gonzalo; Twigg-Flesner, Christian (eds.), Boundaries of Commercial and Trade Law, Berlin, De Gruyter, pp. 1-20
- Hawes, Cynthia, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2010. Sales and guarantees. Howells, Geraint; Ramsay, Iain; Wihelmsson , Thomas; Kraft, David (eds.), Handbook of Research on International Consumer Law, Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Schulze, Reiner, 2010. Protecting rational choice : information and the right of withdrawal. Howells, Geraint; Ramsay, Iain; Wilhelmsson, Thomas; Kraft, David (eds.), Handbook of Research on International Consumer Law, Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2010. Introduction. In Twigg-Flesner, Christian (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to European Union Private Law, Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-19
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2009. Pre-contractual duties - from the acquis to the common frame of reference. In Schulze, Reiner (ed.), Common Frame of Reference and Existing EC Contract Law, Berlin, De Gruyter, pp. 97-126
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2009. An English perspective on Producers' Liability. In Ebers, Martin; Janssen, André; Meyer, Olaf (eds.), European Perspectives on Producers' Liability: Direct Producers' Liability for Non-conformity and the Sellers' Right of Redress, De Gruyter, pp. 255-274
- Schulk-Nölke, Hans, Twigg-Flesner, Christian, Ebers, Martin, 2009. EC Consumer Law Compendium : the Consumer Acquis and its transposition in the Member States. Berlin, De Gruyter
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2009. Standard terms in International Commercial Law ? the example of documentary credits. In Schulze, Reiner (ed.), New Features in Contract Law, De Gruyter, pp. 325-342
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2021. Guiding principles for updating the product liability directive for the digital age. European Law Institute
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic ? a stress test for Contract Law? [Editorial]. Journal of European Consumer and Market Law, pp. 89-92
- Twigg-Flesner, Christian, 2017. From REFIT to a rethink : time for fundamental EU Consumer Law reform?. Journal of European Consumer and Market Law, Verlag C.H. Beck oHG, pp. 185-189
Title | Funder | Award start | Award end |
---|---|---|---|
From Smart Technologies to Smart Consumer Laws: Comparative Perspectives from Germany and the United Kingdom (AHRC DFG - Stirling lead). | AHRC | 01 Feb 2022 | 31 Jan 2025 |
Guiding Principles and Model Rules on Algorithmic Contracts
Professor Christian Twigg-Flesner, together with Professors Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell, Christoph Busch, Marie Jull Sørensen and Dariusz Szostek, has been appointed as co-reporter for a European Law Institute Project to draft Guiding Principles and Model Rules on Algorithmic Contracts. The team will focus on the use of Algorithmic Decision-Making (ADM), especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) system utilising machine learning, in all the stages of the contract life-cycle.
More information is available from the project webpages.
Smart Technology and Consumer Protection
Legal experts at the Universities of Stirling, Osnabrück, Warwick, and Bonn have launched a new study to ensure that consumer laws are as ‘smart’ as the emerging technologies that they regulate. This three-year project, running from February 2022 to February 2025, is funded by the AHRC-DFG UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities.
More information is available from the project webpages.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Consolidation and Simplification of Consumer Law (November 2010): co-authored background report to inform the development of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (see Explanatory Notes)
House of Lords, Electronic Trade Documents Special Public Bill Committee, Written Evidence (published 20 January 2023) (2022-23 session)
House of Lords, European Union Committee, EU Consumer Rights Directive: getting it right, (2008-9 session, 18th report): oral evidence on 26 March 2009
House of Lords, European Union Committee, Protecting the consumers of timeshare products (2006-7 session, 3rd report): oral evidence on 25 October 2007
House of Commons Transport Committee, Volkswagen emissions scandal and vehicle type approval (12 July 2016): oral evidence on 25 April 2016 (video recording)
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Consolidation and Simplification of Consumer Law (November 2010): co-authored background report to inform the development of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (see Explanatory Notes)
House of Lords, European Union Committee, EU Consumer Rights Directive: getting it right, (2008-9 session, 18th report): oral evidence on 26 March 2009
House of Lords, European Union Committee, Protecting the consumers of timeshare products (2006-7 session, 3rd report): oral evidence on 25 October 2007
Since 2022, Christian has delivered lectures to the Civil Continuation Training run by the Judicial College about current developments in his field of expertise and his ongoing research work.
I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD supervisees. However, please ensure that you have a research proposal which corresponds with the University of Warwick School of Law requirements.
My research interests and expertise are primarily in the field of transactions (commercial, contract and consumer law), rather than regulation. I would particularly consider research proposals in any of the areas below:
- Contract law.
- Aspects of domestic, EU and international consumer law.
- The implications of developments in the digital economy for contract, commercial or consumer law (English, European or international). Please note that this excludes the regulation of cryptocurrencies.
- Aspects of the law on the sale and supply of goods.
- International Commercial Law (i.e., commercial transactions with an international dimension), excluding Conflict of Laws/Private International Law, Arbitration or dispute resolution generally.
Current PhD Supervisees:
- Farah Abdin
- Brihan Basajjabalaba
- Luigi Cantisani
- Zahir Hamid