About John

John is a partner in EU, Competition and State Aid Law, as well as in Sustainability & Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Previously, John served as a partner in the EU, Competition, and Regulatory team of a Dublin law firm, where he represented a broad range of public and private clients on state aid, competition, merger control matters, and public procurement law issues close to four years. For an additional five years, John continued his EU legal practice as a partner in a Cork-based law firm's Corporate and Commercial practice. He was also a member of his former employer's Competition group in Abu Dhabi, where he was consulted by leading international law firms on competition law issues. 

John has developed substantial expertise in EU law. This is recognised by his inclusion in the EU’s “List of Candidates Suitable for Appointment as Arbitrators under EU trade agreements”, his participation as a Reporter for European Parliament Study on Arbitration, his nomination for appointment by the European Law Institute (ELI) as co-chair of its Dispute Resolution Special Interest Group (SIG) and his membership of the Consultative Committees of the ELI projects on Climate Justice – New Challenges for Law and Judges, Business and Human Rights, Corporate Sustainability, Financial Accounting and Share Capital, Fundamental Constitutional Principles. John has published widely on issues of EU and international law, with an emphasis on the interaction of EU law and FDI disputes. 

During his career, John has worked with international law firms and the United Nations in Abu Dhabi, Geneva, London, and Paris and read for an LL.M. in EU & International Trade Law at the University of Amsterdam, which he obtained with a 'Distinction'.

Relevant Experience

  • Securispeed in a merger notification to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in relation to an acquisition by Masterlink.
  • Ormonde Organics in a merger notification to the CCPC in relation to an acquisition by Heygaz Biomethane.
  • Various public sector bodies on several State aid and ESG issues.
  • Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre (arbitrateAD) as a co-arbitrator in an energy-related dispute under its Arbitration Rules. 

  • The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) as a sole arbitrator in an exclusive agency case under the Expedited Procedure Provisions (EPP) of the ICC Rules.