David Thomas

David Thomas

Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Counsel, London

“I advise clients on a broad range of high-stakes disputes, investigations and crisis management mandates. I have particular experience in large-scale litigation proceedings, including funded group litigation. I bring a clear strategy and pragmatic solutions to clients’ most sensitive and complex contentious matters.”

Overview

Professional experience

Education and qualifications

Overview

David is an experienced commercial litigator, in the London Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations team. David advises clients on a broad range of complex, high-value and/or reputationally sensitive commercial disputes and investigations.

David has particular experience in ESG litigation and works closely with lawyers from other practice areas to advise on a wide range of topics, including product liability issues, environmental issues and adverse human rights impacts.

David also has extensive experience of advising clients on contentious restructurings and insolvencies, and professional misconduct investigations and litigation. David has undertaken two client secondments with major accountancy firms to advise on a range of national and international matters.

Work highlights

  • Advising on the defence of multiple funded group litigation proceedings relating to vehicle emissions.  
  • Advising a large corporate on investigations and disputes arising from a high-profile product liability issue.  
  • Advising a large corporate on claims against a supplier in relation to the failure of a significant technology implementation project.  
  • Advising a large accountancy firm on the defence of a high-value claim in relation to the provision of audit services.
  • Advising on the defence of various FRC and ICAEW enforcement proceedings against auditors and actuaries. 
  • Lehman Brothers: advising on various domestic and foreign proceedings arising from the collapse of Lehman Brothers.  
  • Advising on various disputes arising from a contentious restructuring of debts in excess of £2bn.

Professional experience

David has previously undertaken secondments to the litigation and investigations teams at Morgan Stanley, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KPMG International.  

David is a regular contributor to firm seminars and webinars on ESG issues.  

Education and qualifications

David obtained a Bachelor of Arts (first class) in History from the University of York, before completing his GDL, LPC and MA (Law and Business) at BPP Law School.  

David has subsequently undertaken an ESG focused learning programme with the Saïd Business School.