Ranked as a Rising Star in Employment for Legal 500 UK 2024 – “David has a keen eye for detail. He is very well-prepared and conscientious, and is clearly very bright and personable.”

David called to the Bar in 2022. He principally deals with employment law, public law and professional negligence, but has a broad practice.

In his employment practice, David appears in Employment Tribunals across Scotland and England. He also has a thriving appellate practice, as he is frequently instructed in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, and has appeared as junior alone in the Inner House. Further, David is experienced in issues of professional regulation, having advised on regulatory matters and appeared before regulatory bodies.

David has developed a particular expertise in discrimination cases arising under the Equality Act 2010. He is often instructed to deal with thorny issues of equality law, arising both in employment and in other contexts such as housing and services.

David is regularly instructed in the Court of Session in professional negligence actions. David has, in particular, significant experience in medical negligence cases. He is often instructed in serious fatal cases, involving extensive expert evidence from a multiplicity of medical professionals.

Finally, David has a particular interest in public law, judicial review, and human rights. David has argued judicial review proceedings in the Outer House for both petitioners and respondents, encompassing a variety of areas such as immigration and asylum, and statutory interpretation. David has also published on elements of judicial review, and frequently gives presentations on matters of public law.

Reflecting his interests and expertise, David tutors at the University of Edinburgh in administrative law and employment law.

Selected cases
Petition of Burns Pharmacy Ltd. for Judicial Review [2023] CSOH 60

Greater Glasgow Health Board v Mullen [2023] EAT 122

Publications
Time Bar in Judicial Review, S.L.T. 2023, 1, 1-7

Devilmasters
Dan Byrne K.C.; Chris Paterson K.C.; Gareth Jones K.C.