David advises on all aspects of contentious legal work relating to the public sector including prosecutions, injunctions, enforcement and breach of condition notices, Section 215 notices and planning prosecutions. In addition, he also undertakes licensing appeals, having advised local authority licensing and planning committees. He has been involved in training staff on the new licensing bill as well as drafting Council licensing policy.
David has undertaken general local authority regulatory work including advice on health & safety matters, benefit fraud and environmental health as well as prosecutions relating to the same. He has also advised on statutory nuisance and the drafting of abatement notices and other related matters under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
He has drafted and served all enforcement notices as well as determining CLEUD/CLOPUD applications. David also has particular expertise in the Freedom of Information Act and how it impacts upon public sector bodies. He was the Freedom of Information Officer at Warwick District Council when it received a commendation on its FOI policies from the audit team. He has also been involved in a number of Public Inquiries.
Background
After graduating from Reading University, David trained with Ashfield District Council, Nottinghamshire. While with Stoke City and Cannock Chase Councils, he dealt with enforcement notices, Section 106 agreements and licensing prosecutions.
David spent 10 years with Warwick District Council where he was Deputy Head of Legal Services before joining Wright Hassall. While at Warwick, David was part of the team that drafted Warwick District Council's constitution in 2001 and was primarily responsible for providing the legal advice and drafting involved in forming the new Leamington Spa Town Council in 2002/3.
Interests
David enjoys football, cricket, travel and walking his dogs. He is currently Vice Chair of the Solicitors in Local Government Court Users Group in the West Midlands, having previously been a convenor of that same group.
