David is a barrister who specialises in extradition, human rights, public law, sports, regulatory and criminal defence. He is ranked in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.
David practices in Extradition Criminal Defence, Human Rights, Public Law, Sports Law / Regulation and. He has extensive experience of proceedings before the Criminal, Administrative and Divisional Courts, encompassing appellate work in Crime (CofA and Case Stated), as well as in extradition proceedings and judicial review, with particular expertise in prison conditions.
He is frequently instructed for his expertise in advance of potential extradition requests from jurisdictions all over the world, and has significant expertise in fighting and compromising extradition to the USA.
David is ranked in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 in the field of Extradition and International (London Bar).
David also has experience in a broad range of regulatory offences before courts and tribunals. He has particular expertise in proceedings before Regulatory Commissions / Appeal Boards of The Football Association.
He joined Chambers having worked in the third sector in various roles over 6 years including working for the Citizens Advice Bureau and as an Independent Mental Health Advocate. David also worked as a paralegal at the Office of the Georgia Capital Defender on capital murder trials.
What the Legal Directories say about David Williams:
‘ At the forefront of the extradition market, tactically astute and responsive, David is an in-demand extradition junior that has a successful practice in both the Magistrates' Court and High Court. ’
The Legal 500 2022
‘Fantastic advocate; concise, engaging and articulate. Very knowledgeable in his field and always willing to help with pursuing novel lines of challenge.’
The Legal 500 2021.
'Extraordinarily bright, committed to his clients, and fearless in court. ’
The Legal 500 2020.
"A fearless advocate when it comes to his clients' interests." "David’s client care is excellent; he is a passionate and caring advocate who puts incredible energy into his case presentation."
Chambers and Partners 2021.
An "excellent" extradition junior who garners praise for his "persuasive presence in court." "His client care is exceptional, and he is always up to date with current law and alive to the potential issues in a case."
Chambers and Partners 2019.
Extradition & International
David has a significant extradition defence practice and has been involved in a number of most complex and leading cases over the last few years.
"Excellent barrister and a fearless advocate in court, who is very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful."
"Approachable, personable, experienced and very good with clients, he is able to offer accessible and straightforward advice."
Chambers and Partners 2020.
David has particular experience in cases involving Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights and has acted in the lead cases in number of European jurisdictions which have led directly to improvements in conditions of detention. He is currently instructed (2023) in the lead case dealing with Greek prison conditions following the recent evidence of breach of previous assurances (alone).
He has acted in securing a number of discharges in relation to the USA (see eg WM [2020] EWHC 1527 (Admin) and Perry [2021] EWHC 1956 (Admin).
He is also frequently instructed for advice on pre-extradition request tactics, compromise and in respect unsual jurisdictions eg UAE, Iran, Thailand
"Really passionate when it comes to arguing his case and so good at picking things up very quickly. His service to clients is some of the best you'll come across."
An "experienced and knowledgeable" extradition junior renowned for his tenacity and "superb ability to get to the nub of a case."
Chambers and Partners 2018.
Criminal Defence
David is an experienced trial advocate acting in the most serious as complex cases both led and alone.
Instructions this year include acting for D1(a child) in multi handed s18 (acquittal), a significant number of county lines drugs allegations (ongoing), a number of encrochat conspiracies and a particularly complex allegation of death by dangerous driving.
He also has experience being led having acted over four months for D1 in a 5 handed allegation of people trafficking and money laundering at Southwark CC.
David has a particular commitment to defending Graffiti writers, particularly those wrongly charged with large scale conspiracies to commit criminal damage. He recently having acted to secure acquittal for a train writer in exchange for individual pleas where damage ascribed to a group was alleged to have initially run to well over £150,000, securing a community order.
In addition he has experience in appellate matters, particularly advice on appeals out of time.
Professional Discipline & Regulatory
David was a consultant to The Football Association’s Regulatory Advocates Department in the 2016/17 season conducting over 30 hearings before Regulatory Commissions and Appeal Boards of The FA.
David has significant experience of the application of FA rules and conducted cases encompassing all areas under The FA’s jurisdiction including:
the only FA Competition appeal of the 16/17 season, on-field discipline, conduct in the Technical Area, anti-doping regulations, social drugs use, social media comments, financial irregularities in club ownership/affairs, player contracts, transfers and safeguarding.David has experience in a number of areas of regulatory prosecution including food hygiene, environmental regulations, health and safety and asbestos regulations.
David was recently appointed to the General Dental Council's (GDC) list of appointed specialist advocates.
Judicial Review & Public Law
As a result of his experience before the Administrative Court, David is increasingly instructed to advise on public law challenges in and outside of extradition law.
He has frequently provided advice in relation to prison law in the UK.
Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public
David has experience in a full range of criminal matters and is instructed in serious criminal cases and accepts instructions in Private Prosecution cases.
Asset Recovery, Civil Fraud & Confiscation
David has been instructed to act for both prosecution and defence to provide advice and representation in confiscation and cash forfeiture proceedings. That includes acting led and alone including one of the longest ever POCA cases relating to funds stolen from Delta State, Nigeria.
Immigration
David is also familiar with immigration proceedings, particularly where they are related to extradition and is instructed to provide representation and advice. In his last case proceedings were stayed as an abuse of process following oral submissions.
Inquests & Inquiries
David accepts instructions in relation to Public Inquiries and Inquests.
David won the Norman Tapp Memorial Prize for Excellence in Mooting (Gray’s Inn) in 2009 and mooted internationally representing Gray’s Inn.