David Stern

David has a wealth of experience in business crime, commercial insurance and financial regulation.

David has a wealth of experience in business crime, commercial insurance and financial regulation.  He is ranked in Chambers & Partners as a leader in the field of Financial Crime (London) as well as the Legal 500 for Business and Regulatory Crime (including Global investigations) (London).

David regularly acts for large financial institutions and other corporations with compliance and enforcements matters or those seeking to recover insurance losses in the London Market and has a proven track record in successfully resolving policyholder claims through negotiated settlement, litigation and mediation.

David’s practice focuses on corporate regulation, business crime and serious fraud with a particular emphasis on financial services and insurance.

David is Joint Head of the Regulation and Business Crime Practice Group at 5 St Andrew’s Hill and has acted in many of the most high-profile proceedings in England, especially cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office and the FCA as well as internationally in Europe and the US.

David was at the forefront of the recent LIBOR benchmark manipulation scandal involving trading in excess of £350 trillion. He successfully represented three banking clients from Barclays, ICAP (UBS and Citibank), Lloyd’s and HBOS in SFO criminal prosecutions and investigations. He is currently retained by several clients with exposure to the CumEx trading investigations involving alleged losses against certain EU treasuries with a value of several billion Euros.  He has published several key articles on CumEx and is considered to be a leading expert in the field.

David also leads the Corporate Advisory Service provided by the Practice Group.  He has a particular expertise in advisory, regulatory and tribunal work arising out of financial transactions. He is regularly instructed to represent both corporates and individuals in FCA regulatory investigations and wider risk-related matters.  He has developed an innovative service for corporations and multi-nationals through conducting risk assessment, compliance, governance and internal investigations as part of team focussed on ensuring his clients with best practice with business and financial crime prevention measures. David founded Settlement Counsel in 2000 and has acted in many leading high value insurance claims for North American policyholders in the London Insurance Market, including acting as lead London counsel in the World Trade Center coverage case.

He is also a highly respected commercial mediator and handles a range of commercial matters with a particular emphasis on the resolution of financial services and insurance disputes.

David is also Special Counsel at Edmonds Marshall McMahon providing specialist advice on private prosecutions.

Seminars and lectures

David regularly provides lectures and seminars on a variety of subjects, including financial services, business crime, the London Financial and Insurance Markets and mediation. He has presented keynote speeches for several international bar organisations, including the American Bar Association.

Direct Public Access David accepts Direct Public Access instructions. David is able to take instructions directly from law firms, government agencies, corporations and HNW individuals.

What the Legal Directories say about David Stern:

‘ David is an exceptionally good barrister well able to persuade judges and jurors alike. His detailed approach to cases is impressive. He is calm and unflappable. His cross-examination ability is first-class. ’

The Legal 500 2022.

"Has a real depth of knowledge and is a smooth advocate. He's very tactically aware." "He's very thorough and exceptional in front of a jury, but equally hard-working on the papers."

Chambers and Partners 2021.

"He has a first-class brain and is very innovative in developing legal arguments."

The Legal 500 2020.

"He has a very high intellect, is able to develop very compelling legal argument and is extremely good at analysis of the papers."

Chambers and Partners 2019.

"He is an absolutely first-rate junior and his intellectual and legal arguments are outstanding. He is a talented and pragmatic defence counsel, who is tactically astute and very hard-working."

Chambers and Partners 2015.

"(David) Stern is the key business crime and financial regulation barrister at the set. His areas of expertise include advising on rate rigging, corruption and investment fraud cases."

Chambers and Partners 2017.

"Working with David is a pleasure because he combines an ability to master almost any problem with an impressive talent for hard work. He analyses the minutiae of a case without losing sight of the larger picture and is a great asset to any team who wants to get it right from the start."

Chambers and Partners 2018.

King’s College, London (LL.B.) and Jesus College, Cambridge (LL.M.)