David Eatough

David Eatough was the General Counsel of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) until end of 2023. His responsibilities included all legal matters arising from the work of the ESM and the European Financial Stability Facility. Mr Eatough also supervised the Legal and Compliance department. He joined the ESM in 2013.

After graduating from Oxford University in Jurisprudence, including French contract and constitutional law, Mr Eatough qualified as a litigation lawyer in London.  Mr Eatough then worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston in London and New York and was appointed head of legal at Natwest Capital Markets in 1991. In 1997, he became a partner at Clifford Chance. Based in major financial centres around the world, he advised financial institutions and sovereign debt issuers during the South East Asian crisis and the financial crisis of 2008-2012.

Mr Eatough is qualified as a solicitor in Ireland and as a solicitor and barrister in England and Wales.