One Essex Court stands out as ‘a brilliant set’ with a team which ‘frequently acts on the most complex civil fraud cases with some of the highest profile parties’. The group reports a significant uptick in fraud cases involving prominent international elements, often spanning multiple jurisdictions. In Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan and Others, Camilla Bingham KC and Harry Stratton represent EFG Bank AG and Douglas Paine acts for Union Bancaire Privée and associated entities and individuals. In Bourlakova v Bourlakov, an unlawful means conspiracy claim worth over $3bn concerning ownership over the assets of the Bourlakov family, Neil Kitchener KC, David Caplan and Alyssa Stansbury are representing the claimants. Elsewhere in chambers, in NMC v EY, Laurence Rabinowitz KC and Alexander Polley KC are defending EY in a $2.5bn claim arising from the collapse of NMC Health, alleging fraud and deceit on the part of the company’s senior management and shareholders that was alleged to have been negligently missed by the auditors. In recent developments at the set, in March 2025 Alexander Brown KC took silk and Hannah Glover joined chambers.
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Profile
Position
David undertakes a broad range of commercial work and has extensive experience of working in various forums, including the High Court (both led and unled), the Court of Appeal (again, both led and unled), the Privy Council, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and arbitrations. He is admitted as a member of the bar of the British Virgin Islands.
In the past year, David has acted on, amongst other things, the mammoth Magomedov claim, one of the largest conspiracy claims by value ever to come before the English courts, the sprawling Koza litigation, which has already been to the Court of Appeal four times and the Supreme Court once, and Crane Bank, a claim relating to the contested resolution and sale of a Ugandan bank by the Bank of Uganda. Notable cases in which David has acted beyond that include the Cukurova litigation (over the ownership and control of Turkcell, a leading Turkish telecoms company), the Peak Hotels dispute (over the ownership and control of the Aman Resorts hotel group), Novatrust v Kea (a dispute over a private equity investment vehicle and the first derivative action on behalf of a foreign company that has been permitted to proceed before the English courts), and Goldman Sachs v Novo Banco (an $800m+ claim which raises issues under the European Banking Resolution and Recovery and Credit Institutions Winding Up Directives). David also maintains a busy advisory practice, and regularly advises on matters relating to banking, energy, the financial markets, civil fraud, arbitration enforcement and more.
Career
Called 2006; Inner Temple.
Memberships
LCLCBA.
Education
Hendon School; Clare College, Cambridge University (2002 BA Social and Political Sciences First Class); City University (2005 CPE Commendation); Inns of Court School of Law (2006 BVC Outstanding).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Very professional, helpful and responsive clerking team. Rob Smith is a star.'
- 'Best clerks in the business.'
- 'Excellent clerks.'
- 'OEC always provides top quality barristers.'
- 'A very eminent set, with strength in depth.'
- 'Top of the tree in terms of complex international cases.'
- 'One Essex Court provides a top-tier service.'