Juan Carlos is an Assistant Professor of Administrative Law at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona (since 2024). Before joining UPF, he was an Associate Professor of Administrative Law (2017-2023) and an Adjunct Professor (2012-2013) at Externado University (Colombia).
He holds a PhD in Law and Political Science from the University of Barcelona (2017) and a master’s degree in administrative law from Externado University (2012), where he also obtained his law degree (2009). Juan Carlos conducted a research stay at SPISA at the University of Bologna, Italy (2016-2017) and served as a visiting professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil (2020).
His work has been recognized by the Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales (Spain) with a special mention in the “Eduardo García de Enterría” prize for the best thesis in Administrative Law (2017), by the Manuel Giménez Abad Foundation (Spain) with a special mention in the prize for the best research on territorial decentralization (2018), and by the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB - Spain) for the best monograph published as a collective work (2016).
His research focuses on the challenges faced by public administration, including the use of artificial intelligence, crisis, and human rights, along with local government law, and public procurement. His teaching focuses on the law governing the public administration.
Dr. Covilla has authored three books and more than 20 articles published by Thomson Reuters - Aranzadi, Tirant lo Blanch, and Externado University Press, among others. His research has been cited by courts, in arbitration awards, and by the Innovations for Successful Societies of Princeton University.
He serves as a consultant to public and private institutions and held the position of Legal Director at the Ministry of Housing, City, and Territory of Colombia (2020-2022), where he provided in-house advisory services, and led the litigation and regulation area.
Department of Law
Jaume I Building (Ciutadella Campus)
Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27
08005 Barcelona
+34 935 420 000