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Each year, Goethe University’s Faculty of Law recognizes exceptional academic achievement through a number of prestigious awards. The 2026 Baker McKenzie Award, presented by the renowned law firm of the same name, will go to Dr. Alexander Heger and Dr. Felix-Julius Konow for their outstanding doctoral dissertations in business law.
This year’s Baker McKenzie Award has been awarded to Dr. Alexander Heger and Dr. Felix-Julius Konow in recognition of their exceptional doctoral research. Since 1988, the international law firm Baker McKenzie has presented the €6,000 award to honor outstanding dissertations and habilitations completed at Goethe University Frankfurt’s Faculty of Law. Eligible works must have received the highest distinction, summa cum laude. The award ceremony will take place on May 8, 2026, during the faculty’s doctoral graduation celebration at the Casino Building on Westend Campus. The prize will be presented by Dr. Florian Thamm, partner at Baker McKenzie.
Dr. Alexander Heger is being recognized for his dissertation, “European Competition Law and Air Transport – A Suitable Legal Framework?”. The study examines how the air transport sector operates within a market economy, how competitive conditions are shaped, and which legal principles can support a sustainable and competitive aviation sector in the European Union over the long term. Dissertation supervisor Prof. Rainer Hofmann praised the work as an outstanding analysis of a legally and factually complex field, noting that its quality is comparable to that of a habilitation. At the heart of the dissertation is the argument that the EU’s concept of the entrepreneurial state offers an appropriate framework for promoting a competitive and sustainable air transport system.
Dr. Felix-Julius Konow will receive the award for his dissertation, “Regulating Stablecoins – The Regulatory Treatment of E-Money Tokens under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation in the Context of the Regulation of Bank Money, E-Money, and Money Market Funds.” In his research, Konow examines the economic function and legal structure of stablecoins – digital currencies linked to the value of traditional currencies. He analyzes potential risks to financial stability and public trust, while also exploring regulatory mechanisms to address them. Dissertation advisor Prof. Katja Langenbucher described the work as a major contribution to the legal classification and regulation of stablecoins and praised its interdisciplinary scope. In particular, she highlighted how the dissertation engages with macroeconomic questions relating to monetary policy, deposit insurance, reserve requirements, and competing monetary theories, integrating these perspectives into a coherent legal framework.
“Baker McKenzie is committed to supporting outstanding young legal scholars, and the Baker McKenzie Award is an important part of that commitment,” says Dr. Florian Thamm, who represents Baker McKenzie on the selection committee of Goethe University’s research council. The firm also supports aspiring legal professionals through additional initiatives such as the Scholarship for Equal Opportunity, which assists law students facing cultural, financial, or family-related barriers to entering legal studies.
About Baker McKenzie
As one of Germany’s leading law firms, Baker McKenzie advises national and international companies and institutions on all aspects of business law. The firm has more than 200 attorneys and tax advisors based in Germany, including at offices in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich. Globally, Baker McKenzie collaborates with clients in over 70 offices.
Portraits of the award winners for download: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/185671534
Image 1: Alexander Heger was honored for his work on European competition law in the aviation sector. (Photo: Philipp Allenbrand)
Image 2: Felix-Julius Konow is also recipient of the 2026 Baker McKenzie Award. He earned his doctorate with a dissertation on stablecoins and regulatory law. (Photo: Uwe Dettmar).
Prof. Dr. Dr. Rainer Hofmann
Institute for Public Law
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-34293
E-Mail r.hofmann@jur.uni-frankfurt.de
Prof. Dr. Katja Langenbucher
Institute for Civil and Economic Law
Goethe University Frankfurt
Tel. +49 (0)69 798-33766
E-Mail sekretariat.langenbucher@jura.uni-frankfurt.de
Alexander Heger: Europäisches Wettbewerbsrecht und der Luftverkehr – ein passender Rechtsrahmen? Baden-Baden (Nomos) 2025, 792 Pages, ISBN 978-3-7560-2378-3. (Schriften zur Europäischen Integration und Internationalen Wirtschaftsordnung.)
Felix-Julius Konow: Stablecoins und Aufsichtsrecht: Die Regulierung von E-Geld-Token der MiCAR zwischen Buchgeld, E-Geld und Geldmarktfonds. Tübingen (Mohr Siebeck) 2026, 414 Pages. ISBN 978-3-16-200173-3. (Schriften zum Recht der Digitalisierung (SRDi) 51) DOI 10.1628/978-3-16-200173-3
https://Contact at Baker McKenzie:
https://Susanne Herrmann, Marketing & Communications Specialist,
https://Tel. +49 (0)69 299 08 148, susanne.herrmann@bakermckenzie.com
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