Member Profile

I am a partner of Clarkslegal and I head the firm’s construction and engineering projects group.

I love the challenging diversity of my work, ranging from contract drafting and negotiating through to all forms of industry dispute resolution or, more preferably and when appropriate, dispute avoidance. Both I and the wider team are recognised by a number of the legal directories, including Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, as leading construction industry lawyers. I was inducted in 2018 into The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame as an elite construction lawyer, based on their independent research and client testimonials received over many years.

I act for all sectors of the industry to include, public and private sector developers and owner/occupiers, main contractors, specialist sub-contractors and professional consultants, whilst our expertise and excellent client service is also recognised through instruction by other law firms, who do not have that expertise, on behalf of their clients.

Clarkslegal LLP is a leading, full-service commercial law firm with a reputation for being innovative, practical, commercial and strategic, able to draw on expertise from our associated companies to help deliver solutions for our clients in the UK and internationally.

We act for a wide range of businesses, from start up and SMEs, to multinationals and FTSE250 companies as well as numerous public sector bodies and individual clients.

Our dedicated construction lawyers enjoy a pre-eminent position in the construction sector, working on prestigious regional, national, and international projects. We provide commercially focussed advice, quickly anticipating and adapting to clients’ needs and changing requirements, minimising legal risk in a way that is cost-effective and provides value for money.

The wide diversity of our clients across the public and private sectors is notable and is reflective of the scope and extent of the team’s expertise. Our clients cover the whole built environment sector, from building owners to contractors and developers, to consultants and specialists.

Our construction department advises on:

• Project Procurement Strategies

• Industry standard form/bespoke contract and surety documents drafting and negotiation

• Dispute Avoidance

• Dispute resolution utilising Adjudication, ADR, Arbitration and Litigation

David and the Clarkslegal team have undertaken a variety of overseas project work, including:

• Drafting project documents for mineral facility in Sierra Leone

• Advice on and helping resolve project disputes in Dubai and Ghana, subject to English law

• Advice on procurement strategies and contract documentation for a project in Lithuania

• Advising architect client on projects in UAE and Russia

• Assisting various clients with strategic advice on FIDIC contracts

We work on a wide range of public sector (Universities, Schools, health) and private sector projects across the commercial, retail, education, hotel and leisure and public sectors, as well as on high end residential schemes. Our construction industry expertise and excellent client service is also recognised through instruction by other English law firms, who do not have that expertise, on behalf of their clients, either on a sub-contract or direct instruction basis.

• Developers

• owner/occupiers

• tenants (eg with fit out and refurbishment projects)

• contractors

• design and other project consultants

• specialist sub-contractors

• law firms

I am privileged and honoured to have built a 30 year career at Clarkslegal, being given the freedom to develop a construction industry specialism that is now a core and independently highly regarded niche service.

I was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1989 and am a Member of The Law Society.

I am:

• an Associate Member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

• a member of The Society of Construction Law

• a member of The Adjudication Society

I have been and continue to be a regular speaker at national and regional industry events hosted for example by The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Chartered Institute of Builders, BSRIA and the Royal Institute of Chartered Architects, and Constructing Excellence. I am asked most frequently to speak on project procurement strategies, standard forms in use in the construction and engineering/infrastructure industries and on risk management and dispute avoidance.

I am a non-executive director and former past chairman of the Building Services Research and Information Association, an Advisory Board Member of the Confederation of Construction Specialists and co-chair of our international network, (TAGLaw) construction and real estate speciality group. These positions help both me and our team keep abreast of developments and issues in the construction and environmental sectors and which knowledge we reflect in our advice

As a non-executive director and former past chairman of the Building Services Research and Information Association (“BSRIA”), I give many days pro bono service a year in advising and supporting BSRIA as they have grown and developed from a small members association into a multi-million pound multi-national commercial organisation offering a diverse service offering across the built environment sector.

Equally, I have given many years pro bono service as an Advisory Board Member of the Confederation of Construction Specialists

I was inducted in 2018 into The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame as an elite construction lawyer, based on their independent research and client testimonials received over many years.

I am married with two adult sons. I like to relax by playing and watching cricket, tennis and golf, being an active member of various clubs and societies. I also read widely, being particularly interested in international relations and 20th Century history.