Markus Hennig

Institution: Bucerius Law School

Period of stay: 22 September - 15 December 2025

Contact: markus.hennig@law-school.de

Profile: 

Markus Hennig is a doctoral candidate at Bucerius Law School in Germany, where he has been pursuing his PhD since January 2024. His research is supervised by Professor Dr. Dr. (h.c.) Jörn Axel Kämmerer and generously funded by a scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Prior to this, Mr. Hennig studied law at EBS Law School and Swansea University, passing the First State Examination in 2023 with honours by the Hessian Minister of Justice. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Business from EBS Business School and a Bachelor of Laws from EBS Law School with a specialization in the Law of Digitalisation.

Alongside his studies, Mr. Hennig gained substantive practical experience as a research assistant in several major international law firms, where he primarily worked in litigation, investigations, and corporate law.

Research Area:

Trade Law, European Law, International Law

Research Title:

The exercise of economic pressure between states and the new Anti-Coercion Instrument of the European Union

Research Outline:

Markus Hennig's research focuses on the strategic use of economic pressure by states in international relations and the recently adopted Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) of the European Union. The novel legal framework is intended to deter coercive actions by third countries and, if necessary, impose countermeasures when such actions target the European Union or its member states. In his dissertation, Mr. Hennig assesses the legal basis for economic pressure under general international law. Special attention is given to the principle of non-intervention and how recent state practice suggests a possible shift away from the traditionally restrictive interpretation by Western states. Building on this, the ACI will be presented and critically analysed in terms of its legality and effectiveness within the broader context of international law. A key part of this evaluation includes an examination of the ACI’s compatibility with WTO law, as well as its practical capacity to address coercive economic measures involving private actors. As a reform perspective, Mr. Hennig advocates the inclusion of a compensation mechanism within the ACI. The dissertation explores potential models for such a mechanism and analyses its legal feasibility.

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