Christian Twigg-Flesner

Professor of Contract and Consumer Law

Deputy Head of School
Director of Teaching and Learning

Digital Technology and Contract, Consumer and Commercial Law; Contract Law; UK and EU Consumer Law; International Commercial Contracts Law.

School of Law
S2.15, Social Sciences Building
University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL
United Kingdom

024 761 51040

Office Hours

Please email if you'd like to make an appointment to speak to me.

Bio

Christian Twigg-Flesner joined Warwick Law School in September 2017. He is 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.

Professor Christian Twigg-Flesner's research interests are broadly in the fields of Contract Law, Consumer Law, and Commercial Law. This includes domestic aspects (English Contract Law, UK Consumer Law, and transactional aspects of Commercial Law), European aspects (especially EU and comparative Consumer Law), and international/transnational dimensions (both Transnational Commercial Law and International Consumer Law).

The focus of his current research is the impact of digitalisation on these fields. This includes specific topics (e.g., automation of transactions through algorithms and Artificial Intelligence; 3D-printing; online platforms; or data transactions) and overarching themes (analytical methodology for law and technological change; legal disruption; shifts in the role of contracts from transactions to networks and governance systems).

His most recent books are Foundations of International Commercial Law (Routledge, 2021) and the co-edited (with Hans Micklitz) The Transformation of Consumer Law and Policy in Europe (Hart, 2023). He has also published widely on European Consumer and Contract law, including Rethinking EU Consumer LawLink opens in a new window (with Geraint Howells and Thomas Wilhelmsson) and The Europeanisation of Contract Law (2nd ed, 2013), and the edited Research Handbook on EU Consumer and Contract Law (Elgar, 2016).

External roles:

Managing Editor and Law Editor 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

Publications

Published

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
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
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
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

Highlighted

Teaching Projects

Funded

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

Highlighted

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.

Impact

Legislation

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

Policy

House of Commons Transport Committee, Volkswagen emissions scandal and vehicle type approval (12 July 2016): oral evidence on 25 April 2016 (video recording)

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

Professional Practice

Research Supervision

Professor Twigg-Flesner welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD supervisees. Before e-mailing, please prepare a draft research proposal which corresponds with the the School of Law's requirements (scroll down to "Research Degrees" on the linked page). This should be included with your email.

He primarily offers supervision in the field of transactions (commercial, contract and consumer law), rather than regulation, in particular topics 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 (e.g., research related to different types of commercial contracts; the process of creating International Commercial Law; the relationship between commercial practice/customs and commercial law). Please note that this excludes the Conflict of Laws/Private International Law, Arbitration or dispute resolution generally, financial regulation, trade law and corporate/insolvency law.

Current Doctoral Supervisees:

Farah Abdin
Luigi Cantisani
Zahir Hamid
Shengzhe Huang
Xiaoshui Zhai