David is a specialist clinical negligence practitioner. As a former Emergency Medicine doctor he has a complete understanding of medical practice and what goes wrong. He acts for both Claimants and Defendants (Trusts, NHSLA, MPS/MDU, MOD, and Private Hospitals/Consultants) in all aspects of clinical negligence and in particular high value cases and those which are difficult and/or complex in terms of liability and causation.
He has particular expertise in trial advocacy engaging with medical expert witnesses. His recent cases involve cerebral palsy, obstetric injuries, causa equina injury, missed spinal abcess, failure to recognise sepsis, delayed diagnosis of cancer, surgical complications, and stroke caused by a retained IVC filter.

David is experienced in construction and engineering disputes. He holds a Masters in Construction law, an accredited Adjudicator, Arbitrator (FCIArb, FHKIArb and FSIArb) and is a member of TECBAR and the Society of Construction Law. He is familiar with a wide range of contract types, including the various JCT and NEC forms, the RIBA standard forms of appointment, as well as bespoke construction contracts and PFI/PPP. David regularly undertakes resolution of construction disputes by litigation, arbitration, adjudication, and mediation.

David has vast experienceacts in all areas of personal injury law, including road traffic, employers’ liability, public liability, occupiers’ liability, sports injuries, sexual abuse and other intentional torts. As a former hospital emergency medicine doctor he has a comprehensive appreciation of the effect of trauma and has developed a practice focusing upon serious complex injuries such as brain and spinal damage.

He acted in the Omagh Bomb civil action which has been reported as the largest civil trial in UK legal history. This was a Fatal Accident claim by 12 Claimants for unlawful killing arising out of the terrorist bomb in Omagh Town Centre on 15th August 1999. The trial heard evidence under EC Regulation 1206/2001 (and travelled to Dublin to hear evidence in the Irish Courts) and considered complex evidence and legal issues. The case is reported at Breslin & Others v Murphy & Daly [2013] NICA 75 and [2013] NIQB 15.

David has extensive expertise and experience of bringing and defending claims involving a wide range of professional and other specialist advisers, including actuaries, lawyers, the insurance sector, the financial sector (bankers, stock brokers, investment advisers), the construction industry (architects, engineers, surveyors, builders, project managers), valuers, veterinary surgeons, energy and natural resources, accountants, and auditors.

David has an extensive sports law practice which extends to sporting injuries, contractual disputes, regulation, anti-doping, planning and construction of sports ground, and challenging the decisions of sports bodies. He is a member of the arbitration, mediation and pro-bono panels of Sports Resolutions, a member of the Judicial Board of World Sailing, a member of the Board of Appeal of the International Paralympic Committee and Vice Chair of the IBA Sports Law Division.