Recognised as one of Scotland's leading commercial litigators, David specialises in construction disputes and has a particular interest in the energy sector.
He has acted on behalf of developers, contractors and utilities in a wide variety of disputes, particularly those arising from renewables projects.
He frequently acts on behalf of clients in expert determinations, adjudications, litigations and arbitrations, under both Scottish and English law. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and has sat as an arbitrator in a number of high-value arbitrations.
- Acting on behalf of specialist sub-contractor in defending a claim raised following the catastrophic failure of the headrace tunnel at a hydro-electric power station in Scotland.
- Advising an offshore windfarm developer in relation to its rights and obligations under a CFD entered into with the LCCC.
- Acting on behalf of a developer in a £120 million dispute arising from the construction of an offshore wind farm, including a lengthy adjudication which culminated in a two week hearing.
- Acting on behalf of a developer in negotiating the settlement of a number of claims arising from the development and construction of an offshore windfarm; the total value of the claims was in excess of €140 million.
- Acting on behalf of the owner of a new office development in a long-running dispute with the developer relating to delay, defects and claims for additional payment.
- Acting on behalf of a waste management company in relation to a £250 million claim arising from the deposit of allegedly hazardous material at a landfill site.
- Acting on behalf of a PFI Company in relation to a lengthy dispute in the TCC arising from the design and construction of two hospitals in England.
- Acting on behalf of the supplier of manufacturing plant to a factory in the Middle East in defending an ICC arbitration brought due to alleged failure of the plant to meet the performance requirements of the contract.
- Acting on behalf of a specialist supplier of tidal turbines in a series of disputes, including at adjudication and defending proceedings brought in the TCC.
- Acting on behalf of a contractor in defending a number of claims from subcontractors arising from the design and construction of a waste from energy plant.
- Acting on behalf of a developer in defending proceedings brought in the TCC arising from damage sustained to infrastructure owned by a water company during the construction of a solar farm.
Comments in Chambers and Partners 2024 include:
"He is a very conscientious, circumspect and clear strategist. He is fabulous to work with, terrifically unpretentious in negotiations and has great negotiation skills."
"He is very experienced and I really welcome his opinion. He has seen it all and is pretty calm."
"David is the calmest, most professional lawyer. I have total trust in him and he totally understands how to pitch his advice to an in-house client."
