David Jones > Chambers of Frances Heaton KC and Richard Norton > Manchester, England > Barrister Profile

David Jones

Position

David specialises in Employment & Discrimination, Regulatory and Sports law work.

David is regularly instructed to appear in employment tribunals across the United Kingdom. He has also appeared in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. He has successfully conducted hundreds of tribunal hearings and has experience of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

David undertakes both Claimant and Respondent work. He has acted for clients across a wide range of industries in the private sector (including construction, engineering, manufacturing, FMCG, retail, professional services, telecommunications, aviation, professional sports clubs and individuals). He has also represented public and third sector clients (including education establishments, local authorities and non-departmental government bodies).

Recent cases include high value multi-day complex discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claims.

In terms of his Regulatory work, David has expertise in dealing with disciplinary proceedings in all professions and at all levels, from healthcare and education sectors, to assisting Police officers and staff. He is able to deal skilfully and efficiently with all stages of disciplinary proceedings of any type, from employers’ internal disciplinary procedures to proceedings before regulators. David is often asked to advise at an early stage in relation to internal disciplinary or grievance matters to ensure compliance with the ACAS code, internal policies and procedures, and ultimately minimise the risk of tribunal proceedings.

In addition, David is able to conduct internal investigations as an external source of independent expertise, with an eye to avoiding the many pitfalls open to unwary employers. In industry and in professional life, this enables the employer to get on with their core activities, confident that investigations will be conducted with a detailed and forensic eye.

Additionally,

David has represented professional athletes, sports clubs, associations, and non-departmental government bodies in a range of regulatory and commercial matters. His experience includes:

• Disciplinary and regulatory proceedings
• Anti-Doping
• Employment issues and dispute resolution
• IP and commercial protection

David is an accredited UKAD adviser and as former retained legal counsel for UKAD, he drafted a world first tripartite agreement between UKAD, WADA and RUSADA for the provision of testing and analytical services to Russian athletes in advance of the Olympic Games. This agreement since its inception has been widely publicised in the international press.

As a trusted professional adviser, David has drafted and negotiated player and manager contracts and terminations on behalf of professional football league clubs and teams in the British Basketball League.

Recent instructions include the representation of two professional football league clubs in high profile proceedings both internally and before UK tribunals.

Career

Having qualified as a Solicitor in 2008 and enjoyed a successful career in private practice, David transferred to the Bar in 2019.

Memberships

• The Employment Lawyers’ Association UK
• Association for Disciplinary and Regulatory Lawyers
• The Society of Mediators