David is a specialist in the law relating to mental health and
mental incapacity, and in public law, as it affects providers of
services in those areas. He has represented individual and
institutional clients at all stages of the legal process, from
tribunals and managers hearings, through the High Court and the
Court of Appeal, to the House of Lords and beyond.
As well as giving expert, practical advice on the Mental Health
Act and the Mental Capacity Act, David represents NHS bodies, local
authorities and third sector organisations in judicial review
proceedings, inquests, public inquiries and mental health
tribunals. He has been involved in some of the most significant
legal cases concerning health and social care.
David was a member of the Mental Health Act Commission for nine
years and in 2005, appeared as an expert witness before the
Parliamentary committee that scrutinised the draft Mental Health
Bill. He undertook postgraduate research into the early history of
defamation law, and on mental health and human rights (for which,
in 2007, he was awarded a PhD).
Now, David is a Tribunal Judge and also a Visiting Fellow in law
at Northumbria University and a Visiting Fellow in health and
social care at Lincoln University. He is vice-president of the
Institute of Mental Health Act Practitioners.