Prof. Frank G.M. Smeele LLM MA PHD (1966) studied Law and European Studies at the University of Amsterdam and graduated in 1991. After completion of his military service in Germany, he subsequently became a research fellow at Erasmus University Rotterdam where in 1998 he obtained his Doctorate Iuris in 1998 cum laude for his thesis Passieve legitimatie uit Cognossement, (The Identity of the Carrier under bills of lading). In 1998 Frank Smeele was admitted to the Rotterdam bar, where he practiced law as attorney at law from 1998 until 2007 with the Rotterdam firm of Van Traa Advocaten, as from 2004 as partner. In 2005, he was appointed (part-time) Professor of Maritime Law at Erasmus University. In 2007, he was appointed full time Professor of Commercial Law also at Erasmus University, where he founded the English language LLM-programme in Commercial law. In April 2017 Frank was appointed as Raadsheer-plaatsvervanger (Deputy appeal Justice) in the Court of Appeal of The Hague.
