David is a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers. His sports law practice leverages on his specialisms in commercial, construction, regulatory and disciplinary law. He was one of seven Chambers members to be appointed by the IAAF to the panel providing legal advice and representation to athletes and officials in disputes arising out of the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and is a member of Chambers’ team of advocates on Sport Resolutions (UK)’s Pro Bono Panel. Recent experience includes:

• Downey & Anor v Stevens & Ors [2021] EWHC 752 (Ch): Successfully acting for the trustees of Magdalen Park Bowling Club. In the proceedings, the Club had been threatened by the loss of its only playable green and its clubhouse. The claimants claimed that they were entitled to purchase the land on which the green and clubhouse are sited for £1, pursuant to an option contract purportedly entered into by the trustees in 2015. However, the court found the 2015 contract to be invalid pursuant to s 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 and that, even if it were valid, it would be unconscionable for the claimants to rely on its terms.
  
  
• Representing an athlete served notice by UK Anti-Doping of an apparent Domestic Testing Pool filing failure. UKAD chose to take no further action when it was successfully argued that no negligent behaviour on the athlete’s part had caused or contributed to an inaccurate address for an overseas training camp having been filed.
  
  
• Advising in respect of defective services works at a large sports stadium