Kate O'Reilly (K.E.)
Since 2023, Kate O'Reilly [1987] is an Assistant Professor of Private Law at Maastricht University. Kate holds a Double Honours Degree (B.A) [2009] from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in Anthropology and English Literature, with a specialisation in critical theory. In 2015 she was awarded a Bachelor of European and Comparative Law (LL.B) Cum Laude, from Maastricht University. In 2017, Kate was awarded a Research Masters in Legal Studies (MSt Oxon) from the University of Oxford. In 2023, Kate defended her PhD titled "Empowering Consumers Through Law? Rethinking the Concept of EU Consumer Empowerment" at the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University.
Expertises
- European consumer law
- Private law
- Socio-legal studies
- Legal anthropology
Career history
- Kate is currently an Assistant Professor of Private law at Maastricht University, having defended her PhD thesis in 2023.
- Kate holds a Double Honours Degree (B.A) [2009] from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in Anthropology and English Literature & Critical Theory. Kate also holds a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) [2015] Cum Laude, from Maastricht University in European and Comparative Law. During her studies at Maastricht, Kate was awarded the Stichting Wetenschapsbeoefening for best Bachelor Thesis of the European Law School 2014. Kate also holds a Research Masters (MSt) [2017] from the University of Oxford.
- As promovendus at Maastricht University [2016 - 2022], Kate was under the superivison of Prof Jan Smits and Dr. Anna Beckers. Her PhD thesis takes a socio-legal perspective and questions the abstract, normative assumptions of consumer behaviour that support EU consumer policy and law. More specifically, Kate focuses on developing a theoretical framework capable of explaining the evolving model of empowerment in EU consumer law, which provides the means for a critique that goes beyond the current debate on the information model of consumer protection.
- During her PhD, Kate has both taught and been a member of the planning team for the Comparative Contract Law. In the past, Kate has also taught International and European Law. She has participated in several projects within the Faculty. These include co-coordination of the second year practice-orientated module for the Honours Programme, a student mentor for Honours Programme students and the lead coach of the Maastricht Team for the Annual Internal Chamber of Commerce Mediation Competiton in 2018.
- Recent publications: Kate O'Reilly, Achieving the Uniform Application of European Private Law'(2015) 23 European Review of Private Law, issue 6 pp. 1027 - 1070 https://kluwerlawonline-com.ezproxy.ub.unimaas.nl/journalarticle/European+Review+of+Private+Law/23.6/ERPL2015059