David McClenaghan > Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP
26 Newbury Street
LONDON
EC1A 7HU
England

Work Department

Child abuse compensation.

Position

David joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in 2010. He became partner in 2015 and is head of the firm’s Abuse team. He specialises in bringing compensation claims on behlaf of survivors of sexual abuse. He has successfully brought claims on behlf of clients who have suffered abuse at the hands of Scout leaders, Boys’ Brigade Captains, clergymen (Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Church in Wales, Evangelical Church), youth club leaders, teachers, sports coaches, foster carers, care home staff and family members.

David is a solicitor advocate and regularly appears in the High Court and CICA Tribunal on behalf of his clients. He frequently appears in the national broadcast and print media providing expert commentary on child abuse law and issues.

Reported cases include: GLB v TH [2012] ALL ER D 329, as advocate, David secured his client one of the highest-ever awards of general damaged in a child abuse compensation claim; CXX v DXX [2012] ALL ER (D) 22, clarified the law in respect of whether or not a defendant who has been convicted of an offence is permitted to deny that offence in a subsequent civil claim; FZO v Haringey [2019] EWHC 1286 (QB) representing a child abuse survivor who was awarded a record-breaking £1.1 million in damages. 

Career

Qualified 2009. Partner Bolt Burdon Kemp 2015.

Memberships

Accredited member of the Law Society Personal Injury Scheme, Secretary of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers’ Child Abuse Group, Member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, Trustee of Survivors UK.

Education

St Malachy’s College, Belfast; Queen’s University, Belfast (2005 LLB (Hons)); University of Exeter (2006 Legal Practice Course).

Lawyer Rankings

London > Insurance > Personal injury: claimant

(Leading partners)

David McClenaghan Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP

Led by Jonathan Wheeler, the personal injury group at Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP comprises specialist departments, covering adult and pediatric brain injuries, spinal injuries, military claims, abuse, bullying and harassment, and complex injuries. Beyond leadership duties, Wheeler remains highly active in representing claimants in sexual abuse litigation. Noted as ‘excellent, empathetic and great with clients’, Cheryl Abrahams‘ workload regularly covers pediatric cognitive injuries, while Victoria Oliver heads the team’s spinal injury cases. Ahmed Al-Nahhas oversees disputes arising from military environments, and is highlighted by clients for his ‘thorough’ grasp on physical and psychiatric injuries acquired during training or in barracks, including through discrimination and harassment. David McClenaghan continues to lend his expertise in sexual abuse litigation, especially those with a provenance in religious environments, while Joshua Hughes heads the team’s complex injuries offering, encompassing serious traffic accidents, amputations, orthopaedic and fatal claims.