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Barrister is CCPC’s first adjudication officer

Barrister Brian Kennedy SC has been appointed as chief adjudication officer at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). 

The role was created under the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022, which sets up a new administrative enforcement regime in Ireland for breaches of EU and Irish competition law. 

It creates a new system under which the CCPC has the power, through independent adjudication officers and subject to court approval, to make decisions on alleged infringements of competition law and to impose administrative financial sanctions of up to €10 million, or 10% of total worldwide turnover.

Significant experience 

Kennedy has practised as a barrister in Ireland for over 27 years and was called to the Inner Bar in 2012. He will continue his practice at the Bar of Ireland. 

He has significant experience in general civil-law practice, with an emphasis on commercial, regulatory, competition and public law – including EU law. 

CCPC chair Brian McHugh said that the new adjudication officer would play an important part in ensuring that the Irish competition regime “delivers for consumers and the Irish marketplace”. 

“The new adjudication function within the CCPC will provide independent decision-making on alleged infringements of competition law and play a key part in developing the organisation,” said Kennedy.