School of Law
 

Image of Luke Butler

Luke Butler

Professor of Public Procurement Law & Regulation and Director, Executive Programme in Public Procurement Law & Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences

Contact

Biography

Professor Luke R. A. Butler is Professor of Public Procurement Law & Regulation, Director of the Executive Programme in Public Procurement Law and Policy and Head of the UK Public Procurement Law Unit within the Public Procurement Research Group at the University of Nottingham. Luke is Joint General Editor (alongside its founder, Professor Sue Arrowsmith KC (hon)) of the Public Procurement Law Review, the leading international peer-reviewed journal in the field and member of the European Procurement Law Group and UK Procurement Lawyers' Association. He is currently a non-practising Barrister and a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. As a student, Luke was awarded a First Class law degree, an LLM with Distinction, a PhD (in defence procurement law), and was the recipient of a number of academic and vocational prizes and scholarships. Luke has previously held posts at the University of Bristol and University of Birmingham and taught courses at other universities in the UK and internationally. Luke has particular expertise in defence procurement and defence sector regulation.

Expertise Summary

Luke specialises in all aspects of law and regulation relating to public procurement. His academic research has a heavy industry focus, most notably in the defence and security sectors. Luke is the author of Transatlantic Defence Procurement: EU and US Defence Procurement Regulation in the Transatlantic Defence Market (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2017) and many articles and commentaries in the field. Luke's research has been funded by the AHRC, ESRC, British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, and industry. Luke also regularly provides expert advice, consultancy and training to governments, regulators, industry and international organisations.

Luke welcomes research-related consultancy work (White Papers, research reports, training etc) which is delivered through Nottingham University Consultants, information on which can be found here:

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fabs/research-innovation/nottingham-university-consultants.aspx

Luke has also undertaken media work and is happy to appear offering expert advice on all matters of public procurement:

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/expertiseguide/law/dr-luke-butler.aspx

In addition, Luke also supervises a number of PhDs, including by leading practitioners in the field. Current students include:

  • Rebecca Rees, Partner and Head of Procurement, Trowers & Hamlins (relative price evaluation models)
  • Steven Brunning, Partner, Anthony Collins (framework agreements in commercial practice)
  • Jamie Thomas, Commercial Manager, NS&I (SMEs through procurement law reform)
  • Nikki Beattie, Head of Operations, Crown Commercial Service (Social value delivery through public procurement)
  • Nobel Ashraf-Ul-Bari (Review and remedies in Bangladesh)

All prospective applicants can contact him directly to discuss viable proposals. Information about the School of Law PhD programme and how to apply can be found here: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/study/postgraduate-research/index.aspx.

Teaching Summary

Luke has a strong teaching background in private law. In respect of module convenorship, since 2012, Luke has undertaken responsibility as module convenor of Trusts and Equity at three leading… read more

Recent Publications

  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2023. Single Source Contract Regulation Reform under the UK Procurement Act: A Regulatory Weapon in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy’s Arsenal Public Procurement Law Review. 32(4), NA168-212
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2023. In Vitro Diagnostic Test Procurement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt and Recommendations
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, DANIEL E SCHOENI and MARTIN TRYBUS, 2023. Editorial: A Special Issue on The Emerging Impact of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on Defence Procurement in Europe Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2023. The UK’s Defence Procurement Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Steady as She Goes Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)

Luke has a strong teaching background in private law. In respect of module convenorship, since 2012, Luke has undertaken responsibility as module convenor of Trusts and Equity at three leading universities (Bristol, Birmingham and Nottingham). Luke has also created and convened UG final year optional modules on Commercial Law, Foundations of Business Law (delivered to non-law students in economics, finance and management) and Dissertations. At PG level, Luke has created and convened modules on International Public Contract Law, EU and WTO Public Procurement Law, and Corruption. In respect of lecturing and tutoring, Luke has taught every subject for a qualifying law degree (Contract Law, Tort Law, Trusts Law, Public Law, Land Law, Criminal Law and EU Law) as well as a range of other modules (Introduction to Law, Legal Connections, Legal Communication). At PG level, Luke has taught International Sale of Goods and Carriage of Goods by Sea. Luke has been an External Examiner at the University of Nottingham and is currently External Examiner at Bangor University.

  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2023. Single Source Contract Regulation Reform under the UK Procurement Act: A Regulatory Weapon in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy’s Arsenal Public Procurement Law Review. 32(4), NA168-212
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2023. In Vitro Diagnostic Test Procurement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt and Recommendations
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, DANIEL E SCHOENI and MARTIN TRYBUS, 2023. Editorial: A Special Issue on The Emerging Impact of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on Defence Procurement in Europe Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2023. The UK’s Defence Procurement Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Steady as She Goes Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2022. Transforming Public Procurement in the United Kingdom: Regulating for Open and Transparent Contracting Public Procurement Law Review. 31(3), 120-168
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, MICHAEL BOWSHER and CHRISTOPHER YUKINS, 2022. No Man Is An Island In Defense Procurement: Developments In EU Defense Procurement Regulation And Its Implications For The U.S. The Government Contractor. Vol. 64(No. 43),
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2022. Corporation Tax Relief in UK Single Source Defence Contracts: Offsetting Research and Development Expenditure Credit in Determining Allowable Costs Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)
  • SUE ARROWSMITH, LUKE R A BUTLER, ANNA LA CHIMIA and CHRISTOPHER R YUKINS, 2021. Public Procurement in (A) Crisis: Global Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic Hart. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2021. ‘Regulating Single Source Procurement in Emergency Situations in the Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Issues in Policy and Practice’. In: Public Procurement in (A) Crisis: Global Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic (In Press.)
  • SUE ARROWSMITH and LUKE R A BUTLER, 2021. ‘Emergency Procurement and Regulatory Responses to COVID-19: the case of the United Kingdom’. In: Public Procurement in (A) Crisis: Global Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic (In Press.)
  • SUE ARROWSMITH and LUKE R A BUTLER, 2021. ‘The Experiences and Lessons of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Public Procurement Regulation in (a) Crisis?’. In: Public Procurement in (A) Crisis: Global Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic (In Press.)
  • ALICE MANZINI, LUKE R A BUTLER and MARTIN TRYBUS, 2021. L R A Butler, A Man‘Centralised Purchasing Bodies in the UK’. In: M Comba, R Caranta and A S Graells (eds) Centralised Purchasing within the EU Edward Elgar. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2021. ‘Public Procurement and Petroleum Contracts – Setting Aside International Commercial Arbitration Awards on Grounds of Public Policy: Betamax Ltd v State Trading Corporation’ Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2021. ‘Meeting the Threshold for Effective Regulation? The Rationale and Reform of Qualifying Contract Thresholds under the Single Source Contract Regulations’ (2021) Public Procurement Law Review Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R. A. BUTLER, 2020. Guidance to NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts and clinical commissioning groups on the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note PPN 02/20 Public Procurmeent Law Review. 162-168
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2020. Procurement Policy Note—Recovery and Transition from COVID-19, Action Note PPN 04/20 Public Procurement Law Review. 228-233
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2020. Defence Procurement Policy Note 01/20 Responding to COVID-19—Defence Update to CO PPN 01/20; Defence Procurement Policy Note 02/20 Responding to COVID-19—Defence Update to CO PPN 02/20; and Covid-19 Defence Furlough and Interim Payment Policy Note Public Procurement Law Review. 215-227
  • LUKE R A BUTLER and ROBERT ALLEN, 2020. Governing Compliance with Public Procurement Law: A View from Inside the Ministry of Defence Public Procurement Law Review. 301-333
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, 2020. Pricing Contracts Affected by COVID-19: Single Source Regulations Office Note on Single Source Defence Contracts Public Procurement Law Review. 29(6), 265-280
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2019. Responsible public procurement: towards a public service contract regulator? Public Procurement Law Review. 5, 198-208
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2019. Single Source Wars, The Saga Continues 2: The Single Source Contract (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018 Public Procurement Law Review. 3, 71-86
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2019. Single Source Wars: The Saga Continues Public Procurement Law Review. 1, 28-38
  • TONY PROSSER and LUKE R. A. BUTLER, 2018. Rail Franchises, Competition and Public Service Modern Law Review. 81(1), 23-50
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2018. An Inspection of Rail Franchise Procurement: First-Class Regulation for Privatised Passenger Rail? Public Procurement Law Review. 27(6), 251-278
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2017. Transatlantic Defence Procurement: EU and US Defence Procurement Regulation in the Transatlantic Defence Market Cambridge University Press.
  • MARTIN TRYBUS and LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2017. The Internal Market and National Security: Harmonisation, Impact and Reform of the EU Directive on Intra-EU Transfers of Defence Products Common Market Law Review. 54(2), 403-442
  • 2017. Review of The Law of Collaborative Defence Procurement in the European Union by Baudouin Heuninckx (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2016) Common Market Law Review.
  • ALBERT SANCHEZ GRAELLS, PEDRO TELLES and LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2016. Exclusion and Qualitative Selection of Economic Operators under Public Procurement Procedures: A Comparative View on Selected Jurisdictions. In: MARTIN BURGI, MARTIN TRYBUS and STEEN TREUMER, eds., Qualification, Selection and Exclusion in EU Procurement DJOF (Copenhagen). 245-274
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2016. Exclusion, Qualification and Selection in the UK under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. In: MARTIN BURGHI, MARTIN TRYBUS and STEEN TREUMER, eds., Qualification, Selection and Exclusion in EU Procurement DJOF (Copenhagen). 189-243
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2015. Review of European Defence Cooperation in EU Law and IR Theory, by Tom Dyson and Theodore Konstadinides (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), xviii + 256 pp. inc. index, hardback, £57.50, ISBN: 9781137281296 European Law Review. 40(2), 299-302
  • PEDRO TELLES and LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2014. Public Procurement Award Procedures in Directive 2014/24/EU. In: FRANCOIS LICHERE, ROBERTO CARANTA and STEEN TREUMER, eds., Novelties in the 2014 Directive on Public Procurement DFOJ (Copenhagen). 131-184
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2014. A Uniform Approach to Innovation in Public Procurement in the Innovation Union?. In: FRANCOIS LICHERE, ROBERTO CARANTA and STEEN TREUMER, eds., Novelties in the 2014 Directive on Public Procurement DJOF (Copenhagen). 337-385
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2013. Review of J. Cibinic, R. C. Nash and C. R. Yukins, Formation of Government Contracts and J. Cibinic, R. C. Nash and K. R. O' Brien-DeBakey, Competitive Negotiation: The Source Selection Process Public Procurement Law Review. 1, 45-48
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2013. Review of S. Hobe, M. Hofmannova, J Wouters (eds.) A Coherent European Procurement Law and Policy for the Space Sector: Towards a Third Way, Cologne Studies International and European Law, Lit, Volume 22 Public Procurement Law Review. 5, 206-209
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2012. Below Threshold and Annex IIB Services Contracts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: A Common Law Approach. In: ROBERTO CARANTA and DACIAN DRAGOS, eds., Outside the Directives, Inside the Treaty?: Public Procurement Below Thresholds and Annex IIB Services DJOF (Copenhagen). 283-334
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2010. Review of Trust Funds under International Law – Trustee Obligations of the United Nations and International Development Banks by Ilias Bantekas, T.M.C. Asser Press, 2009, 320 pp. inc. Hard Cover International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 59(4), 1175-1176
  • LUKE R.A. BUTLER, 2010. Review of EU Counter-Terrorist Policies and Fundamental Rights: The Case of Individual Sanctions by Christina Eckes, Oxford, OUP, 2009, xxxiv + 478pp. inc. Hard Cover European Law Review. 35, 737-740
  • SUE ARROWSMITH, LUKE R A BUTLER and ANNAMARIA LA CHIMIA, 'General Introduction’. In: Public Procurement in (A) Crisis: Global Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic Hart. (In Press.)
  • LUKE R A BUTLER, COVID-19 and the Single Source Contract Regulations: The Extent to which Unanticipated Staff and Storage Costs under a Firm-priced Qualifying Defence Contract (as Amended) are Allowable Costs Public Procurement Law Review. (In Press.)

School of Law

Law and Social Sciences building
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

Contact us