Marina Timoteo
Full Professor Comparative Private Law University of Bologna
Present Positions
Marina Timoteo is Full Professor of Comparative Private Law at the University of Bologna, lecturing in Comparative Private Law, Law of the Asian Countries, Law and Business in China.
She is Director of the AlmaLaurea, Interuniversity Consortium on graduate career tracking which includes the Ministry of University and Research and 80 Italian Universities.
She is Coordinator of Jean Monnet module “Law and Business in China, in the framework of the Eu-China investment and trade relations: the challenges of the digitaltech age” (2023-2026) financed by the European Commission.
She is member of the Eight Panel of Arbitrators of the Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing Arbitration Center
Previous position at the University of Bologna
Marina Timoteo has been Associate Professor of Comparative Private Law at the University of Bologna, lecturing in Comparative Private Law, Law of the Asian Countries (2001-2007) and Researcher in Comparative Private Law at the Law School of the University of Bologna (1996-2001).
She has been Coordinator of the PHD Program “European Law” (2019-2022).
She has been Member of the Board of Administration of the University of Bologna (2012-2018); Member of the Scientific committee of the Institute of Advanced Studies (2009-2012); Deputy Dean Law School, University of Bologna (2009-2012)
Teaching assignments in other academic institutions
She lectured and has been appointed as a Visiting professor at People’s University and Beijing University (within the European Union - China Higher Education Cooperation Programme) (1998), Chuo University of Tokyo (2001), China’s University of Political Sciences and Law (2004-5), (2018-2024) where she currently is Visiting professor, and lectured at University of International Business and Economics (Beijing) (2019-2022) and China Normal University (Beijing) (2019).
Since 2008 is responsible of the module on “European Private Law” of the Master Program in European and International Law of the China-Europe School of Law of Beijing.
Scientific coordination activity: international projects
Marina Timoteo has coordinated the following international research and cooperation networks:
Project “Towards Regular Availability of Comparative European Data on graduates” (TRACED, reference number 101059790), co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme and implemented in Italy by AlmaLaurea Interuniversity Consortium, in the framework of EUROGRADUATE Survey 2022 initiative (2022-2024)
Unit of Bologna Research Team within the Jean Monnet Network on EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation -EUPLANT (2018-2022)
International cooperation and research project “The capacity building of environmental justice and guarding environmental rights in Western China ” within the “EU-China environmental governance programme - EGP” (2012-2014)
Research project on “IP law cases: Eu and China compared” “EU-China Project for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights/IPR 2” (2011-2012)
Research project “The Legal Framework of Environmental Protection: EU and China in a Global Perspective” within the China-Europe School of Law (2009-2010)
Membership at scientific associations and editorial boards
Marina Timoteo is associate member of the International Academy of Comparative Law.
She is member of the directory board of the Società italiana per la ricerca in diritto comparato
From 2008 to 2017 she has been member of the directory board of the Europe China Law Studies Association, where she was one the co-founders in 2007.
She is member of the scientific committee of the Centre for Digital Ethics, University of Bologna
She is titular member of the Academy of Science of Bologna and associate member of the Lombard Academy of Sciences and Letters.
She is member of the editorial board of the “China and WTO Review”, member of the editorial board of “China-Eu Law Journal”, member of the directory board of the “Annuario di diritto comparato e studi legislativi” and member of the editorial board of the “Rivista trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile” and of the editorial board of “Opinio Iuris in Comparatione”.
Research fields
Contemporary Chinese Law: processes of legal modernization and integration in the international and global law setting with a focus on Europe-China cooperation; contracts, intellectual property, environmental law, digital innovation and law reforms in contemporary China; law and language issues. Comparison and history of law: interdisciplinary research paths.
Selected Presentations in International Conferences (last 10 years)
2024 Congress “Artificial intelligence, data sharing and regulation”, July 7th, International Society for Bayesian Analisys Wordl meeting, at Fondazione Cini, Venezia, Presentation’s title “Data property issues: EU and China in a comparative perspective”
2023, Conference “Data Driven Economy and regulatory approaches: Europe and China in Relation and in Comparison”, November 10th-11th, organized at the University of Bologna, Presentation’s title “Regulating data property issues: between rules and taxonomies” (co-author Michele Graziadei)
2022, January 10th -14th, Conference “EUPLANT Agora on “EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation” organized by Tsinghua University and Queen’s Mary University in the framework of Jean Monnet Network on EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation –EUPLANT. Presentation’s title: “Ethical guidelines for AI: Europe and China compared”
2021, March 29th, Conference “China-EU Comprehensive Investment Treaty” organized by University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, Presentation’s title: “A Comparative law analysis of China-EU Comprehensive Investment Treaty ”
2021, May 28th, Conference “The Development of Legal Education for the Future”, Organized in Beijing by China-Europe School of Law, (CESL), Presentation’s title: “Being lawyers today: between hard and soft skills”
November 2nd, Conference “New Chinese Civil Code: a Law for Transition”, organized by University of Bologna and Queen’s Mary University in the framework of Jean Monnet Network on EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation - EUPLANT. Presentation’s title: “The Chinese style: a Civil Code for XXI century China”
2019, October 2nd, Conference “Le regole dell’e-commerce fra Europa, Stati Uniti e Cina. Le grandi tendenze, il confronto con la disciplina internazionale (“E-commerce rules in Europe, United States and China. Major Trends and Internactions with international regulations”), organised by the University of Bologna with the support of UNIDROIT and UNCITRAL. Conclusive remarks at the Conference
2019, June 10th-11th, Conference “The internalisation of EU Law and EU-China Relations“, organized by Queen’s Mary University, Presentation’s title “Legal cooperation and legal transplants between Europe and China in environmental law: the comparative law perspective”.
2018, October 13th .14th , Conference “Roman Law, Chinese Law and Codification of Private Law”, organised at the China University University of Political Science and Law (Beijing). Presentation’s title “Civil law between written norms and applied norms: paths in the process of elaboration of civil law rules”
2016, February 18th , International Workshop “Comparing Legal Languages and creating common/uniform terminologies”, organised at the Law School of the University of Bologna by the LASTJD PhD program. Presentation’s title “Linguistic uncertainties in Contemporary Chinese legislation: some paths of evolution in civil law”.
2015, 25-27 September, Annual General Conference of the European China Law Studies Association “New Perspectives on the Development of Law in China”, held at the University of Cologne. Presentation’s title “A Civil Code for the XXI Century China: Comparative Law Perspectives”.
2013, September 18th -20th, Annual General Conference of the European China Law Studies Association “New Approaches and New Questions in Chinese Law”, held at the University of Oxford. Presentation’s title, “Sustainability of legal transplants: problems of legal translations in shaping Chinese rules on liability for environmental pollution”.
2013, June 13th-14th-, Conference “The remedies for the victims of environmental torts: legislation and justice”, organized by China University of Political Science and Law in the framework of EU-China environmental governance programme - EGP. Presentation’s title “Environmental damage and environmental liability: paths of legal transplants between Europe and China” .
Organized International Conferences (last 10 years)
2023, November 10th-11th, International Conference “Data Driven Economy and regulatory approaches: Europe and China in Relation and in Comparison”, organized at the University of Bologna
2022, October 13th-15th, National Conference Chi resiste alla globalizzazione? Globalismi, regionalismi, nazionalismi nel diritto del XXI secolo, VII Convegno nazionale SIRD, Bologna
2022
May 26th International Conference “ Obstacles, Opportunities and Redlines in the EU: Past and Future of CAI in times of geo-politization”, 26 May , organized at the University of Bologna.
2021, November 2nd, International Conference “New Chinese Civil Code: a Law for Transition”, (online conference) organized by University of Bologna and Queen’sMary University in the framework of Jean Monnet Network on EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation -EUPLANT
2019, October 2nd, International Conference “E-commerce rules in Europe, United States and China. Major Trends and Interactions with international regulations”, organised at the University of Bologna with the support of UNIDROIT and UNCITRAL.
2017, October 3rd, International conference “China and codification in XXI century” organized at the University of Bologna and University of Rome, La Sapienza.
2016, February 18th , International Workshop “Comparing Legal Languages and creating common/uniform terminologies”, organised at the University of Bologna by the LASTJD PhD program.2021
2015, May 22nd, International Conference “A civil code for XXI century”, organized at the University of Bologna
2014, 31st May, International Conference “Sustainability actually: dialogues on environmental justice”, organized at the University of Bologna within the Eu project “Capacity building of environmental justice and guarding environmental rights in Western China”.
Publications
M Timoteo, Il diritto come storia vivente. Lo sguardo di Marco Polo nella Cina di Kubiai Khan, in Quaderni Fiorentini, 2025, vol n. 54, pp. 23-39.
M. Timoteo, Crossing the river by feeling the stones. Building a data property rights system with Chinese characteristics, in Osservatorio del diritto civile e commerciale, 2024, I, pp. 293-310.
M. Timoteo, M. Graziadei, A. Carpi (eds.), Chi resiste alla globalizzazione? Globalismi, regionalismi, nazionalismi nel diritto del XXI secolo, Atti del VII Convegno nazionale SIRD, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2023, pp. 452
M. Timoteo, Alla ricerca di un diritto di proprietà dei dati. La via cinese, in Rivista trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile, 2023, 4, pp. 1157 – 1174
M. Timoteo, B. Verri, R. Nanni (eds.), Quo vadis sovreignty? New conceptual and regulatory boundaries in the age of digital China, Cham, Springer, 2023, pp. 228
M. Timoteo Z. Luan, Data property rights: The Chiese way, in: Quo Vadis Sovreignty? New Conceptual and Regulatory Boundaries in the Age of Digital China, Cham, Springer, 2023, pp. 199 - 219
M. Timoteo, Il codice civile cinese: un punto dentro una linea, in Rivista di diritti comparati, 2022, n. 3, pp 653-672.
M. Timoteo, Diritto pubblico di diecimila paesi: un libro occidentale di diritto internazionale nella Cina dei Qing, in Annuario di diritto comparato e di studi legislativi, 2022, I, pp. 97-114.
G. Finocchiaro, L. Balestra, M. Timoteo (eds.), Major Legal Trends in the Digital Economy. The Approach of the EU, the US, and China, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2022 Bologna, il Mulino, 2022, pp. 290
M. Timoteo, E-commerce and law: a post-modern legal scenario. Ideas from the Chinese observatory, in: Major Legal Trends in the Digital Economy. The Approach of the EU, the US, and China, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2022, pp. 121 – 126.
M.Timoteo, B. Verri, Wang Yukai, Ethic Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence: Comparing the European and Chinese Approaches, China and WTO Review, 2021, n. 2, pp. 305-329
M. Timoteo, Grammatiche del diritto. In dialogo con Paolo Grossi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020
M. Timoteo, China codifies. The First Book of the Civil Code between Western Models and Chinese Characteristics, in Opinio Juris in Comparatione, 2019, vol. 1, pp. 23 – 44.
M. Timoteo , Minfa Zongze". Verso una codificazione civile con caratteri cinesi, in Rivista Trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile, 2018, n. 4, pp. 1417-1435.
M. Timoteo, Contemporary Chinese Law: A Linguistic Perspective, in J. Visconti (ed.), Handbook of Communication in the legal sphere, Berlin, De Gruiter Mouton, 2018, pp. 402-422
M. Timoteo, Of Old and New Codes: Chinese Law in the Mirror of Western Laws, in G. Abbattista (a cura di), Law, Justice and Codification in Qing China. European and Chinese Perspectives. Essays in History and Comparative Law, Edizioni Università di Trieste (EUT), 2017, Trieste, p. 177-192
M. Timoteo , Sustainability and Law-Assessing: The New “Green Rules” for Foreign Companies Doing Business in China, in Beretta S., Berkofsky A., Zhang Lihong (eds.), Understanding China Today. An Exploration of Politics, Economics, Society, and International Relations, Cham, Springer International Publishing AG, 2017, pp. 247-259
M. Timoteo, Il trasferimento della proprietà immobiliare nel diritto cinese. Questioni di lingua e diritto, in Ugo Mattei, Albina Candian, Barbara Pozzo, Alberto Monti, Carlo Marchetti (a cura di), Un giurista di successo. Studi in onore di Antonio Gambaro, Milano, Giuffrè editore, 2017, pp. 863-875
M. Timoteo, L. Wang, Environmental liability and the burden of proof in Chinese law, in International Journal of Civil Procedure, 2016, 6, pp. 164-178
M. Timoteo (ed.) , Towards a Smart Development. A Legal and Economic Enquiry into the Perspectives of EU-China Cooperation, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2016, p. 160
M. Timoteo, Legal Transplants and the Chinese Legal Process: the Case of Circulation of the Rules on Civil Liability for Environmental Harm from Europe to China, in M. Timoteo (ed.), Towards A Smart Development. A Legal and Economic Enquiry into the Perspectives of EU-China Cooperation, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2016, pp. 145-155.
M. Timoteo, Fare cose con gli emblemi. Termini e categorie del nuovo diritto civile cinese, in Michele Graziadei, Barbara Pozzo (eds.), Categorie e Terminologie del diritto nella prospettiva della comparazione, Milano, Giuffré Editore, 2015, pp. 249-271
M. Timoteo , Diritto cinese e diritto ambientale: un itinerario nella giustizia civile, in Sulla via del Catai, 2015, vol. 12, pp. 163-173
M. Timoteo (ed.), Law and sustainable business in China, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2015, 160
M. Timoteo, Incentives and Rules of the Game for Foreign Companies Doing Business in China, in M. Timoteo (ed.), Law and Sustainable Business in China, 2015, pp. 19-29
M. Timoteo , Diritto di proprietà, diritto di uso e circolazione dei beni immobili nel diritto cinese, in Notariato, 2015, vol. 6, pp. 629-633
M. Timoteo, Law and language: issues related to legal translation and interpretation of Chinese rules on tortious liability of environmental pollution, in China-EU Law Journal, 2015, vol. 4, pp. 121-133
M.Timoteo, Il diritto per immagini. Aspetti del linguaggio giuridico cinese contemporaneo, in Pozzo (ed.), Lingua e diritto: oltre l'Europa, Giuffré, Milano, 2014, pp. 73-101.
M.Timoteo, J. Zhou, Channelling Foreign Law Models into Domestic Legislation: A First Inquiry on the Making of the Chinese Environmental Protection Law, in N. Lupo, L. Scaffardi (eds.), Comparative Law in Legislative Drafting. The Increasing Importance of Dialogue Amongst Parliaments, The Hague, Eleven International Publishing, 2014, pp. 285-296
M. Timoteo, La difesa di marchi e brevetti in Cina. Percorsi normativi in un sistema in transizione, Torino, Giappichelli, 2014, pp. 180.
M. Timoteo, C. Wang, A. Fei (eds.), Legislative and Judicial Remedies for Environmental Torts Victims. A study in the framework of EU-China Cooperation, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2013, 440
M.Timoteo e L. Wang, Le classificazioni dei sistemi giuridici dalla prospettiva del nuovo diritto cinese, in Annuario di diritto comparato e studi legislativi, in Annuario di diritto comparato e studi legislativi, n. 1, 2013, pp.223-238
M.Timoteo, La circolazione del modello legislativo italiano in Cina , in Lanni- Sirena (ed.), Il modello scientifico e legislativo – italiano fuori dell'Europa, Napoli, Edizioni scientifiche italiane (ESI), 2013, pp. 393-404.
M.Timoteo Sustainability of Legal Transplants and Legal Borrowings in Chinese Rules on Environmental Liability: Lessons from Comparative Law, in Marina M. Timoteo, C. Wang, A. Fei (eds.), Legislative and Judicial Remedies for Environmental Tort Victims. A study in the Framework of EU-China Cooperation, Bologna, Bononia University Press (BUP), 2013, pp. 271-280
M.Timoteo, Développement, environnement, droit: quelques tendances récentes en Chine, in Droit de l'environnement, Juillet/Aout 2012, pp. 226-229
M.Timoteo, Doing Green Business in China: Some Rules of the Game for Foreign Companies, in M.Timoteo (ed.), Environmental Law in Action. EU and China Perspectives, Bologna, Bononia University Press (BUP), 2012, pp. 253-258.
M, Timoteo , Environmental Law in Action: Eu and China Perspectives, Bologna, BUP, 2012, pp. 350
M. Timoteo, Z. Shengli, G. Hongbing, Leading Court Cases on Chinese Intellectual Property, Beijing, Intellectual Property Publishing House, 2011, 153
M. Timoteo, La tutela dei marchi notori, in Mondo Cinese, 2011, pp. 66-74.
M. Timoteo, Sviluppo, ambiente, investimenti esteri in Cina: un primo giro d'orizzonte, in Rivista giuridica dell’ambiente, 2010, pp. 891-901
M.Timoteo, Vague Notions in Chinese Contract Law: The Case of Heli, in European Review of Private Law, 5-2010, p. 939-951.
M.Timoteo, “Cina”, in Digesto di Discipline Privatistiche, Sez. Civile, R. Sacco (ed.), Aggiornamento ***** A-Z, Torino, Utet, 2010, pp.181-238.
M. Timoteo, Marriage Law and Ethnic Identity. The Case of Marriage Endogamy in China's Muslim Minorities , in Pozzo (ed.), Multiculturalism. Different Meanings and Perspectives of Multiculturalism in a Global World, Berne, Staempfli, 2009, pp. 307-315.
M. Timoteo, Nozioni vaghe e diritto: Lo standard di Heli nella giurisprudenza cinese in materia di contratti, in Ajani G., Luther J. (a cura di), Modelli giuridici europei nella Cina contemporanea, Napoli, Jovene, 2009, p. 283-300.
- M. Timoteo, Un paese, due sistemi: il diritto cinese fra Civil Law e Common Law, in Rivista Trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile, n. speciale Due Iceberg a confronto: le derive di common law e civil law, 2009, pp. 91-100.
- M. Timoteo, Voce “Diritto Cinese”, in Pegoraro L. (a cura di), Glossario di diritto pubblico comparato, Roma, Carocci, 2009, pp. 90-92.
M. Timoteo , Il diritto d'uso su fondi per costruzione, in Schipani S., Terracina G. (a cura di), Sistema giuridico romanistico e diritto cinese. Le nuove leggi cinesi e la codificazione. La legge sui diritti reali, Roma, Tiellemedia, 2009, pp. 185-191
M. Timoteo, La tutela dei diritti di proprietà industriale nell'ordinamento cinese: rimedi amministrativi e giudiziari, in Orlandi, Lipparini, Polvani, Tunioli (a cura di), La tutela della proprietà industriale in Cina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008, pp.127-146.
M. Timoteo, Economic Development and Property Rights in China, in Groppi T., Piergigli V., Rinella A. (eds.), Asian Constitutionalism in Transition. A Comparative Perspective, Milano, Giuffré, 2008, pp. 339-349.
M. Timoteo , Look Alike in Cina: il caso Ferrero nelle sentenze delle due corti di Tianjin, in Giurisprudenza Commerciale, 2008, fasc. 3, pp. 561-575
G.Ajani, A. Serafino, M. Timoteo, Diritto dell'Asia orientale, in Trattato di diritto privato comparato diretto da R. Sacco, Torino, Utet, 2007 pp. 477
M. Timoteo, Le controversie fuori dalle corti: il caso cinese, in Varano (a cura di), L'altra giustizia, Milano, 2007 pp.301-315.
M. Timoteo, L'evoluzione della giustizia: verso la normalità?, in Osservatorio Asia (a cura di), Cina: la conoscenza è un fattore di successo, Bologna, 2007, pp. 253- 264.
M. Timoteo, Cura e commento del titolo II (Della Proprietà), Libro III (Della Proprietà), artt. 832-951, pp. 642-732, del Commentario breve al codice civile, diretto da F. Galgano, La Tribuna, 2006, pp. 642-732.
M. Timoteo, Investimenti e commercio estero in Cina: il punto di vista del giurista, in Orlandi-Prodi, A volte producono: Le imprese italiane in Cina, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006, pp. 241-260.
M. Timoteo, Le riforme costituzionali: Cina e Giappone-La riforma del business law in Cina e Giappone- La famiglia fra tradizione e modernità, in Deaglio (a cura di), La bussola del cambiamento. 80 tavole per capire il mondo, Torino, 2005, alle pp. 40, 42,120.
M. Timoteo, Il contratto in Cina e Giappone nello specchio dei diritti occidentali, Padova, Cedam, 2004
M. Timote , Autonomia del diritto privato europeo?, in L'uso giurisprudenziale della comparazione giuridica-Quaderni della rivista trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile, Milano, 2004, pp. 95-97.
M. Timoteo, Matrimonio e religione nell'ordinamento cinese: il caso delle minoranze islamiche, in Daimon, 2002, n. 2, pp. 235-244.
M. Timoteo, The Harmonization of Contract Law and the Role of Comparative Law, in Comparative Law Review, n. 4, 2002, pp. 27–47.
M. Timoteo, Il Pacte civil de solidarité: mariage bis o contrat?, in Contratto e Impresa/Europa, 2001, n. 2, pp. 683-705.
M. Timoteo, Overview of Chinese Court Decisions on CISG, in Revue de Droit des Affaires Internationales/International Business Law, 1999, n.4, pp. 471-479.
M. Timoteo, La costituzione di Equity Joint Ventures in Cina. L'investitore occidentale a confronto con il diritto cinese, in Diritto del commercio internazionale, 1998, 12, pp. 249-268.
M. Timoteo, Modelli antichi in leggi moderne: l'adozione in Cina, in Rivista trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile, 1998, pp. 623-632.
M. Timoteo, Contratto e tempo. Note a margine di un libro sulla rinegoziazione contrattuale, in Contratto e impresa, 1998, pp. 619-626.
M. Timoteo, Desequilibrios contractuales y adecuación del contrato en los Principios Unidroit, in Revista de derecho mercantil, 1998, pp. 1269-1283.
M. Timoteo, Note sul processo di riforma del diritto contrattuale in Cina, in Mondo cinese, 1998, n. 98, pp. 11-19.
M. Timoteo, Nuove regole in materia di squilibrio contrattuale: l'art. 3.10 dei Principi UNIDROIT, in Contratto e Impresa/Europa, 1997, pp. 141-175.
M. Timoteo, La giurisprudenza cinese e i suoi modelli, in Rivista trimestrale di diritto e procedura civile, 1996, pp. 909-915.
M. Timoteo, Riforma economica e diritto: la disciplina giuridica dei contratti economici internazionali e domestici, in Mondo cinese, 1995, n. 90, pp. 9-30.
M. Timoteo, Family Law in Italy, in C. HAMILTON - K. STANDLEY (eds.), Family Law in Europe, London, Butterworths, 1995, pp. 263-298
M. Timoteo, Italy: Some Recent Judicial Interpretations of Family Law, in University of Louisville Journal of Family Law, 1995, vol. 33, pp. 409-416.
M. Timoteo, Il notariato in Cina, in Rivista del notariato, 1994, n.4, pp. 753-768.
M. Timoteo, Il contratto di vendita internazionale di beni mobili dell'ordinamento cinese: profili generali, in Mondo cinese, 1994, n.87, pp. 21-32.
M, Timoteo, Le successioni nel diritto cinese. Evoluzione storica ed assetto attuale, Milano, Giuffrè, 1994.
M. Timoteo, La nuova legge cinese sul diritto d'autore, in Il diritto d'autore, 1992, n.1, pp. 133-149.
M. Timoteo, Il sistema cinese di conciliazione popolare. La giustizia informale in Cina fra tradizione e modernità, in Mondo cinese, 1990, n. 71, p. 37-65.
M. Timoteo, L'evoluzione del diritto di famiglia nella Repubblica popolare cinese, in Mondo cinese, 1988, n.63, pp. 31-63.
