Jean-Michel Communier obtained a PhD in public law from the University of Rennes and a degree in Business management (DESS) one year previous to this. He specialises in public, tax and EC law and gained most of his experience at Jeantet & Associés in the competition law department and at Distel & Associés in public law and litigation. He has lectured public law and EC law at the University of Paris South since 1990. He joined Bird & Bird's Paris office as senior solicitor in January 1999 and was appointed European Counsel since 1 January 2001.