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
- Property law
- Socio-legal studies
Career history
January 2023 - Present
Maastricht University
Kate is an Assistant Professor of Private law at Maastricht University, having defended her PhD thesis "Empowering Consumers Through Law? Rethinking the Concept of EU Consumer Empowerment" in March 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 Law. Kate holds a Research Masters (MSt) [2017] from the University of Oxford.
March 2025
Emory University Atlana USA.
Visiting Scholar of the Vulnerability and the Human Condition Initiative and the Feminism and Legal Theory Project, Emory University Atlana USA.
January 2023 - Present
Maastricht University
Course coordinator for the course Introduction to Private Law, Year 1 Period 2, European Law School Bachelor programme.
September 2024 - Present
Maastricht University
Kate is the coordinator for the Bachelor Honours Programme at the Faculty of Law.
September 2024 - Present
Maastricht University
Kate is the coordinator for the Maastricht Research Based Learning Project at the Faculty of Law.
September 2024 - Present
Maastricht University
Kate is the co-coordinator of the Maastricht European Private Law Institute (MEPLI) Internship Programme.
September 2023 - Present
Maastricht University
Kate is the co-coordinator of the Maastricht European Private Law Institute (MEPLI) Talks series.
October 2016 - December 2022
Maastricht University
As a promovendus at Maastricht University, 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, (2023). Empowering consumers through law? Rethinking the concept of EU consumer empowerment. [Doctoral Thesis, Maastricht University]. Maastricht University. https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20230324ko
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