Focus

John works in our Brussels office in the Protected Wildlife and Habitats (Marine and Mediterranean) legal subgroup. He specializes in the laws relating to marine conservation, including species protection, marine protected areas, and the conservation of marine habitats.

Some of John’s recent work with ClientEarth includes:

  • Strategic litigation and advocacy to protect the Dogger Bank marine protected area from the impacts of destructive bottom trawling;
  • Advocating with the EU institutions for better implementation of conservation laws and policies, including the Nature Restoration Law, the Birds and Habitats Directives, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030;
  • A successful legal and advocacy campaign requiring EU countries to prevent dolphin and porpoises from being incidentally captured and killed in fishing nets.

Experience

John has worked as lawyer with the Irish law firm A&L Goodbody, specializing in commercial dispute resolution and regulatory investigations. Just before joining ClientEarth, he pursued his passion for environmental law by studying for a master’s degree at University College London.

Education

John is qualified to practice as a lawyer in Ireland and in England and Wales. He holds an LLM in Environmental Law and Policy from University College London and an LLB in Law from Trinity College, the University of Dublin. His academic work has been published in the Journal of Environmental Law, for which he was awarded an Honourable Mention in the 2020 Richard Macrory Prize for Best Article.

I joined ClientEarth because it is an incredibly dedicated and innovative organization, which has used the law to tackle many of the world’s most serious environmental challenges. I am delighted to work here as a lawyer helping to restore the beautiful ocean and protect its marvelous species and habitats.