David Claxton

Recommendations

David Claxton has a broad and diverse regulatory and criminal skill set with an active practice in financial crime. He is particularly adept at representing prosecution and defence in investigations by the Serious Fraud Office. He also has expertise on money laundering and bribery and corruption cases.

― Chambers & Partners (2026)

A detail orientated junior.

― Legal 500 (2025)

David offers insightful and practical advice. He has a real depth of knowledge that informs his tactical decision making.

― Legal 500 (2025)

David is very user-friendly and responsive, with excellent client care skills. He puts clients at ease and gains their trust and confidence very quickly.

― Chambers UK (2025)

David provides outstanding client care and representation in court. No case is too big or complex for his ability.

― Chambers UK (2025)

David has a really sharp intellect. He is thorough but practical and strategic, highly effective and a dream to work with.

― Chambers UK (2025)

David's advocacy is very nice, but beyond that his judgement is tremendous. He is very good at seeing the bigger picture.

― Chambers UK (2025)

Business Crime & Fraud

David’s practice is focused on companies and individuals facing investigation, enforcement action and prosecution for criminal and quasi-criminal/regulatory wrongdoing. He has a particular expertise in SFO prosecutions and has appeared in a number of the leading cases of recent years. For the defence, he was instructed by:

• Alstom Network UK Ltd
• ENRC Ltd
• David Ames (Harlequin Properties)
• one the individual defendants in Balli Steel

On the prosecution side, he was recently instructed by the SFO in the prosecution of the former directors of Ethical Forestry Ltd.

David recently secured a stay of proceedings as an abuse of process following a challenge to the legality of a Notice of Requirement (NOR) issued by HMRC in relation to PAYE and NIC.

More generally, he is an expert in the law relating to fraud, bribery and money laundering.

He has appeared at first instance and in the Court of Appeal, both led and alone, in complex fraud and money laundering cases.

David also has expertise in offences under the Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency Act 1986 and is regularly instructed to advise on issues involving company directors and Companies House, including the threat of prosecution for late filing of accounts.

Featured cases

• SFO v SP and others (Ethical Forestry Ltd): David was instructed as junior counsel for the SFO in this prosecution of three company directors in relation to allegations of fraud and fraudulent trading concerning investments in tree plantations in Costa Rica. (2021 – 2026)
• Re FP: David was instructed to advise a US-headquartered PE firm on managing the threat of prosecution by Companies House for offences under the Companies Act 2006, including the offence under s.451 of the Companies Act 2006. (2024)
• SFO v Alaghband and others (Balli Steel): David was instructed as junior counsel in the defence of a steel trader prosecuted by the SFO for offences of conspiracy to defraud and fraudulent trading in relation to loans obtained from trade finance banks. (2023)
• David Ames v SFO (Harlequin Properties) (Appeal): David was instructed as junior counsel in the appeal against conviction and sentence following a prosecution for offences of fraud by abuse of position, heard before the LCJ in November 2023.
• SFO v David Ames (Harlequin Properties) (trial): David was instructed as junior counsel in the defence of David Ames who was prosecuted by the SFO following the collapse of Harlequin Properties, which had raised £400 million from UK retail investors in connection with investments in overseas properties. (2022)
• Re X Ltd: David was instructed to advise on and conduct interviews in an internal investigation commissioned by a FTSE 100 company in relation to fraud and bribery in connection with public procurement contracts. (2021)
• SFO v Alstom Network UK Ltd: David was instructed to advise ANUK and its parent company, Alstom S.A., in relation to a prosecution by the SFO for corruption in connection with the tendering for major infrastructure contracts.  (2016 – 2019)
• SFO v ENRC (2015 – 2019): David was instructed by the law firm retained to deal with the criminal aspects of the SFO investigation into alleged corruption in relation to the acquisition of mining licences in sub-Saharan Africa. (2015 – 2019)
• HMRC v Ryder and others (Operation Lunar): David was instructed as junior counsel for the defence of an IFA in a prosecution related to allegedly fraudulent investment schemes used to off-set tax liabilities. It was said, at the time, to be the largest prosecution for tax fraud undertaken by HMRC. (2017)
• R v MT and others: David was instructed to defend in two separate trials: (i) telecoms fraud, (ii) the first UK prosecution for operating unlicensed wireless telegraphy equipment under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, where the principal submission centred on HMG’s ineffective implementation of the European Directive governing the regulation of radio spectrum (2013 – 2015)
• Re C Ltd: David was instructed by the Attorney-General of Jersey to lead an investigation into fraud in the financial services sector relating to the manipulation of share capital. (2014)

Regulatory & Professional Disciplinary

Overview

David’s regulatory practice encompasses the separate fields of professional discipline, health and safety and cases before the Coroners’ Courts as well judicial review applications connected with these practice areas. This page provides an overview of his expertise in professional discipline.

Professional Discipline

David is recognised by the Legal 500 for his expertise in professional conduct cases and is known for securing favourable outcomes in the most serious cases where a professional’s continued registration is in greatest jeopardy. He is also noted for cases involving expert evidence where the issues are akin to professional negligence.

He has appeared before most of the UK’s professional regulators, including:

• Medical Practitioners Tribunal (MPTS)
• General Dental Council (GDC)
• General Optical Council (GOC)
• Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
• Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SRA/SDT)
• Architects Registration Board (ARB)
• Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS)
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Most of David’s recent work has been on behalf of doctors, dentists, optometrists and legal professionals.

Between 2022 and 2026, he has represented optometrists alleged to have:

• Failed to identify the clinical presentation of acute angle glaucoma
• Failed to identify the clinical presentation of optical melanoma
• Conducted inadequate sight tests
• Defrauded an employer
• Defrauded a university
• Cheated in university exams

Recent cases before the MPTS include:

• Sexual misconduct by a leading orthopaedic surgeon
• Negligently performed maxilla-facial surgery
• Inappropriate doctor-patient relationship

He was also instructed on behalf of a doctor whose practice as an expert witness made him the UK’s leading authority on non-accidental infant death and who faces investigation by the GMC following criticism of his conduct by a High Court Judge in proceedings before the Family Court.

Other Featured cases

• GDC v Dr NS: David is instructed to represent a prominent dentist accused of widescale dental fraud. (2026)
• GMC v Dr RB: David is instructed to represent a doctor accused of an a inappropriate relationship with a patient.  (2026)
• R (RL) v GOC: David was instructed in the successful judicial review of secondary legislation passed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in a manner that was inconsistent with the enabling legislation. (2021)
• GMC v Dr A: David was instructed to present the case against a doctor in connection with a negligently performed delivery resulting in neonatal brain injury. (2018)
• Inquest Touching on the Death of JB: David was instructed to represent a prison nurse who had visited a prisoner in his cell and failed to identify the signs of methadone toxicity in this article 2 inquest. (2018)
• SRA v A Firm: David was instructed to represent a solicitor and the associated firm in a High Court appeal against an intervention by the SRA. (2018)
• OISC v L and Co: David was instructed to represent an immigration advisor in an appeal to the First Tier Tribunal against the revocation of an OISC licence. (2017)
• HCPC v AB: David was instructed in a case relating to the performance of a paramedic. (2017)
• HCPC v AE: David was instructed to present the case for the HCPC against a microbiologist relating to a lack of competence. (2016)
• GDC v AS: David was instructed to present the GDC case against a dentist accused of misconduct in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of root canal pathology. (2015)

Health & Safety

Health and Safety & Fire Safety Law

David has expertise in Health & Safety legislation and advises the HSE as well as corporates and individuals on all aspects of procedure, expert evidence, financial penalties and costs.

He has been appointed to the Regulatory List maintained by the Attorney-General since 2014 and is currently on the A Panel.

David is also an expert on prosecutions by Fire Authorities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and has been conducting cases in this area for over 10 years. He is the “go to” barrister for a number of fire and rescue authorities across the country.

Featured Health and Safety Cases:

• Re Three Rivers District Council: David is instructed to advise in relation to this investigation into a fatality at a swimming pool. The matter is currently pre-charge. (2026)
• HSE v Spectrum Total Engineering Ltd: David was instructed to prosecute this telecoms contractor for offences relating to work in proximity to the electricity grid which involved the death of a worker. (2025)
• Watford Borough Council v FRC Ltd: David was instructed for the prosecution in this fatal accident prosecution relating to maintenance failures that led to a runaway bin lorry. (2021)
• HSE v Cambus Ltd and another:  David was instructed for the prosecution in proceedings resulting from a fatal accident during a bus station redevelopment. (2020)
• HSE v ATC L Ltd: Instructed to prosecute for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Work at Height Regulations involving several falls by workers from aircraft undergoing repair and maintenance. (2014)

Featured Fire Safety Cases:

• Devon and Somerset FRA v SP: David was instructed for the defence of a building owner and managing agent’s lead director over failures in fire risk assessment and removal of mechanical fire safety systems. (2026)
• Re Kent and Medway FRA: David is instructed to advise in relation to this investigation into a fatality at an HMO. The matter is currently pre-charge. (2026)
• Suffolk FRA v HFH Ltd & EO: David prosecuted this case which was brought against the managing agent and the director of the management company for failures in relation to fire risk assessment and the failure to undertake remediation work in relation to cladding. (2024)
• Tyne & Wear FRA v S Care Group Ltd: David prosecuted a care home operator following a fire at a care home in which a resident was trapped relating to a corporate failure to put in place fire safety precautions. (2016)

In addition to these examples, David has been instructed to prosecute, defend and advise on dozens of fire safety matters relating to breaches of article 27 requirements, breaches of or challenges to alterations, enforcement and prohibition notices as well as breach of substantive fire safety duties. The industries covered include elderly care, assisted living, local authority-operated accommodation, HMOs, hospitality, manufacturing, high-rise accommodation and educational establishments. David has particular expertise where there are complicated corporate and ownership structures which cause difficulty in identifying who has responsibility under articles 3 and 5 as well as the extent to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to premises.

Following the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022, David has a growing expertise in the application of this legislation, both in relation to the regulation of professionals and enforcement action by the BSR.

Environmental Law

Featured Environmental Law Cases:

• EA v Thames Water Utilities Ltd: David is instructed as junior counsel for the prosecution in five joined cases against Thames Water in relation to the discharge of waste into waterways. (2026)
• EA v VD and others: David was instructed for the defence in this prosecution relating to the widespread illegal depositing of waste on agricultural land. (2025)

Crime

David has always practised in the criminal courts and has a strong record in jury trials and summary trials across the range of criminal offences. In the past two years he has defended (as sole junior) in cases of attempted murder, drug supply, kidnap, causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to steal and armed robbery.

Education

• LLB, University of Durham (2006)
• LLM, King’s College London (2007)

Awards

• Jules Thorne Scholar, Middle Temple

Professional appointments

• SFO Prosecutions List (B Panel) (2020)
• Attorney General’s Regulatory List (B Panel) (2020)
• General Medical Council List (2015)
• CPS Panel Advocate (Grade 2) (2012)

Memberships

• CBA
• South Eastern Circuit
• ARDL
• Young Fraud Lawyers Association
• HSLA

Publications

• Chapter on ‘Expert Evidence’, Rook and Ward on Sexual Offences, main chapter author
• Chapter on Cross-border Jurisdiction, Fraud: Law Practice and Procedure, editor
• ‘Understanding General Dental Council Procedure’, The Dentist, joint author with Kingsley Napley
• ‘Management Failures and Findings of Professional Misconduct’, The Probe
• Chapter on ‘confiscation’, Abuse of Process in Criminal Proceedings, Bloomsbury, 4th edition, chapter author

Languages

• French (intermediate)

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