David Hourihane - Partner

David Hourihane

 

 

+ 353 1 691 5273
+ 353 1 691 5010
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David advises on all aspects of EU and Irish competition law, including merger control, behavioural investigations, including cartels and abuse of dominance, and competition litigation before the Irish and European Courts. In advising clients on the application of EU State aid rules, David works closely with both aid beneficiaries and granting authorities such as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, and specialises in R&D, regional and environmental aid, with a particular focus on the life sciences and cleantech sectors. 

David’s regulatory law focus extends to the energy, broadcasting, pharmaceutical and electronic communications sectors. He is at the forefront of advising renewable energy and other cleantech clients on regulatory and compliance issues, including EU legislative developments and the opportunities such legislation may create for clients' business. In addition, David advises on all aspects of EU law, in particular focusing on the free movement provisions (services, capital, workers and goods) and on EU law litigation.  

Key transaction experience

  • Advising on numerous high-profile mergers to both the Irish Competition Authority and European Commission including in the media, retail, energy, ICT, publishing, aviation and life sciences sectors.
  • Advising a private bus operator on its competition litigation proceedings, seeking damages against the State transport company for abuse of dominance.
  • Various trade associations on competition law issues, including Ireland’s largest bus transport trade association.
  • Life sciences company on State aid issues (regional and r&d aid issues), including liaising with European Commission and relevant Government departments in respect of grants.
  • Advising an Irish union on high profile EU law commercial litigation against Irish government for alleged breach of EU law. David has previously represented clients in the Irish High Court and European Court of First Instance, in Luxembourg.

Qualifications

  • LLB (TCD)
  • Barrister-at-Law, Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Dublin
  • Masters of Law and Economics (MLE) and LL (University of Bologna, University of Ghent and University of Rotterdam)

Memberships

  • Committee member of Irish Society of European Law