David Sawtell

Areas of Practice

David has a genuinely mixed common law practice, specialising particularly in civil / commercial law. He has particular expertise in cases involving allegations of fraud or dishonesty, where financial analysis is required or where complicated or unusual issues of law are involved.

Civil / commercial

David has extensive experience in a wide range of civil areas and has appeared regularly in the High Court as well as in multi track and fast track county court trials.

He has experience of drafting and appearing in interim applications for injunctions, freezing orders, search orders, and disclosure.

His range of work includes civil / commercial disputes (including trusts of land, factoring agreements, partnership, sale and hire of goods), land (including business and residential leases / licences and disrepair), bankruptcy / winding up and personal injury. David also undertakes work in more unusual cases such as trespass / conversion, nuisance and civil restraint orders.

David is happy to undertake work on a conditional fee agreement.

Employment

Regularly appearing in the employment tribunal for both the claimant and the respondent, David has experience across a wide range of the ET’s jurisdiction including unfair / wrongful dismissal, discrimination, NMWA and holiday pay claims.

Family law

All areas of contentious family law, including ancillary relief, private law child cases, care proceedings, non-molestation / occupation orders and TOLATA claims, in the High Court, the county court and the FPC. David undertakes both privately and publicly funded work.

Criminal defence and prosecution

David prosecutes and defends in trials, applications and POCA hearings in the Crown Court, appearing in complicated and serious matters including fraud / Insolvency Act cases, GBH, kidnap and robbery. His experience of civil law (including trusts and company law) has often proved invaluable in complicated proceeds of crime confiscation hearings.

Education, qualifications and awards

2005 Called to the Bar

2004-5 Inns of Court School of Law, Bar Vocational Course (very competent)

2003-4 City University, Post-graduate diploma in law (commendation)

2002-3 Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, MPhil in Medieval History (distinguished performance)

1999-02 Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, MA (Hons) in History (Part I: First, Part II: 2:1)

2005: Sunley Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

2004: Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

2002: AHRB scholarship in full for MPhil

2001: Edward Lord North Scholarship (Peterhouse)

Professional Courses

Forensic accounting, Companies Act 2006

David has given talks on the law behind fraudulent claims in tort / PI. He writes extensively for 4KBW’s civil newsletter.

Professional Memberships

Personal Injury Bar Association, Criminal Bar Assocation; South-Eastern Circuit

Interests

Rowing, running, history