Marie-Louise Holle

Biography

Marie-Louise Holle is a member of the Sabin Center’s Peer Review Network and serves as rapporteur for Madagascar, Monaco, and the Vatican City State. Holle is an Associate Professor of Law at Copenhagen Business School. Her research focuses on climate litigation, tort law, and contract law, and also engages with aspects of public law. She has been nominated as a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore, one of the world’s top-ranked law schools. Holle has previously been a visiting research fellow at leading institutions including Columbia University, the University of Sydney, and Sciences Po Paris. She has delivered research presentations in Australia, North America, Asia, and Europe. She also contributed to the Obligations Series Conference, presenting her paper at the 2023 “Private Law and the State” conference X in Banff, Canada. Holle has undertaken numerous comparative and international law research projects. Her work has been published in French, English, and Danish. She is a member of the Climate Law and Economics research group at Copenhagen Business School. Holle holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen, a DESS (Master’s) in European Business Law from Université Paris V – René Descartes, and a Candidata Juris (Master of Laws) from the University of Copenhagen.

Interview with Marie-Louise Holle

What’s a climate litigation case or trend that has caught your attention recently, and why?

Comparative law is one of the most fascinating trends in climate litigation today. While legal scholars have long used comparative analysis as a tool, what stands out now is how frequently it is being applied—not only in national courts but also in international cases. Claimants increasingly invoke legal precedents from other jurisdictions, even from legal systems that differ significantly in both legal culture and geographical distance. This cross-jurisdictional approach underscores the global nature of climate change. At the Sabin Center, comparative law is central to our work as global rapporteurs. It underpins our collective efforts in tracking and analyzing climate litigation worldwide. This not only benefits legal practitioners but also informs policymakers.

What’s one project or aspect of your work in climate litigation that you're particularly excited about in the next six months?

Climate litigation is increasingly centering on issues of responsibility, due diligence, and liability. Plaintiffs are bringing claims that hold corporations directly accountable for climate-related harm. As a scholar of tort law and climate litigation, I find this evolution particularly exciting. Responsibility establishes legal expectations, due diligence defines proactive obligations to prevent harm, and liability arises when those obligations are breached. These principles are shaping litigation not only against corporations but also against governments. I look forward to analyzing how these legal arguments develop across different jurisdictions, particularly as courts grapple with the expanding scope of corporate and governmental climate responsibilities.

Is there any specific place in the world that inspires you to continue your line of work in advancing climate justice/action?

My greatest inspiration for advancing the analysis of climate litigation is my office, where I am surrounded by climate cases and engaging legal writing on the matter. It’s both an intellectual challenge and a critical contribution to the evolving legal landscape of climate litigation. Beyond the academic realm, I also observe climate change firsthand, as does everyone else. I’ve spent much of my life by and in the sea—swimming, scuba diving, and closely watching marine life. Contributing to citizen science, I help monitor changes in marine biodiversity, and in just a few years, I’ve witnessed striking shifts in species distribution due to rising temperatures and other environmental changes. This tangible, real-world evidence reinforces my commitment to rigorous legal analysis in addressing climate challenges.