David is an Expert Advisor at Proximity with particular corporate and commercial legal experience in the defence industry environment.Since May 2022, David has been providing advisory services to the Department of Defence in relation to the extension of, and incorporation of additional scope for, a contract to provide transition coaching services to Defence members.Since May 2021 David has been providing advisory services in relation to a series of major procurement activities for corporate services by an ACT-based utility company, encompassing approach to market, tender evaluation, contract preparation and contract negotiation. Since June 2020, David has advised several not-for-profit organisations on corporate structuring issues, as part of Proximity's pro bono program. From June 2019 to July 2020, David undertook advisory projects for a number of different Government agencies including Australian Taxation Office, Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Airservices Australia.From March 2013 to June 2019 David undertook a number of on-site assignments with Department of Defence, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), advising on procurement and contract management activities. These included:- Land Systems Division CASG, advising on implementation of a contract management framework across projects in the Division- through Materiel Procurement Branch CASG in Melbourne, advising on commercial aspects of contracts within Land Systems Division- through CASG MPB at Russell Offices in Canberra , advising principally on commercial aspects of projects in Joint Systems Division- through CASG MPB in Adelaide, advising the Air Warfare Destroyer Project on procurement of the initial in-service sustainment solution. This encompassed the development and release to industry of an Invitation To Register followed by a limited Request For Tender, evaluation, down-select and successful contract negotiation with the preferred tenderer.

David undertakes consulting assignments for members of the Defence industry, with particular emphasis on evaluation, assessment and establishment of contracting and contract management structures for complex projects.This builds upon and applies David's many years of senior legal and contracting experience in an international tier one Defence and Aerospace environment.

This position was created upon the acquisition of Tenix Defence by BAE Systems Australia, and reported to the CEO as part of the senior management team. In this position, David had primary legal responsibility across all aspects of the BAE Systems business in Australia, with a turnover of A$1.6bn and >6,000 employees.David's responsibilities included:- to provide legal advice in relation to business winning and contract negotiation/contract management;- provide legal leadership on strategic corporate initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, due diligence and corporate restructuring;- control and manage exposure to legal liabilities, including managing legal claims, litigation, ADR and similar activities;- ensure ethical business conduct and compliance with governance and regulatory requirements;- lead, develop and manage the internal legal team, and manage the provision of cost-effective external legal resources;- actively participate in national defence industry associations and working groups.

David was the sole in-house counsel, responsible for all legal aspects of the BAE Systems business in Australia.David acted as lead Australian counsel for BAE Systems' acquisition and integration of Tenix Defence in 2008, as well as the earlier BAE Systems acquisitions of AWA Defence Industries, Siemens Plessey and GEC-Marconi.David's other achievements included:- successfully applying for exemptions from Equal Opportunities legislation in SA, Victoria, NSW and ACT in order to enable the business to comply with its security and export control obligations;- developing processes and procedures to ensure compliance with US International Traffic in Arms Regulations;- developing processes and procedures for ethical business conduct and compliance.

David was responsible for the provision of corporate legal services for the Head Office of this major UK-listed multinational, including;- strategic corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence and corporate restructuring;- joint ventures and shareholder agreements;- legal aspects of corporate services such as treasury, finance, business development.

For this UK subsidiary of a major US FMCG business, David was responsible for providing legal advice on all aspects of UK and certain European operations, including:- general commercial, sales and distribution agreements;- product safety and sales promotions;- business disposals and corporate restructuring;- litigation, trademarks and intellectual property.

David carried out general corporate and commercial legal work for UK, European, US and other corporations.

David worked as a newly-qualified solicitor doing general corporate and commercial legal work for corporate clients.