The United Kingdom Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Communities since 10 January 2006, Eleanor Sharpston Queen's Counsel studied economics, languages and law at King’s College, Cambridge (1973-1977), followed by university teaching and research at Corpus Christi College, Oxford (1977-1980).
She was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1980 and was a barrister in private practice from 1980-1987 and 1990-2005 Queen"s Counsel: 1999. Bencher of Middle Temple (2005). In the intervening years she worked as Legal Secretary (referendaire) in the Chambers of Advocate General, subsequently Judge, Sir Gordon Slynn later Lord Slynn of Hadley (1987-1990).
She was also a Lecturer in European Commission and comparative law (Director of European Legal Studies) at University College London (1990-1992) and then a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law (1992-1998), and subsequently Affiliated Lecturer (1998–2005), at the University of Cambridge.
She was Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Legal Studies of the University of Cambridge (1998–2005) and remains a fellow of King’s College, Cambridge (since 1992). She has published books and articles on European Union law.
Having spent her childhood in Brazil and then her adolescence and half her practising life in continental Europe, she speaks a number of European languages. Her off-duty activities include playing classical guitar and violin, rowing and squash (in both of which she got University "blues"), karate, sailing square riggers, skiing and scuba diving.
On 7 October 2008, she was appointed First Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Communities for one year.
On 21 July 2011, she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Nottingham Trent University.
Sharpston is also a member of the Irish Bar and the Gibraltar Bar.
