Anthony Collins

Anthony Michael Collins obtained a Degree in Legal Science from Trinity College Dublin in 1984 and the degree of Barrister-at-Law from the Honourable Society of King’s Inns in 1986.

He pursued his professional career at the Bar of Ireland as a Barrister-at-Law from 1986 to 1990 and from 1997 to 2003 and, subsequently, as a Senior Counsel from 2003 to 2013. He temporarily interrupted his career as a Barrister-at-Law between 1990 and 1997 to work at the Court of Justice of the European Communities as a legal secretary to Judges Thomas Francis O’Higgins (from 1990 to 1991) and John L. Murray (from 1991 to 1997). He served as a member of the Permanent Delegation of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) to the Court of Justice and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Court between 2006 and 2013. He is an author of numerous publications and works on Irish administrative law and on EU law.

Mr Collins was appointed as a Judge at the General Court of the European Union on 16 September 2013. He was President of Chamber at that court for two terms from 21 September 2016 to 7 October 2021.

Between 7 October 2021 and 7 October 2024, he was an Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Mr. Collins is President of the Irish Centre for European Law, an Adjunct Professor of EU law at University College Cork (Ireland) and a Bencher of the Honourable Society of King’s Inns.