Panos Koutrakos

Professor Panos Koutrakos is Professor of European Union Law at the Law School of City St George's, University of London. He has held academic positions at the Universities of Bristol, Durham, Birmingham, and Antwerp, and has been awarded the Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law three times by the European Commission. He is a visiting professor at several international institutions, including Melbourne, Sydney, and New South Wales. He is also a door tenant at Monckton Chambers and a member of both Gray's Inn and the Athens Bar.

• PhD, University of Birmingham, 1999
• LLM with merit, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, 1995
• LLB, University of Athens, Greece, 1994

Professor Koutrakos is a leading scholar in EU external relations law, with expertise in the EU’s common foreign and security policy, defense policy, trade agreements, and the autonomy of EU law. His research also covers the EU single market, particularly the free movement of goods and services. He has published extensively on mixed agreements, treaty-making procedures, and the legal implications of Brexit. His work often analyzes the interplay between EU law and international law, advocating for a balanced and pragmatic approach to legal autonomy.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contemporary challenges in EU law, including the Draghi Report on EU defense, the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the autonomy of EU law in international investment arbitration (notably in the Achmea case), and the complexities of mixed agreements such as the Istanbul Convention. His articles frequently appear in top journals like European Law Review, International and Comparative Law Quarterly, and Nordic Journal of International Law.

• Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law (2007, 2014, 2019)

Professor Koutrakos is the joint editor of the European Law Review and serves on the Executive Committee of the UK Association for European Law (UKAEL). He has advised and supervised research students such as Isabella Mancini and Anna Labedzka. He is affiliated with several research centers, including the Centre for the Law of EU External Relations in The Hague and the Centre for Law and Cosmopolitan Values at the University of Antwerp. His professional legal practice at Monckton Chambers complements his academic expertise, allowing him to engage with practical legal challenges in EU and international law.

He is actively involved in research networks and advisory boards, contributing to the development of EU legal scholarship and policy. His work bridges academic rigor with real-world legal and political developments, particularly in the areas of EU external action and constitutional law.