Catherine Barnard appointed to Professorship in European Law

We are delighted to announce that Professor Catherine Barnard has been appointed to the Professorship in European Law. The Professorship of European Law was established in 1994 and has been held by Professor Sir Alan Dashwood KC and Professor Kenneth Armstrong.

Professor Barnard, FBA, FLSW, FRSA, has been an academic in the Cambridge Law Faculty for many years; most recently (since 2008) as Professor in EU Law and Employment Law. She is the author of two leading texts, The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms, (OUP, 2022, 7th ed), and (with Steve Peers ed), European Union Law (OUP, 2023, 4th ed), and is doing ground-breaking empirical work (with Fiona Costello and Sarah Fraser Butlin) on the realities of the operation of EU law (and now Withdrawal Agreement law) in Great Yarmouth (Low-Paid EU Migrant Workers: The House, the Town, the Street (Bristol University Press, 2024). She has published a number of edited works and has written extensively on EU Employment law (eg EU Employment Law (OUP, 2012, 5th ed) and labour law. She has taken a very visible role in the Brexit debate, working with the think tank, UK in a Changing Europe (UKCE), funded by the ESRC, with the remit of making that information accessible to the general public. She has appeared on the main media channels in this regard and written for the Guardian and the Telegraph. She has given evidence to numerous select committees on the legal issues connected with Brexit.

Catherine is also a passionate and committed teacher. She was awarded the University of Cambridge's Pilkington Prize for teaching (2019) and in 2023 was awarded the prize for the best lecturer in the university by Cambridge Students’ Union.

Commenting on Professor Barnard's appointment, Professor Louise Gullifer, the Chair of the Faculty of Law, said: "I am delighted that Professor Barnard will be taking up the role of Professor of European Law in the Faculty. She has contributed very significantly to the scholarship, teaching and administration of the Faculty for many years, and we very fortunate that we will be able to benefit from her wealth of expertise and experience in this very important academic leadership role."

Professor Barnard commented: "I am delighted and honoured to be appointed to this prestigious chair at a time when a deep understanding of the EU and its relationship with the UK is so important. There are wonderful colleagues to work with in the faculty and I looking forward to doing so in my new role."