Titles

Francis King Carey Professor in Business Law

School Affiliation

Carey School of Law

Specialties

• International Law
• Business Law

About

Professor Michael P. Van Alstine specializes in international and domestic private law. He has published widely in both English and German in the areas of comparative law, contracts, commercial law, and international commercial transactions. A particular area of scholarly interest is a comparative law analysis of treaties, specifically how different legal systems give effect to international treaties in or as domestic law. Professor Van Alstine has earned law degrees in both the United States and Germany. He received both his Doctor of Laws and Master of Comparative Law degrees summa cum laude from the University of Bonn, Germany. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree with high honors from the George Washington University in 1986. Before becoming a law professor, he practiced domestic and international commercial and business law at law firms in the United States and Germany. Prior to joining the faculty of Maryland Carey Law in 2002, Professor Van Alstine spent seven years on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, during which he was a four-time recipient of the Goldman Prize for Excellence in Teaching. At Maryland Carey Law, Professor Van Alstine teaches International Business Transactions, Contracts, Secured Transactions; and Sales and Sales Financing. He served as associate dean for research and faculty development from 2006 to 2010 and was voted Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year in both 2016 and 2008. He also has taught in the Scholars Program at the University of Maryland, College Park, and in 2016 was selected for the Most Engaging in Class award in that program.

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This information was last updated January 2, 2025.