Cuatrecasas and the University of Deusto create a new Chair in Public Procurement Law

The University of Deusto and Cuatrecasas have signed a collaboration agreement to create the Cuatrecasas-University Chair in Public Procurement Law at the Law School. The agreement was signed by the rector, Juan José Etxeberria, and Cuatrecasas CEO Javier Fontcuberta.

Academic and professional benchmark

“This center was created with the aim of promoting research, critical reflection and training in public procurement, both in the national and European context, and aspires to become an academic and professional benchmark,” the two institutions shared in a statement.

As they explained, the importance of this initiative is reflected in the data. In Spain, public procurement accounted for 11.55% of GDP and 24.87% of public spending in 2023, according to the Independent Office for the Regulation and Supervision of Procurement (OIReScon). Its impact is not limited to the creation of infrastructures or the provision of services, but also affects the development of social and environmental policies with direct effects on institutions, companies and citizens.

A plan of activities already underway

During its first year, the Chair will activate several lines of work. In the area of research and training, Cuatrecasas staff will be able to access the joint doctoral program in Economic and Business Law, developed in collaboration with Deusto, Comillas and Ramon Llull.

In addition, the Chair’s scientific committee will bring together specialists from the academic world, teachers from Deusto and other universities in the UNIJES-Jesuit Universities network, together with Cuatrecasas professionals and experts from the business world, as well as from administrative and judicial bodies. It is also planned to create a digital publication with ISBN that will include the results of seminars, annual conferences and specialised articles.

Cuatrecasas experience

The Cuatrecasas Experience program aims to bring the practice of law closer to undergraduate and graduate students through various activities, some of which already exist in Cuatrecasas’ long-standing relationship with the University of Deusto Law School, such as bridge programs, mentoring, participation in DeustoLawyers and masterclasses linked to the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. In addition, interns will be able to collaborate in the Deusto Legal Clinic and in Cuatrecasas’ pro bono advisory initiatives.

Finally, in terms of transfer and debate, the Chair will organize biannual monographic conferences and specialised seminars, with the aim of generating applied knowledge.