Isaäc Abraham Levy (1836-1920) was one of the most learned lawyers of his time. He was involved in almost all areas of law and was also active outside the legal profession. In addition to being a legal scholar, he was a politician (twice a member of the House of Commons), lawyer, publicist, philosopher and philanthropist. He believed that the task of a lawyer was to “educate the people” and to further the development of law. It was his firm conviction that everyone had a duty to contribute to the betterment of society. He therefore participated in debates, wrote articles and books, and acted more than once as a government representative at international conferences. He was renowned for his erudition, wit, eloquence, and work ethic. His activities did not go unnoticed. The editors of a satirical student magazine described him with the following verse: ‘Levy, when he wasn't laughing, he was writing.’ Levy's contribution to legal development is undeniable. He was a prominent figure in the legal world of his time. Despite this presence, relatively little has been written about him and there is no outline of his vision and his place within (private) legal development in the Netherlands. This research fills that gap.
Clemens Louis Henri Constant Lokin was born in Groningen on 21 August 1989. He is the youngest of six children. After attending the Praedinius Gymnasium in Groningen, Clemens went on to study law in Utrecht. During his studies, Clemens performed in student cabaret and won the Groningen Student Cabaret Festival with the cabaret trio “Kurk”. After completing his studies, he moved to Amsterdam and started working at a renowned law firm. After three and a half years of practising law, Clemens went on to do a PhD at Radboud University. He taught Roman law and focused his research on the life and work of I.A. Levy and his influence on the development of civil law. After six years of doctoral studies and teaching, Clemens moved to Rotterdam. On 1 September 2025, he started working again as a civil construction lawyer at a renowned law firm in Rotterdam. Clemens hopes to defend his thesis on 23 January 2026.