Shaping EU Law the British Way

For almost half a century British Advocates General brought rigour and creativity to the EU’s highest court, while explaining its case law to a common law audience. This book analyses their contribution, and reminds us all of what we have lost. * David Anderson QC, Lord Anderson of Ipswich, Brick Court Chambers, and House of Lords * Advocates General are often the unsung heroes of EU law. They think hard and creatively. They write the first draft of the judgment which the courts can then work with – or against. The British Advocates General have contributed a lot to the development of EU law. This book shines an important light on the extraordinary influence. * Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Union Law, University of Cambridge * The jury might still be out deliberating whether there is any distinctly British Way of exercising the role of Advocate General at the Court of Justice. What will nonetheless be obvious to any reader of this book is that selecting brilliant lawyers who did have the privilege of assisting the Court for extended periods of time born fruit, both in terms of enhancing the quality of judicial deliberations of the Court as well as in enabling a Member State to project own ideas, approaches, and legal culture onto the European level. This book is a fitting celebration of that achievement and of a group of remarkable jurists. * Michal Bobek, former Advocate General, Court of Justice of the European Union * The voice of the EU's apex court is a collective one and on occasion its reasoning suffers as a result. The Advocate General’s voice is very much her or his own, and that single clear voice has often enhanced our understanding of the Court’s judgments, or even convinced us that the Court has taken a false step. I have always thought that the British were amongst the leading exponents of the Advocate General’s art. This book proves me right. * Derrick Wyatt QC, formerly of Brick Court Chambers, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Oxford *