Sanne Taekema's research addresses various themes in legal philosophy and methodology. Two core themes are the rule of law, especially in a transnational context and in relation to non-state actors, and the methodology of legal and interdisciplinary research. Other interests include: general issues of legal theory, particularly the role of values in jurisprudence and legal pragmatism, and law and literature. She is one of the editors-in-chief of the journal Law and Method. Her current research focus is on the rule of law in relation to legal mobilisation and protest.

Key publications include: (with W. van der Burg) Contextualising Legal Research: A methodological Guide, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar 2024; 'Methodologies of Rule of Law Research: Why Legal Philosophy Needs Empirical and Doctrinal Scholarship' Law and Philosophy 2020, doi: 10.1007/s10982-020-09388-1; (with I. Kampourakis and A. Arcuri) 'Reappropriating the Rule of Law: Between Constituting and Limiting Private Power', Jurisprudence 2022, 14(1) 76-94, doi: 10.1080/20403313.2022.2119016 ; (with E. Mak) 'The European Union’s Rule of Law Agenda: Identifying Its Core and Contextualizing Its Application'. Hague Journal on the Rule of Law 2016, 8 (1), 25-50. doi: 1007/s40803-016-0022-1.