David is Chief Executive of Shoosmiths. He is responsible for delivering the firm’s strategy and for driving operational excellence in the business to help serve Shoosmiths’ clients. Prior to taking on the role in 2022, David practised as a specialist Technology & Outsourcing lawyer, leading Shoosmiths’ award-winning national Commercial Group for over ten years. He was recognised by the directories as a Leading Individual in his field, being described as ‘very pragmatic, very commercial and technically brilliant’. David is passionate about client service and innovating to create new ways of solving clients’ problems. He won the prestigious Client Partner of the Year Award at the British Legal Awards and was included in the Lawyer’s Hot 100 List of 2023. David was also shortlisted in the Innovative Leader category of the FT’s Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards in 2022. As Chief Executive, David combines leadership and management of the firm’s three core divisions (Corporate, Real Estate & Advisory Services) and its support directorates and is focused on uniting Shoosmiths’ people in the pursuit of excellence for the benefit of its clients and colleagues alike. David joined Shoosmiths in 2006 from an in-house counsel role. During his time with the firm, he served on its Partnership Council for six years and led the team responsible for creating connected services offering ‘Shoosmiths8’.He co-wrote the book ‘Legal Practice in the Digital Age’ in 2023, in which he and his fellow authors explore how the legal profession can adapt and thrive in the post-pandemic era. In his role as CEO, David is committed to working hard to encourage more diversity of thought, perspective and experience at Shoosmiths and he has a personal passion, based on his own life experiences, to see improved social mobility across the profession.

Legal Counsel responsible for Major Outsourcing Projects and PFI in the Specialist Markets of Health, Defence and Education.

Solicitor in the Commercial & Projects Group specialising in Commercial, Technology and Outsourcing matters.