EXPERTISE 

David is a partner in Addleshaw Goddard's litigation practice sitting in the Global Investigations team.  He has over 30 years' experience of regulatory investigations and enforcement, particularly in the fields of crisis management, work-related death, food safety, general health and safety and environmental incidents.

He led the team advising the terminal operator following the Buncefield explosions and fire in December 2005; he was part of the team responding to the Morecambe Bay helicopter crash at Christmas 2006 and more recently the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. He was involved in advising a key player in the Potters Bar rail crash in 2002 and coronial work is very familiar territory; indeed he is sought after to prepare clients for inquests and to manage interested person issues and media interest in inquests, often at the most sensitive levels.

He has worked on numerous workplace fatality investigations. In the retail and consumer sector he has specialised in food safety and hygiene work as well as consumer protection and product safety. He successfully defended the first prosecution alleging that a norovirus outbreak was a breach of an employer's duty under health and safety legislation.

David was responsible for developing a 24/7 "Code Red" crisis management callout service to support clients involved in major and unfolding incidents.

He is experienced in PR and communications issues and often works alongside clients' communications teams and external PR advisers. 

A regular presenter and commentator, David also provides legal compliance and risk management advice to clients regarding workplace and process safety across all sectors. 

Relevant experience includes:

• Food Industry Information Network (FIIN) in relation to its establishment in 2015 following the Elliott Report in September 2014 and its principal legal adviser until February 2020
• Yum! in the past in relation to health and safety and food safety matters, as well as participating in training and horizon scanning sessions with the Yum! executive and legal team