David Young

David Young is a highly accomplished barrister, who has consistently defended in high profile complex International criminal trials. He provides strong representation to his clients, both internationally and nationally.

In 2020 he was appointed Lead Counsel for one of the four accused charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in the Hague, where he leads a team of international defence lawyers preparing for contested trial proceedings.

Previously he was the only UK counsel instructed to lead for the defence in the Hariri assassination case before The Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the Hague (2011-2020). In the 18th August 2020 judgment from the STL Trial Chamber the accused (Assad Sabra), whose interests he represented, was acquitted of all charges. Between 2018 to 2019 he was also appointed as Counsel in the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in the Hague, on another war crimes case.

He is the current Director of International Affairs for the Criminal Bar Association for England and Wales, having been appointed in 2020. David is co-chair of Red Lion Chambers’ International team of barristers.

In the UK he defends in, and advises upon, cases across the spectrum of criminal and regulatory matters.

BA Hons, LLM London University