Kurt Lipstein
Encyclopedia
Kurt Lipstein QC
(19 March 1909 – 2 December 2006) was a German
-born legal scholar. Of Jewish descent
, Lipstein emigrated after the Machtergreifung
. Lipstein was a renowned specialist in Roman law
and conflict of laws within private international law
and public international law and pioneer in comparative law
.
Born in Frankfurt am Main, Lipstein earned his Abitur
from Goethe-Gymnasium
in 1927. He enrolled at the University of Grenoble
, and later finished his studies at the University of Berlin. Among his academic advisors were Martin Wolff, Ernst Rabel, and Ernst von Caemmerer. In 1934 he emigrated to the United Kingdom
, and earned his doctorate
at Clare College, Cambridge
in 1936.
After World War II
, in which he spent some time in an internment
camp, he became a fellow at Clare College, and served as Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Cambridge 1973–1976.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(19 March 1909 – 2 December 2006) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born legal scholar. Of Jewish descent
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
, Lipstein emigrated after the Machtergreifung
Machtergreifung
Machtergreifung is a German word meaning "seizure of power". It is normally used specifically to refer to the Nazi takeover of power in the democratic Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933, the day Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, turning it into the Nazi German dictatorship.-Term:The...
. Lipstein was a renowned specialist in Roman law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
and conflict of laws within private international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and public international law and pioneer in comparative law
Comparative law
Comparative law is the study of differences and similarities between the law of different countries. More specifically, it involves study of the different legal systems in existence in the world, including the common law, the civil law, socialist law, Islamic law, Hindu law, and Chinese law...
.
Born in Frankfurt am Main, Lipstein earned his Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
from Goethe-Gymnasium
Goethe-Gymnasium, Frankfurt
Goethe-Gymnasium is a secondary school in the city of Frankfurt am Main in Germany. It is situated near the Hauptbahnhof.It is currently the only state funded school in Germany that offers students the option of taking International Baccalaureate examination...
in 1927. He enrolled at the University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble or Grenoble University was a university in Grenoble, France until 1970, when it was split into several different institutions:...
, and later finished his studies at the University of Berlin. Among his academic advisors were Martin Wolff, Ernst Rabel, and Ernst von Caemmerer. In 1934 he emigrated to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and earned his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
in 1936.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in which he spent some time in an internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
camp, he became a fellow at Clare College, and served as Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Cambridge 1973–1976.