David has a well-established practice across Chambers’ practice areas, with a particular focus on Commercial law, Civil Fraud, Public Law and Human Rights. He has appeared in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as before arbitral tribunals and other courts and tribunals. David is Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel), and co-author of "Understanding Legislation: A Practical Guide to Statutory Interpretation", described in Public Law as a book "every public lawyer should own".

He has been ranked in recent years as a leading junior in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Civil Fraud, Public Law and Sports Law by the directories, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Key recent quotes include:

  • "An impressive advocate."- Legal 500, 2025
  • "David is an exceptional junior. He is diligent and an excellent advocate."- Chambers andPartners, 2025

Experience

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Commercial

David has been involved in a wide range of commercial disputes and advisory work, including commercial fraud cases and applications for injunctive relief. He has acted (both led and unled) before the Court of Appeal, the High Court trials and arbitral tribunals.

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Arbitration

David has been involved in recent years, led and as sole counsel, in a substantial number of arbitrations in both the commercial and sports law contexts, as well as connected High Court proceedings.

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Civil Fraud, Asset Recovery & Injunctive Relief

David has been involved in a wide range of civil fraud disputes and has extensive experience of injunctive relief applications. He has acted in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Courts and arbitral tribunals on a variety of civil fraud claims.

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Public & Regulatory

David acts and advises on public law cases at all levels. In particular, he has recently acted in a number of cases involving prison law, including in the Supreme Court.

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Sport

David has advised and appeared for clients in a variety of sports, including the recent dispute between golfers playing on the LIV Tour and the PGA European Tour. He has acted many times for Premier League football clubs, including in court proceedings and arbitration.

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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

As part of his public law practice, David acts and advises on human rights issues at all levels. In particular, he has recently acted in a number of cases involving prison law, including two cases in the Supreme Court.

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EU Law

David has appeared and provided advice in cases raising a range of EU law issues.

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Employment

David has experience of a broad range of employment related litigation and advisory work, particularly in the High Court sphere.

David is a co-author of the second edition of Tolley’s Discrimination in Employment Handbook (LexisNexis).

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Achievements

Education

MA (Cantab); BCL (Oxon), (Reid and Prince of Wales Scholarships, Gray’s Inn)

Prizes & Scholarships

  • Reid Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (Senior Scholarship)
  • Prince of Wales Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (BVC year)
  • College Scholarship, Christ’s College, Cambridge (for achieving a first in the law tripos examinations)
  • De Hart prize for law, Christ’s College, Cambridge
  • College Book prize, Christ’s College, Cambridge
  • Rebecca Flower Squire Scholarship, University of Cambridge
  • Winner, WLR national mooting competition
  • Winner of Varsity, de Smith, Team and Fledglings mooting competitions, University of Cambridge

Publications

David is the author of "Understanding Legislation: A Practical Guide to Statutory Interpretation", published by Hart Publishing in April 2018. (Co-written with Charlie Potter.)

Selected earlier reported cases

Commercial

  • Re Globespan Airways Ltd (In Liquidation) [2012] EWCA Civ 1159; [2013] 1 WLR 1122
  • Clearview Van and Car Hire Limited v Compass Group, UK and Ireland Limited [2012] EWHC 148 (QB) 
  • Harbour Castle Limited v David Wilson Homes Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 572; [2011] EWHC 2571 (QB)
  • Re Dunstans Publishing Ltd [2010] EWHC 3850 (Ch)

Public & Regulatory

  • Interfact Limited v Liverpool City Council [2010] EWHC 1604 (Admin)
  • David has also (led by others in Chambers) provided advice to a mobile network operator regarding proposed action by OFCOM regarding spectrum allocation.

Employment

  • NCS London Ltd v Coughlan and anor [2011] EWHC 3876 (QB)
  • Craig v Pharmexx and anor, ET, April and July 2011
  • Porter v EDF Trading, ET, September 2010
  • Advised a Claimant who obtained a substantial settlement in a discrimination claim against a FTSE 100 company.

EU & Competition

  • Interfact Limited v Liverpool City Council [2010] EWHC 1604 (Admin)

Other relevant information

During his Bar Vocational Course, David supervised in contract law at the University of Cambridge.

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