Children Law, Crime and Regulatory & Public
Children Law
David Orbaum has practiced as a barrister and solicitor for over 30 years, with a busy mixed common-law practice including criminal, family and civil work. In recent years, he has specialised mostly in family law and has a comprehensive knowledge of the subject.
He specialises in all aspects of private and public children’s work in the family field, representing local authorities, parents and related parties, and children’s guardians. He takes on work involving potentially dangerous parties to care proceedings where others have been reluctant to act.
He has a clear understanding of issues affecting the crossover between the criminal and family jurisdictions. he acted as sole advocate (without a leader) for one of the parties in both the high-profile criminal and care proceedings arising out of a local kidnap investigation in Dewsbury, which attracted national media coverage.
David has undertaken a number of cases involving difficult issues of international jurisdiction relating to children, divorce and nullity.
Crime
David has a solid understanding of jurisdiction and disclosure issues affecting both the criminal and family courts, and his child-care work combines well with his work on abuse cases in the criminal courts.
In recent years, David has undertaken representation in cases involving serious criminal offences of all types in the Crown Court, whether as a single advocate, being led, or as a leading junior. He particularly undertakes criminal defence work with an emphasis on physical- and sexual-abuse cases
David has a comprehensive and specialised knowledge of road traffic law and regulatory offences, acting for individual defendants and companies in the Magistrates Court and representing defendants facing the most serious of offences — including causing death by dangerous driving in the Crown Court.
When practising as a solicitor for many years, David developed a busy mixed common-law practice including criminal, family and civil work. He developed extensive experience of advising at police stations and represented in the Magistrates and Youth Courts. As a result, he has a comprehensive grasp of the entire criminal process — a significant advantage when presenting cases in Crown Court.
Regulatory & Public
David Orbaum has developed extensive experience of defending most aspects of regulatory work for individuals and companies, including health & safety, food hygiene, dangerous substances, and breaches of planning regulations.
He is also very experienced in cases involving serious criminal offences in the Crown Court. This crossover with criminal law lends an invaluable dimension to David’s regulatory & disciplinary work. His comprehensive grasp of the entire criminal process offers a significant advantage when presenting in Crown Court.
Call 1978 (Solicitor 1983) Appointments: 1994 Higher Court Advocate (criminal)
1996 High Court Advocate (all courts)
2010 Returned to the Bar and rejoined Sovereign Chambers CPS Level 3 prosecutor
1976 Leeds University, BA History (2:1)
1978 College of Law, London, BVC Bar Exams Part 1 and 2
1982 Leeds Metropolitan University, Solicitors’ Final Exams