David Niven > Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP Offices

125 WOOD STREET
LONDON
EC2V 7AW
England
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David Niven

Work Department
Commercial dispute resolution, transport, professional negligence.
Position
David is a partner in the commercial dispute resolution team in the London office and head of the transport sector group. He joined Penningtons Manches from Wedlake Saint in 2011, having qualified as a solicitor in 1985 with a magic circle law firm.
He specialises in all aspects of dispute resolution and also has particular expertise in transport regulatory work including representing clients at public inquiries and advising goods vehicle and passenger service operators on regulatory matters and road traffic prosecutions. Additionally, David leads Penningtons Manches’ professional negligence team which has a growing specialism in acting for claimants in high value, multi-party actions against solicitors. He is currently advising on three separate multi-party professional negligence actions against legal practices, including a claim for a large number of prospective purchasers of holiday homes in failed property developments in Calabria, Italy. A committee member of both the London and South Eastern Coach Passenger Transport Association and the Freight Transport Association’s Greater London Freight Council, David also holds a Certificate of Professional Competence.
Career
Trained Allen & Overy; qualified 1985; partner Wedlake Saint 1996-11; partner Penningtons 2011.
Education
Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School; King’s College University of London (1981 LLB Hons).
Lawyer Rankings
London > Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
‘A go-to legal firm that cannot be faulted‘, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP‘s has notable strength in cross-border and international disputes. The practice’s current claims roster includes several large-value matters involving countries such as India, Guinea and South America, as well as North America. Dividing her time between Cambridge and London, Clare Arthurs leads the team that comprises consultant Rustam Dubash, a former practice head; David Niven, who co-heads the professional negligence and group actions practice alongside David O’Brien; international litigation head Richard Marshall; and IP and IT disputes leader Phillip D’Costa. Also integral to the practice, Michael Brown, Kamran Rehman and Alex Fox all maintain active commercial disputes practices; and Charlotte Hill, Harriet Vidot and Laura Coleclough, along with Chris Hoyer Miller, Oliver Cooke, Colin Hayes, and Valya Georgieva are key senior associates. Insolvency and civil fraud partner John Adams joined from Browne Jacobson LLP in August 2022.
London > Dispute resolution > Group litigation: Claimant
The practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is ‘very experienced, trustworthy, and very capable in managing complex group actions’, acting for clients in claims linked to insurance, financial mis-selling, and professional negligence. For one client, the team led by Clare Arthurs is ‘probably one of the best for group litigation‘. Noted practitioners include ‘extremely effective and knowledgeable’ David Niven and David O’Brien, who is commended for ‘leaving no stone unturned‘.
London > Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
The banking practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a ‘force to be reckoned with’, with vast experience acting both for and against banks. The team has expertise in high-profile swaps litigation, and is recognised for its digital asset litigation capabilities. ‘Dynamic partner‘ Alex Fox acts as head of business and finance disputes, and leads the ‘dedicated and hard-working team‘ alongside Clare Arthurs and David Niven. The team continues to expand, with the arrival of John Adams from Browne Jacobson LLP in August 2022. Charlotte Hill is another key contact at the firm.
London > Insurance > Professional negligence
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a claimant focused firm which specialises in group action claims against solicitors and construction professionals. The firm is praised for its ‘unparalleled sense of team spirit and sense of collaboration and support’. The ‘no nonsense’ David Niven specialises in high value, multi-party professional negligence actions against legal professionals. David O’Brien is highly experienced in international group actions, including those brought before the High Court, while Kamran Rehman covers the banking, finance, and real estate sectors.
Lawyer Rankings
- Commercial litigation: mid-market London > Dispute resolution
- Banking litigation: investment and retail London > Dispute resolution
- Group litigation: Claimant London > Dispute resolution
- Professional negligence London > Insurance
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Private client > Family
- Real estate > Social housing: tenant
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Private client > Court of protection
- Employment > Employees/unions
- Employment > Immigration
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- Insurance > Personal injury: claimant
- Transport > Travel
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
- Public sector > Education: institutions
- Public sector > Education: schools
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Employment > Senior executives
- Transport > Shipping
- Finance > Trade finance
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Dispute resolution > Group litigation: Claimant
- Insurance > Product liability: defendant
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Real estate > Social housing: local authorities and registered providers
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Employment > Employers
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)