Radcliffe Chambers

David has some 23 years’ of specialist insolvency experience. In Silk, he has continued his extensive and highly-regarded practice covering all aspects of insolvency and insolvency-related litigation. David acts for office-holders (including in professional negligence type claims against them) and those subject to and affected by insolvency proceedings in whatever type of regime. He has vast experience of appearing on routine, controversial and urgent applications and of advising on complex and technical matters arising in the conduct of insolvencies. He is popular with his clients, who describe him as ‘extremely user-friendly’ and ‘clever, authoritative and willing to buy into the case and be part of the team.’

He has specific experience of the insolvency of peer-to-peer lending platforms, having been instructed in the administrations of three different peer-to-peer providers. He has in depth and extensive experience of acting in directors disqualification and public interest cases. He is one of the Silks leading the Secretary of State’s team in the very significant disqualification proceedings arising from the failure of Carillion plc. He acted for the Official Receiver throughout the liquidation of the Redcar steelworks.

Commercial litigation is a major part of David’s practice in Silk. Recent examples of his work include:

representing the former receivers of Blackpool Football Club, obtaining an order striking out a claim against them that they had sold assets at a multi-million pound undervalue: Denaxe Ltd v Cooper & Rubin [2022] EWHC 764 (Ch) and successfully resisting the subsequent appeal: [2023] EWCA Civ 752

the directors disqualification proceedings arising out of the collapse of Carillion plc, which has involved eight defendants and is large-scale, high-profile litigation (ongoing)

advising a major online electrical goods retailer about a contractual dispute with a mobile telephone airtime provider (confidential commercial settlement reached in 2023)

advising former directors of a high-profile retailer in respect of a claim made against them (confidential commercial settlement reached in 2022)

advising in respect of a credit insurance policy (2021)

advising the directors of an English company in respect of a joint venture in Angola (2021)

advising in respect of the consumer class action arising from the Volkswagen emissions scandal (2020)

advising and representing a major food manufacturer in respect of a dispute with an employment agency concerning standard contractual terms (confidential commercial settlement reached at mediation in 2020)

Chancery Bar Association

Northern Chancery Bar Association

Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association

Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3) (Fellow)

Insolvency Lawyers’ Association

COMBAR

Professional Negligence Bar Association

Bolton School

LLB University of Birmingham

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law