About Áine

Áine is a partner in our EU and procurement team. Áine is qualified in Ireland and the UK and has over 18 years' experience working in the area of EU procurement law, having advised public sector and utility sector clients across Ireland, the UK, and internationally. Áine’s work entails advising on all aspects of the public procurement life-cycle, from project inception and scoping, to pre-OJEU market engagement, to advertisement and choice of process right through to contract award and standstill. She also advises on post-contract modifications, as well as assisting clients on challenge-proofing their processes. Áine has particular expertise in advising central government agencies, including the OGP and the NDFA, and clients operating in the utility and energy sectors.

Áine authored the chapters on public procurement in Ireland in recent editions of Getting the Deal Through and Chambers Global. She is a regular commentator on procurement law in the press and on social media and has contributed to the leading academic journal on procurement law, the Public Procurement Law Review, edited by Professor Sue Arrowsmith. An accomplished public speaker, she regularly provides training to clients and public sector organisations.

Prior to training as a solicitor, Áine was an academic and university lecturer in French, working in universities in the UK and France, and has a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast.

Relevant Experience

  • The NDFA on the procurement aspects of Higher Education PPP Bundles 1 and 2 and Social Housing PPP Bundle 3;

  • The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board on the procurement of a car park concession contract at the NCH in Dublin;

  • A local authority on a competitive dialogue relating to the redevelopment of a disused leisure centre site;

  • EirGrid and its French counterpart, Réseau de Transport d’Electricité, on the procurement aspects of the Celtic Interconnector project, a subsea electricity link between Ireland and France;

  • An independent statutory body on a competitive dialogue for the procurement of an integrated case management system;

  • A statutory body on a concession contract relating to the sale of standards;

  • The OGP on numerous procurement competitions for goods and services;

  • A State-owned company on its template procurement documents and advising on a range of contracts for goods and services.

Áine is a pleasure to work with. She displays extensive knowledge of and expertise in procurement law and inspired confidence from the outset. Áine delivers accurate and timely advice professionally, clearly and calmly, often in challenging circumstances. We felt reassured and in the best hands throughout.
Instructing lawyer at local authority client
I have always found Áine to be an expert in the procurement field and this is manifested by the professional, comprehensive, up to date and thorough advice she gives. She always considers the issue in hand from all angles and reverts in a timely and professional manner. Equally as important to a client, Áine is very personable, easy to deal with and to talk to and is excellent at explaining in plain language what the key issues are.
Head of procurement at Irish State-owned company
Beauchamps

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