David is an experienced junior who specialises in employment law. Before being called to the bar he was a solicitor (year of qualification 2000) and a partner in a boutique employment law practice in the City. He has over 20 years’ experience of advising and representing employers and employees. He also practices in professional regulatory and disciplinary, and general commercial work.

Key cases & testimonials

Watson v Hemingway Design Limited and Another [2021] EWCA Civ 67 – Whether an ET is a “court” for the purposes of the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 where an employee seeks to bring a claim in the employment tribunal against the insurer of an insolvent employer.

Successfully defended academy trust against complaints of unfair dismissal, race discrimination and victimisation by headteacher.

Represented male employee in successful claim for unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and victimisation following dismissal for alleged harassment. The ET made an award for injury to feelings of £19,000 and made a costs order against the Respondent.

Represented Respondent at Stage 1 and Stage 2 Equal Value hearings. Following the hearings, the independent expert concluded the Claimant was not carrying out work of equal value to her comparator.

Successful in defending former employee against allegations of breach of restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information following multi-track trial.

"Having instructed David on a number of occasions, his representation and advocacy is second to none. David’s expert representation is highly effective at identifying the key issues in any case, putting forward arguments on behalf of clients in a clear and precise manner and overall putting our clients at ease so they feel they are in safe hands without exception." Ashley Hunt. Lawson-West Solicitors
"The client is delighted with your brilliant and speedy assistance with the claim. Thank you so much for your help."Kate Lawson, Element Law 2023

Areas of expertise

David is an experienced junior who specialises in employment law. Before being called to the bar he was a solicitor (year of qualification 2000) and a partner in a boutique employment law practice in the City. He qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate with rights of audience in all proceedings in 2009. He has over 20 years’ experience of advising and representing employers and employees.

David has appeared on behalf of both employers and employees in complex discrimination and whistleblowing cases. He advises on all aspects of employment law, including TUPE, confidentiality, post-termination restrictions, disciplinary and grievance procedures, discrimination, settlement agreements and employment status. He provides advice and support to employers in both the public and private sectors and receives instructions from solicitors and in-house legal departments. He can also accept instructions directly via Public Access. He regularly receives instructions from local government, major public sector organisations, trade unions, large employers in the private sector and trade unions.

David also advises on contractual disputes concerning notice pay, restraint of trade and confidentiality.

David also practises in regulatory and disciplinary work. He has appeared on a number of occasions before the Teaching Regulation Agency.

David was appointed a Fee Paid Employment Judge in 2023.

Cases include:

Court of Appeal

Watson v Hemingway Design Limited and Another [2021] EWCA Civ 67 Whether an ET is a “court” for the purposes of the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 where an employee seeks to bring a claim in the employment tribunal against the insurer of an insolvent employer.

Employment Appeal Tribunal

Jumbo v Zonal Retail Data Systems UKEAT/0275/19 Successful appeal against refusal of ET to allow amendment of discrimination claim.

Kuncharalingam v Word by Word Translations Ltd UKEAT/0269/10 – definition of “employment” under Employment Rights Act 1996 and Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 – whether Employment Tribunal erred in finding Claimant neither employee nor worker and that accordingly it had no jurisdiction to hear his complaints.

Hughes v Corps of Commissionaires Management Ltd (No. 1) [2011] IRLR 100– further appeal in a case on the interpretation of the provisions granting entitlement to rest breaks and compensatory rest under the Working Time Regulations 1998.

Dabson v David Cover & Sons Ltd UKEAT/0374/10/SM – fairness of consultation and application of selection criteria in redundancy dismissal.

Corps of Commissionaires Management Ltd v Hughes [2009] ICR 345 – interpretation of the provisions granting entitlement to rest breaks and compensatory rest under the Working Time Regulations 1998.

Cavendish Munro Professional Risks Management Ltd v Geduld [2010] ICR 325 – a leading case on the interpretation of the “whistleblowing” provisions under section 43A – 43L of the Employment Rights Act 1996 and in particular the meaning of “protected disclosure”.

Employment Tribunal

Successfully defended academy trust against complaints of unfair dismissal, race discrimination and victimisation by headteacher.

Represented male employee in successful claim for unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and victimisation following dismissal for alleged harassment. The ET made an award for injury to feelings of £19,000 and made a costs order against the Respondent.

Represented Respondent at Stage 1 and Stage 2 Equal Value hearings. Following the hearings the independent expert concluded the Claimant was not carrying out work of equal value to her comparator.

Successful appeal against granting of interim injunction against former employee to prevent alleged breaches of restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information.

County Court

Successful in defending former employee against allegations of breach of restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information following multi-track trial.

Successful appeal against decision of lower court to grant injunction restraining alleged breaches of restrictive covenants and breaches of confidentiality.

Teaching Regulation Agency

Successful application to have proceedings discontinued on grounds of teacher’s ill health and significant delay.

Represented teacher facing allegation of historic sexual relationship with pupil. The allegations against the teacher were dismissed.

David also practices in general commercial work including contractual disputes, particularly those with an employment aspect, and has appeared frequently in the County Court.

Notable recent cases include:

Successful appeal against refusal of lower court to grant relief from sanctions following breach of court order.

Successful appeal against decision of lower court to grant injunction against former employee to restrain alleged disclosure of confidential information and breach of post termination restrictions.

Successful defence of employee in claim for damages for alleged disclosure of confidential information and breach of post termination restrictions.

Further information

2023 – Appointed Fee-Paid Employment Judge

1991 – 1994 – University of Sheffield – BA(Hons) in English Literature: 2.1

1995 – The College of Law – Common Professional Examination

1996 – University of Sheffield – Legal Practice Course

2000 – Qualified as a Solicitor

2009 – Qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate (All Proceedings)

2017 – Called to the Bar