David O'Keeffe

Professor David O’Keeffe is an EU lawyer, specialising in State Aid and Public Procurement Law.  David is Of Counsel to Salans’ office in Brussels.  He has also practiced in the areas of competition, trade, customs and in certain regulatory work.  David has extensive experience dealing with UK central government authorities such as BIS and DfT.  He also has significant litigation experience before the European Courts.

David has developed a practice advising corporate and public clients on State aid and public procurement aspects of projects in the following areas:

• R&D&I projects
• Urban regeneration
• Broadband schemes including a current non-notification
• Risk capital schemes, venture capital schemes, loan guarantee funds
• Cultural and educational projects (theme parks, theatres, museums)
• General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)
• Aid for climate change and environmental protection
• Regional aid, rescue, and restructuring aid
• Services of general economic interest

In most cases this has involved working side by side with corporate, commercial, tax and property legal teams to ensure that the State aid and public procurement advice is commercial, client-focused and a coherent part of the package of advice given to the client.

David has written over 200 publications on EU law, mostly in the area of judicial protection internal market and social policy.  His most recent publications have been on State aid, public procurement and public-private partnerships and published in specialist journals such as the European State Aid Quarterly and practitioners journals such as Legal Week.

• Editor in Chief of the European Monograph series
• Founding Editor of the European Foreign Affairs Review
• Previously Editor of the Common Market Law Review for 20 years

Recent Experience:

Three major pieces of work include advice on the State aid implications of the Irish Financial Services Centre; expert evidence on the State aid and procurement implications of the Crossrail Bill before the House of Commons Select Committee; and advice on the construction of a new rail link to an international airport. 

Recent projects include advising on:

• The development of several R&D&I platforms to promote cutting edge research in hi-tech industries by FTSE 100 corporates and research bodies
• The enlargement of a privately owned Category A (≥10 million passengers) airport
• The development of a low-carbon technology vehicle
• Aiding a manufacturer of electric vehicles: rescue and restructuring aid with immediate approval by the Secretary of State
• Environmental protection aid to an energy-intensive manufacturer
• The financing of an internationally famous sporting arena
• The creation of a theme park linked to one of Britain’s Top 10 tourist attractions
• Major regeneration projects in the UK involving the public and private sector: choice of developers, choice of contractors, monitoring the ongoing process for compliance with the State aid and public procurement rules, and inter-acting with central Government

Career:

• Of Counsel – Salans,  Brussels and London (2011 - to date)
• Emeritus Professor of European Law - University of London (2005 - to date)
• Counsel on EU Affairs - Hammonds LLP, Brussels (1998 - 2010)
• Professor of European Law and Vice-Dean - University College, London (1993 - 2005)
• Professor of European Law - College of Europe, Bruges and Warsaw (1992 - 2008)   
• Associate then Of Counsel - Coudert Brothers (1984 - 1998)
• Allen & Overy Professor of European Law, Head of the Department of Law - University of Durham (1990 -1993)
• European Court of Justice (1985 – 1990)
• Lecturer in European Law and Law of International Organisations - University of Leiden, Europa Institute, The Netherlands (1980 - 1984)

Public Service:

• Judge of Appeals Board, European University Institute, nominated by the European Court of Justice and appointed by the EU Member States (2008 – to date)
• Advisor to House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union
• Member, European Commission High Level Panel on Internal Market
• Advisor to the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs;
• Reports for the Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee
• External advisor to the European Ombudsman
• Member, Conciliation Board, European Space Agency
• Deputy Chairman of Lord Templeman’s Enquiry on Open Frontiers
• Advisor to Netherlands Presidency of the EU on aspects of the Amsterdam Treaty
• Secretary General, United Kingdom Association for European Law (1992 - 1998)
• Patron, Irish Forum for European Law

Education:

• Degree of Doctorandus in Law, University of Leiden, The Netherlands (1984)      
• Research Fellowship, European University Institute, Florence (1978 - 1980)
• Master of Laws, Yale Law School, USA (1978)
• Master of Laws, University College, Dublin (First Class Honours, 1977)
• Professional education as Solicitor, Incorporated Law Society of Ireland (1972 -1976)
• Bachelor of Civil Law, University College, Dublin (First in Class, 1974)

Languages:

• English
• French
• Italian
• Dutch