On 9 October 2026, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) will host the international academic conference “Equal Treatment of Shareholders in Comparative Perspective: Principle, Doctrine, and Limits in Company Law”.
Reflection of a Postdoc Research Project
The conference marks the final stage of the research project “Comparative Analysis of Equal Treatment of Shareholders in Legal Systems: Assessment of Its Status as a General Principle of Company Law” (No. S-PD-24-166), conducted at Mykolas Romeris University.
The project is carried out by postdoctoral researcher Dr. Paweł Mazur under the supervision of Professor Dr. Virginijus Bitė of the MRU Law School and is funded by the Lithuanian Research Council under its postdoctoral fellowship programme.
The research explores whether the principle of equal treatment of shareholders should be recognised as a general principle of company law. Through a comparative analysis of legal systems that explicitly codify the principle and those that do not, the project contributes to the international debate on the conceptual foundations, legal status, and practical significance of shareholder equality in corporate governance.
International Perspectives on Shareholder Equality
The conference will bring together distinguished academics and legal practitioners from across Europe and the United States to discuss comparative approaches to shareholder equality.
Participants will examine whether equal treatment should be regarded as a general principle of company law, explore its role in ensuring equal access to information and effective shareholder engagement, and discuss the limits of shareholder equality in the context of differentiated voting rights, ownership structures, and the treatment of foreign shareholders. Drawing on comparative perspectives from a wide range of jurisdictions, the conference will address both theoretical and practical challenges in the field.
"This conference marks the culmination of a successful research project carried out by postdoctoral fellow Dr. Paweł Mazur. We are delighted to bring together leading company law scholars to explore the many dimensions of the principle of equal treatment of shareholders," says Professor Dr. Virginijus Bitė.
According to Professor Dr. V. Bitė, the conference will provide an opportunity for engaging and thought-provoking discussions on one of the important and debated issues in contemporary company law while fostering international academic dialogue and future research cooperation.
Save the Date
The conference will take place in person at Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius, with the possibility to participate online.
Registration, the full conference programme, and additional information will be announced in the upcoming months.
Save the date – 9 October 2026 – and join us for this international discussion on the future of the principle of equal treatment of shareholders in comparative company law.
